1912–13 Volume 37 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 45Fraternity wants only men of character, capacity and companionablequalities. Phi Delta Theta is entitled to the best that the collegesafford, and it is the duty of the chapters to secure only such men.The future standing and success of the Fraternity depend on thequality of the.men that are added from year to year. In case of doubtabout a new man, alumni who are acquainted with him should bequestioned about him, and, if time presses, the inquiries should bemade by telegraph, and an answer received before a bid is offered.During the rushing campaign competition is very close, but the Phis,without discrediting other fraternities, may talk so enthusiasticallyabout their own that men much sought after will be convinced thatthey will be more benefitted by membership in Phi Delta Theta thanin any other. The art of rushing should be studied so as to make thearguments presented most convincing and effective. Rushing is agreat school of diplomacy, and teaches one methods that will beuseful in business or in the professions when the real work of lifehas begun, and, therefore, the cultivation of rushing is well worththe attention of any college man. All active members should endeavorto learn the art, but they should call on alumni for assistance wheneverit is necessary. Resident alumni can be of great assistance, andyounger alumni living at a distance can be of no greater service totheir chapters than by spending a few days with the chapters at thebeginning of the year and giving counsel and active aid in rushing.To all alumni who read this editorial we make this appeal: If youare acquainted with young men who are entering college this fall,colleges where Phi Delta Theta has chapters, and who you believewould make the right sort of members, "send immediately full particularsabout them to the chapters.THE new scholastic year brings up again certain rules of conductfor the several chapters and the undergraduates, rules which whilegenerally observed yet sometimes are forgotten. It is most fittingthat we should all be reminded of them now and that the errors ofthe past should be guarded against most carefully to the end thatPhi Delta Theta may be pre-eminent as a fraternity.The first objection urged against the fraternity system, and objectionsare being made with force from many quarters, is that it is undemocratic,snobbish and a promoter of cliques. Without going into