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

THE SCROLL 547such as "has hardly been caused at New Haven for a long while," theColumbia Spectator says that "there are in the college only two fraternities,as the word is used country-wide," that these fraternities at Yale are "entirelydissimilar from chapters in other colleges which bear the same name", and thatthe three senior societies are the result of "purely local traditions", and furthersays:The university regulation that Yale College men cannot live in fraternity housesdraws a sharp distinction between the Yale "fraternities" and the fraternities of othercolleges—a distinction evident in the unique character of the Yale chapter houses,called "tombs." The fraternity situation is thus different at Yale than at othercolleges; and it is unfortunate that the influence of fraternities should attain suchnotoriety, as has been due to "Stover at Yale" and to "The Ice Lens," among peoplewho do not realize that this is peculiarly a Yale problem and that the same argumentsdo not apply at all, or at least not in the same way, at other colleges.DEAN CLARK JUMPS ON THETA NU EPSILONThe following severe indictment of the sophomore society 0 N E at theUniversity of Illinois, by Thomas Arkle Clark, dean of men, was publishedas a special from Champaign In the Chicago Tribune of April 27, and 'the dispatchsays "the dean set the university in an uproar by his charges.""The tendency to dishonesty and graft which Theta Nu Epsilon has fostered hasspread and has encourged loose ideals generally," said Dean Clark. "Drinking, gambling,cribbing, and hazing are indirectly encouraged by the low moral and politicalideals for which Theta Nu Epsilon stands."Graft has become so accepted, the dean says, that even a religious worker has beenheard to say that he could not see why he had to work for nothing.Theta Nu Epsilon, which should not be confounded with regular recognized fraternities,is a secret society recruited from members of the sophomore class. It is underfaculty interdiction and most national fraternities forbid members to affiliate with it.In spite of this interdiction, "T. N. E." has flourished. No one ever really knowsits members,"The watchword of the organization is," Dean Clark said, "get the job and getall you can out of it," whether or not you do service to the class or to the college,A suspected member said to me: "I don't give a d what the job is. What 1am after is the graft," The same spirit is shown by members of the presentsenior class, who refused at first to take part in their own class day exercises unlessthey should be paid."Theta Nu Epsilon at the University of Illinois is out for the office and the moneythere is in it, irrespective of the fitness of the candidate. Every man who has a pullexpects to profit. The organization has to a shocking degree developed the spoilssystem. Committees are multiplied and the number of members increased so thatmore grafters may taste the spoils."The cap and gown committee of the senior class has little purpose except to getits gowns free. The sophomore committee, the junior prom committee, the seniorball committee, and hat and cap committees have grown to large size without proportionatefunctions."The business manager of a recent HUo increased his profits by a crooked contractwith the engravers, who paid him a rebate. He devised a new scheme by which hesecured a rakeoff on the contract for the succeeding year book and deprived his successorof a portion of the customary engraving graft,"The principles of the organization have spread to almost every undergraduateactivity. The members of last year's Students' union opera were peevish because,although the opera did not pay expenses, they were not given a complimentary dinnerout of the deficit. Class committees are not satisfied to work for the good of theclass, but must have expenses or hats, gowns or caps. Dance committees are incensediJ the members do not at least get fobs in addition to free cabs and a free dance,"The athletic situation has been not infrequently seriously affected by the influenceof Theta Nu Epsilon. It has brought unworthy men into prominence and causedthe most unfortunate feeling among members of athletic teams. The difficulty whichresulted in disbanding the two senior societies was of Theta Nu Epsilon origin."The editor of the 1913 Jilio had neither training nor literary fitness and wouldnever have been thought of had he not been backed by Theta Nu Epsilon, It is notnecessary to go further than the officers of some of the present undergraduate classesto find equally good illustrations."Scholarship of fraternities allied with Theta Nu Epsilon is distinctly lower thanthat of other organizations. In general poor scholarship in organizations is an indicationof low moral ideals and loose habits. The political grafter is too often a loaferwho emphasized his political victories with a celebration."The whole political scheme is a frameup, decided on by a few shrewd men, whomake the undergraduate body their tools. Men are selected to fill offices two yearsor more before they are elected, without regard to fitness. Candidates for nextyear's junior and senior officers have been named and agreed on and the spoils andhonors divided,"