Page 35 - 1917 February - To Dragma

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 137
136 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI
offices, the library, the postoffice, three dormitories, Science Hall,
the chapel, and nearly all classrooms. Without going out-of-doors
a girl may eat, sleep, read the latest magazine, get her mail, cash a
check, attend chapel, call on the Dean, go to her classes, and gossip
with her friends. I n the constant passing and repassing along the
corridor strange faces become familiar, and no friend is long out of
sight; but on "Pay Day," with its array of grasping treasurers,
this corridor reminds one of the money changers of the ancient
world.
Life at Randolph-Macon is one mad whirl, but delightful withal.
Randolph-Macon was one of the first colleges to have Student
Government, and the powers of its Student Committee are exception-
ally broad; practically all regulations are made by that Committee.
Though we dislike so fixed a term as "Honor System," and feel that
honor cannot be restricted to certain reserved spots, still we have that
system in its entirety on all class work and examinations, and in most
points of student conduct. Athletics has a prominent share in our
college life, and we are expecting you to enjoy our swimming-pool
with us, so be sure to bring a bathing suit. I n the f a l l we have pre- have one. On every other Sunday night from 9 :30 to 10:30 all houses
liminary basketball games between the four class teams, and the two
victors in these play Thanksgiving for a silver cup. The all-college
team is also announced on Tranksgiving, and R. M.'s presented
to the members of the winning team. The basketball season
this year was considerably enlivened by several Faculty vs. Student
games. On the first of May we have a Field Day and track contests.
For several years Randolph-Macon had the college girls' World
Record for the running high jump, and has several times won places
in all-American College Girls' records. With us, champion athletes
can win a popular vote for almost anything as all contests are inter-
class, and class spirit runs high in all things.
Class spirit is a subject near to our hearts, but a subject also of
many strifes and fights that are far from gentle and ladylike. The
Evens and Odds waste little love and no compliments upon each
other when class affairs are in the ascendency, though at other times
they are friendly enough. You are Even or Odd according to the
year of your graduation, and each in-coming class inherits the colors
and traditions of the class that graduated the preceding June; the
juniors and freshmen are "sister classes," and seniors and sophomores
stand together. Each senior asks her favorite sophomore to "hood"
her, that is the sophomore is to put the Bachelor's hood on her senior
when the degrees are conferred. This plan of sophomores hooding
seniors has recently been adopted by Columbia. When you come
to visit us, though, we w i l l forget our time-honored disputes, and
Even and Odd will join hands to welcome you to our College.
We have also among other things, that plan, the delight of the-
orists and the plague of those who work under it, sophomore pledg-
ing, but we hope to reach some compromise pleasing to both in the
near future. With the exception of freshmen, from 52% to 55%
of the girls are fraternity girls. There are chapters of nine national
fraternities at Randolph-Macon, Chi Omega, Zeta Tau Alpha,
Kappa Delta, Delta Delta Delta, Phi Mu, Alpha Delta Pi, Pi Beta
Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Alpha Omicron Pi. The increase in
the number of chapters has been gradual, but it has not kept up with
the growth of the College. Chi Omega was the first fraternity to
enter Randolph-Macon, its chapter being installed in 1899, followed
by Zeta Tau Alpha in 1902, Kappa Delta and Alpha Omicron Pi in
1903, Delta Delta Delta in 1905, Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu in
1911-12, Pi Beta Phi in 1913, and Kappa Alpha Theta in 1916.
The average membership for a chapter is about eighteen (this year
we have twenty-three), but no chapter has exceeded twenty-five. The
chapter houses are bungalows used only as clubhouses. They have
been built in what we call "The Pines," a beautiful pine grove back
of the College, beyond the gymnasium and off the side of the Ath-
letic Field. These houses have all been built since 1912, we Alpha O's
being the first to build, and all chapters, except Kappa Alpha Theta,
are open to members of the faculty, nonfraternity girls, and members
of other fraternities. On these nights anywhere from ten to one
hundred guests are entertained at each house; freshmen are not
allowed to come to the houses at all, but "little sisters" (girls whose
sisters are members of some fraternity) are allowed to come to the
houses.
At the last Convention of Phi Beta Kappa a chapter was
unanimously granted Randolph-Macon, and so, though the chapter
has not yet been installed, there may be a few new keys flashing out
next June, but we make no promise. There are no honor societies at
Randolph-Macon at present, but there are four local ribbon societies,
Am Sams, S. T . A. B., P I , and OMEGA, which have an average
membership of eighteen and which are not a subject for discussion in
an ordinary conversation.
Of our three college publications, The Sun Dial (weekly), The
Tattler (monthly), and the Helianthus (annual), the Helianthus is
most likely to prove of interest to you, as it is usually issued in May
and you will have an opportunity to see and enjoy it. The name
Helianthus, meaning sun-flower, represents the college flower and
colors, yellow and black. I n May also comes our May Day celebra-
tion. A May Queen is elected by popular vote early in the spring