Page 106 - 1916 February - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 185

tongue to take a special course in English grammar without any credit. It is
safe to assert that the danger of being compelled to take this extra course will
accomplish as much good as the course itself. After all, the writing of reput-
able English is chiefly dependent on clear thinking, and everyone knows that
a man can think more clearly when he is given some reason to fear that, if he
doesn't think clearly, things will go wrong with him. The best way to reduce
carelessness is to penalize it. Harvard's frank willingness to include in its
curriculum an elementary course, which should be fully completed in prepara-
tory school, deserves to be emulated by all of our colleges.

We are indebted to Ban fa's Greek Exchange for the following
interesting notice:

The Belgian refugees in Holland have formed the University of Amersfoort.
They realized that the large body of Belgians with nothing to do would be
happier and better off if they had something to keep them busy.

The faculty includes some of the most distinguished Belgian scientists and
scholars.

It is unique among educational institutions in that its professors establish
their own "chairs," choose their own subjects and treat them as they wish.
They are bound by no official rules and harassed by no traditions.

The student enjoys similar freedom. He undergoes no admission examina-
tions, chooses his own courses of study and completes them whenever he thinks
he has had enough.

The notice which is given below, and which appeared in the
New York Times of last October, needs neither introduction nor
comment. However, those of us whose sisters have suffered because
of the action of two years ago, cannot resist, to ourselves at least,
an " I told you so!"

SORORITIES AT BARNARD MISSED BY D E A N

After taking a prominent part in the suspension of sororities at Barnard
College two years ago, Dean Virginia C . Gildersleeve is now willing to acknowl-
edge that the secret societies filled a place in the college life of the girls for
which it is now very difficult to find a substitute.

Fewer opportunities for the girls to form wholesome and intimate friendships
are found now that the sororities are gone, Miss Gildersleeve finds, and she is
casting about for some form of social organization which will do away with
the objectionable features of the secret society and yet retain its many good
Points.

This problem is set forth by Miss Gildersleeve in her annual report of the
work at Barnard, which has just been made public. Two years ago sororities
were suspended, after a crusade led by Miss Frieda Kirchwey, daughter of
Professor George W. Kirchwey of the Columbian Law School, who has recently
announced his intention of retiring from that Faculty. The secret societies
were not abolished, but they were forbidden to take in any new members for a
Period of three years. Two years are now up, and the students who are working
t o get sororities reinstated to full standing are finding solace in Miss Gilder-
sleeve's report. Many predict that sororities at Barnard will again come into
^eir own next year.