Page 44 - 1920 February - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 127

too little privacy and too great freedom with each other's belongings
and time. O n l y by self-restraint and house sentiment can this be
checked, but it is a disadvantage which should not be considered
lightly.

Beside the advantage to the college and to the group, there is the
very valuable training that comes to the individuals in the f r a t e r n i t y
house. A t t e n d i n g to broken pipes, l a y i n g i n the coal supply, plan-
ning meals, paying bills, are responsiblities which give the young
women i n the house a new sense of what is necessary to keep a house
i n good running order. This does not mean that the house commit-
tee should assume a l l the burdens and carry them without the help
which should come f r o m the rest of the chapter and f r o m the j u d i -
cious oversight of alumnae and college officers. I t is still a mooted
question i n some places whether or not young women should assume
the financial responsibilities involved i n o w n i n g a f r a t e r n i t y house,
but one t h i n g seems quite clear that the house, whether rented or
owned, should be suitable f o r the purpose f o r which i t is used and
not be a make-shift which causes unnecessary expense, crowding, i n -
convenience and dissatisfaction.

The fraternity house may be a means o f very real social training

for the young women whose standards of l i f e have not been those
which are consistent w i t h cultivated society. There are few, i f any,
young women i n college who want to be hoydenish or awkward or
self-conscious, but o f t e n times a g i r l of fine strong character has had
so f e w social advantages that she is misjudged and misunderstood
when she comes among strangers. I t is to this g i r l that the social
taste and social t r a i n i n g of her f r a t e r n i t y group can be of help. I t
is always an astonishment to the onlooker that young women in a
fraternity house can arrange f o r a reception or party w i t h record-
breaking speed. I t is done under the intelligent direction of the
chairman of the committee who expects everyone to do the part
assigned her w i t h dispatch and an equal sense of responsibility.
O f course every Social Chairman is disappointed i n some of her help-
ers, but the organization and execution of the piece of work has given
training f o r many phases of l i f e i n the community. N o r is that all
the training that members of the group receive. Assuming that
the standard of the fraternity is high, taste i n dress and house fur-
nishings, i n table service and social customs develop an ease and
poise which is part of the equipment of the educated woman.

I do not feel that the fraternity house is the panacea f o r a l l the
things that we would have different in our college women, but I do
believe that because i t is an economic advantage to the college and
because its influence goes f a r i n developing the r i g h t k i n d o f com-
munity spirit and individual cultivation the f r a t e r n i t y house has a
claim upon us.