Page 32 - 1913 May - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 189

force f o r one year only, f r o m date of their adoption unless re-

adopted.

As to rules and regulation of rushing. I have enclosed the rules
or by-laws f o r last year and this year. Perhaps there seem to be a
great many and to be narrow. However, at the first Pan-Hellenic
meeting held here at Jackson i n 1907, there were about half as many
rules but as time and conditions have changed the rules have been
adjusted to the circumstances. Each year they vary a little and we
are in hopes to gradually work out a system based more on honor and
less on rules. However, seeing we have about 1-3 of our girls l i v i n g
"off H i l l " (or off campus) we have to have a means of bringing
them in.

As to the rushing season—It has been the feeling here f o r several
years, that at the first of the year, the freshmen and sororities should
not pay much attention to each other, except to learn to know each
o t h e r — a n d then to have a party given by each sorority at an agreed
(by Pan-Hellenic) time, to which all freshmen should be invited.
T h i s gives both sides a chance to see and meet each other i n a
f r i e n d l y , social way and this should be the time when each should
make a choice. Last year or rather beginning with last September,
it was the ideal thought and dream of each member of Pan-Hellenic,
to do away with a l l rushing and when the time came f o r invitations
to be sent out, simply do i t and have the only rushing done at a
given hour, during a period of non-intercourse just before the "bids"
were answered. However, in spite of our endeavors—the freshmen's
dates, as well as the sorority girl's were filled f o r walks and talks—
lunch hours were grabbed for, etc. Yet we did away w i t h spreads,
and little informal parties. I believe the juniors have taken a step
this year as to "no senior r u s h i n g " f o r the first three weeks of college.
I t is a class arrangement and may work out well, although I t h i n k
the seniors are the ones to really meet the freshmen and see their
qualities. The sentiment of a l l the sororities, now, is in favor of a
shorter time of non-rushing in the f a l l . That is, to have the bids
go out about the f o u r t h week of college. W e have so limited a field
to pick f r o m , that the same girls are being selected by the different
sororities and so these girls feel the effects the most. I think the new
idea of scholarship basis f o r initiation w i l l solve a large problem
in selecting girls f o r us a l l here at Jackson. We always have been
careful in choosing girls and have tried to have them all take the
regular course and have the intention of staying a l l four years. H o w -
ever, when the committee on eligibility has given out more certain
requirements, then the question w i l l be easier. As i t is, we go to our
Dean of Women f o r the grades of the prospective members, but i t is