Page 34 - 1913 May - To Dragma

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 189

force for one year only, from date of their adoption unless re-

adopted.

As to rules and regulation of rushing. I have enclosed the rules
or by-laws for 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 in 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 living
"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 for 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
other—and then to have a party given by each sorority at an agreed
(by Pan-Hellenic) time, to which all freshmen should be invited.
This gives both sides a chance to see and meet each other in a
friendly, 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 all rushing and when the time came for invitations
to be sent out, simply do it 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 for walks and talks—
lunch hours were grabbed for, etc. Yet we did away with spreads,
and little informal parties. I believe the juniors have taken a step
tin- year as to "no senior rushing" for the first three weeks of college.
I t is a class arrangement and may work out well, although I think
the seniors are the ones to really meet the freshmen and see their
qualities. The sentiment of all the sororities, now, is in favor of a
shorter time of non-rushing in the fall. That is, to have the bids
go out about the fourth week of college. We have so limited a field
to pick from, 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 for initiation will solve a large problem
in selecting girls for us all 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 all four years. How-
ever, when the committee on eligibility has given out more certain
requirements, then the question will be easier. As it is, we go to our
Dean of Women for the grades of the prospective members, but it is