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own houses. An attempt has been made to change this condition I I I A T MINNESOTA
by exchange dinners, but the result has not been very satisfactory.
The conditions are nevertheless as good as, i f not better than, those We are a community of eleven members as regards academic
existing in most other universities, but not so good as they should be fraternities for women at Minnesota. Beside Tau of Alpha Omicron
when the opportunities for neighborliness and friendship are so Pi, local Panhellenic includes Chi of Kappa Kappa Gamma, estab-
lished at Minnesota in 1 8 8 0 ; Lambda of Delta Gamma, established
y -m a n MARION GILBERT, A, '18. here i n 1 8 8 2 ; Psi of Kappa Alpha Theta, established here in 1 8 8 9 ;
Epsilon of Alpha Phi, established here in 1 8 9 0 ; Alpha of Pi Beta
I I A T SOUTHERN METHODIST Phi, established also in 1 8 9 0 ; Theta of Delta Delta Delta, established
in 1 8 9 4 ; Kappa of Gamma Phi Beta, established in 1 9 0 2 ; Mu of
We have eight congenial sororities here at Southern Methodist Alpha X i Delta, established in 1 9 0 7 ; Delta of Alpha Gamma Delta,
University—Pi Beta Phi, Zeta Tau Alpha, Chi Omega, T r i Delta, established in 1 9 0 8 ; Sigma Beta (local) established in 1910.
Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Alpha Delta Pi, and ourselves, who were the
first to be installed, with the result that we had the first president Of these societies five already own their own homes: Kappa
of Southern Methodist University Woman's Panhellenic, Margaret Kappa Gamma, Alpha Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Gamma Phi Beta,
Vaughan, ex-K. A local group of girls known as Tau Sigma, are and Pi Beta Phi. Two more, Alpha Gamma Delta and Delta Gamma
petitioning Sigma Kappa. There is a great deal of fellowship among are in the midst of building. The rest of us will continue to rent
the fraternities, for Southern Methodist University is not a large houses for a time, which, in the case of A O I I we hope will not be
university, so far as eligible girls are concerned, and has none of the over long. However, circumstances must seem more favorable for
evils attendant upon a large university. A large per cent of the girls such an undertaking than they are at present.
here are sorority members. There is practically no opposition or
antifraternity spirit whatever. Panhellenic disturbances are so rare An acceptable degree of harmony characterizes our relations with
as to be negligible. In fact, the impression that a stranger might one another at Minnesota. Local Panhellenic is an orderly, flourish-
probably have of us, is that we are new and pioneerish, with that ing institution, which has no difficulty in adjusting such differences
geniality which characterizes such conditions. We do not ever want as inevitably arise among so many competing groups.
to lose it, either.
There is, I think, a minimum of interaction between the sororities.
Whole sororities are invited to most of the affairs, being put with Once a year a banquet with the avowed object of promoting a friendly
the entire membership of a certain fraternity, with whom they may spirit between them is held at an over-town hotel. After the dinner
be congenial in numbers, or in spirit. Many social courtesies are each sorority is represented by a stunt, and the evening except
exchanged between the sororities or among their individual members. perhaps, for the performers, is an enjoyable occasion. A further
The Zetas last year, for example gave a party in honor of the T r i essay with the same object in view was made three years ago. A t
Deltas' installing officer, and the A O IPs sent her some flowers. that time one night every two weeks was set aside as "sorority visiting
Every fraternity thinks it a duty to entertain in one way or another night." On this night two members from each sorority were the
throughout the year, and there is usually at least one party given every guests of some other sorority at dinner. By means of a system of
two or three weeks. Y. W. C. A. forms a great social bond between rotation in the course of a year, each sorority visited, and was visited
the girls here, and its entertainments are most frequent. by every other sorority. The plan was pursued for two years, when
it died the death of indifference which usually overtakes such regu-
Sorority people here have not sponsored any philanthropic move- lated sociability.
ments either as a whole or individually. Customs are slow in the
forming. Such movements come only when the institution in which Minnesota may congratulate herself, I think, upon the genuine
the chapters are located, is stolidly settled i n "precedents" and good feeling among sororities. On the other hand, the university is
customs. Although Southern Methodist University will never cease too large, perhaps, and its interests too various for much actual
to grow, we must wait for a more ripe opportunity to turn our labors sociability or interaction in the relations of the smaller groups,
into fields other than those of her advancement. one to another.
I n the eyes of a fair-minded sorority girl, Greek life is, and will FLORENCE BRANDE, T, '17.
continue to be, a success here. GENEVIEVE GROCE, '19, N K.
