Page 29 - 1913 November - To Dragma

34 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

do reflect the greatest credit upon them, compose their memberships.
The 1915 petition says:

" I n consequence of the above considerations; we suggest that
secrecy be reduced to a reasonable privacy; that Tap Day as it now
exists, be abolished and that the greatest care in the choice of men,
as outlined above, be exercised. Such external criticism as this can
only be effective i n proportion to the influence which it exerts on the
members of the societies themselves, for we well know that whatever
change may occur must come from within."

The present members of senior societies who discuss this petition
seem to feel, on the whole, that its drafters are sincere and that they
are earnestly and sanely acting for what to them seems best for Yale.
Though some details of the petition seem—for occult reasons—to
amuse them, they tend to regard it as made in good faith, but largely
fallacious in its hypotheses.

I t is the consensus of opinion that nothing will be directly effected
as a result of this petition as these organizations themselves are
avowedly interested, first and foremost, in the welfare of Yale, and
therefore whatever to then seems best for Yale will, in the future, as
in the past, be done from within, largely irrespective of external
pressure. In spite of lurid accounts thereof, this situation is not a
new one. Yale's history has many such. Nor will it, in all prob-
ability result in any very radical changes, nor indeed in any changes,
according to the social elite, which they themselves had not already
long considered. There seems to be a prevailing opinion throughout
the country that Yale is facing a crisis, and is in the throes of self-
betterment. To a great extent the crisis is past and the throes are
imaginary. The great amount of criticism heard of late has only
brought Yale to fuller realization of its own wonder and strength.
A new note of enthusiasm is gradually drowning out the sound of the
hammer. A new confidence in athletics is being felt, and a new
attitude of hope in all things. Now, most of all, one hears that
those who really and unselfishly have the good of Yale at heart,
above all personal questions, will further that good by upholding
and constructing. Yale is, indeed, just finding itself, and except to
the dyspeptic few, the discovery is largely happy.