Page 4 - 1913 November - To Dragma

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 7

occasional receptions or plays for the college, dances, "spreads" and
country house parties during vacations.

From time to time there has been agitation against fraternities.
This became especially acute last autumn, when there was an ex-
ceptionally active discussion among our students concerning the ad-
vantages and disadvantages of this form of social organization. The
ouestion was taken up by Student Council, which was unable, how-
ever, to reach any decisive vote. A plan of investigation was there-
fore agreed upon by this body and by the Faculty Committee on
Student Organizations. In order to hear testimony and collect all
possible evidence on the subject, an investigating committee was or-
ganized, consisting of the six members of the Faculty Committee on
Student Organizations, four alumna?—of whom two were fraternity
members and two not,—and four undergraduates—of whom two
were fraternity members and two were not. This general commit-
tee held fifteen meetings. I t invited testimony from the members of
Student Council, from representatives of the fraternity chapters,
and from the officers of the College. I t also gave a hearing to all
undergraduates and alumna? who expressed a desire to appear be-
fore it.

At its last meeting, on May 14, this Investigation Committee
adopted a report embodying its conclusions and recommendations.
I t decided that the evils of fraternities, as they are at present organ-
ized and conducted in Barnard College, on the whole outweigh the
advantages; that these organizations often cause snobbishness by
overemphasizing lines of social cleavage, especially race lines; that
they frequently erect artificial barriers against natural intercourse;
that they cause pain to some people who are left out; that "rushing"
and "pledge day" often produce confusion, distractions and bad man-
ners ; and that the element of secrecy is especially harmful, in that
it inspires suspicion in outsiders and gives the organizations a mor-
bid importance in the eyes of young students. During the course
of the investigation evidence was presented, moreover, which, though
incomplete, tended to show that the scholarship of members of fra-
ternity chapters during the past year has been somewhat inferior to
that of non-fraternity students.

On the other hand, the committee concluded that the fraternities
attain some rather important social ends. They aid their members
to form congenial, intimate friendships with other Barnard students
and to enjoy regular opportunities for wholesome social enjoyment
centering in Barnard. They cut across the class lines, make pos-
sible friendships between older and younger students, alumnae and