Page 37 - 1912 May - To Dragma

156 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA 0MICRON PI

SOPHOMORE PLEDGE-DAY

T H E OTHER VIEW OF T H E QUESTION

So much has been w r i t t e n d u r i n g the last few years regarding
Sophomore Pledge-Day, that it seems almost useless to devote more
space to the subject. However, as those who have expressed them-
selves have almost in variably been i n favor o f the plan, ( i n fact i t
seemed at one time to be a decided indication o f bad taste to voice
an opinion i n the negative) and as this article w i l l give the opposite
view, i t may not prove an entire waste of space and time. T h e ex-
pressions of opinion herein given, are not offered with the intention
of reflecting the views of Alpha Omicron Pi, or of binding her
officials to any definite course in the future, but they are given to
remind us that perhaps there are two sides to the question.

The advocates of sophomore pledge-day claim it is the only
sane method o f rushing, f o r the reason that acquaintances w i l l be
formed in the slow and normal-way. Another advantage, according
to their way of thinking, w i l l result f r o m the improved scholarship
of both the freshman and the upperclassmen. Finally it w i l l re-
move from the sorority and University the problem of the girl who
comes to school f o r but one year, w i t h the intentions of making a
sorority and as few credits as possible. There may be other advant-
ages, but these seem to be the most common ones offered, and are
sufficient f o r the purposes of this article.

Before plunging headlong into a tirade against sophomore pledg-
ing, it seems best to show that the system does exist i n a number o f
colleges throughout our country, but at the same time i t shows i n
what sorts of colleges it exists and why it is possible to exist there.
Sophomore pledge-day is i n existence at present i n the H . Sophie
Newcomb College, New Orleans, and in Barnard College, New
Y o r k City, and the results seem to be satisfactory. I t is being tried
f o r the first time this year at R a n d o l p h - M a c o n Woman's College,
L y n c h b u r g , V a . , and at K n o x College, Galesburg, 111. I n both o f
these colleges, i t w i l l more than likely be successful, inasumch as
the former is a college f o r women only, and the latter is one of the
smaller co-educational institutions. A number of years ago the plan
was tried at the University of Minnesota, but with disastrous results,
due partly to the fact that the institution was one o f the larger co-
educational sorts. Even the late pledge-day does not seem to be
satisfactory i n the large co-educational institutions. Cornell has a
pledge-day as late as December, w h i l e Tennessee has one in Febru-
ary. I n both o f these places the results are successful and easily