University of Virginia Library

System Worth Saving?

Fraternities Changing

By Wayne Cardon

Many people believe that the
fraternity system at the University
is on the wane, and it very well
could be. Those who oppose the
system have some very strong arguments.
The time has come to recognize
the system's flaws, see if they
can be corrected, or determine if
it's really worth the effort to do
anything.

The most apparent defect in the
fraternities at Virginia is the decrepit
physical condition of the
houses. Why should a student pay
more to live in a dump, when he
has inexpensive, modern dormitories
and apartments available to
him. Years ago the University set
aside forty acres of land near University
Hall for the purpose of
constructing modern fraternity
houses. The organizations, however,
have shown no organized interest in
making a move, and now it appears
that the land may be used for other
purposes. If something is not done
soon, the houses will eventually be
forced to close down, thus destroying
the system as we know it.
The IFC has been trying for years
to stimulate action by the fraternities,
but thus far only the DKE's
and the ZBT's anticipate new structures
within the next few years.

Is the system worth saving?

The fraternities are rapidly
losing their appeal. Why should a
student join and pay to party there,
when he is admitted free of charge
to parties sponsored by the
brothers? Fraternity men have long
been giving independents a free
ride. They enjoy numerous benefits
of brotherhood without paying
dues and without any other obligations.
Knowing these facts, and
there are more, is the system actually
worth saving? Those who have
experienced fraternal living believe
strongly that it is. With the University's
enrollment increasing each
year, it has become difficult for the
student to maintain his individuality.
This may sound very general
and even trite, but it is not. Fraternities
provide a unique opportunity
to create life-long friendships with
individuals who share common
interests and ideas. These relationships
are developed over a period of
years and can rarely be duplicated
outside the realm of the fraternity
system. Every brother has an opportunity
to identify with the
group, to know that he is an individual
of importance, with friends
upon whom he can depend. The
independent also has opportunities
for close friendships, but it is difficult
to maintain contact with a
large number of associates during a
period of several years. Thus, the
independent misses out on an essential
part of University life.

One may argue that other colleges
and universities get along very
well without fraternities. Some of
these institutions have prohibited
or abolished formal fraternal organizations,
but usually they continue
to flourish under a variety of
designations. For example, Princeton
abolished fraternities. Shortly
thereafter various clubs began to
form, no longer called fraternities,
but with the same idea, to inspire
and express the interrelation of the
individual with his fellows.

The fraternity system at Virginia
will not die, but it will change.
The houses must alter their structures,
both physically and socially,
to suit the needs of a changing
university. At this time they can
choose which course they wish to
follow, but if they do not act soon,
they will not have a choice in the
future.

Mr. Cardon is President of ZBT
fraternity and a member of the IFC
rush board.