University of Virginia Library

Backs Rush

I read Mr. Ted Jordan's reply to
Mark Storm in Monday's C.D. and
was very surprised to see Mr. Storm
criticized for inviting first yearmen
to rush and seek the truth about
fraternities. I saw nothing self-righteous
in his letter nor anything that
warranted such harsh and vulgar
criticism. However, the same cannot
be said of Mr. Jordan's reply.

Mr. Jordan wasted no time in
displaying his ignorance of the fraternity
system. It is not a fact that
"rush is designed and practiced by
the fraternities to obscure the facts
about fraternity life." Nor is it
amazing that such a large percentage
of first yearmen believe that "a
sense of brotherly love pervades the
lives of fraternity men", It is amazing
that a fraternity system has
existed and flourished here since
1852 resting on a foundation as
superficial as Mr. Jordan suggests.

As for the "black ball" system,
Mr. Jordan has to admit that a
fraternity must be somewhat selective
when each house welcomes
over four hundred rushees in a
single rush season. If he has an
alternative means of narrowing this
number to a reasonable size, I'm
sure all thirty-three houses would
welcome hearing from him.

As a former "axeman", I can
honestly say that no rushee has ever
been deceived or misled concerning
his chances for membership in our
house. When the axe falls, it falls as
swiftly and as painlessly as possible.
The system is selective, but reason
dictates that it must be.

Finally, I fall to see how the
"black ball" system relates to a
rushee's finding out the truth about
fraternities. The facts and figures
are there; one need only rush to get
them.