University of Virginia Library

System Examination

Rush is here and the first-year
men are beginning a six-week
period of having their backs
slapped etc. Many of these men,
in fact most of them, accept the
fraternity system with a minimum
of questioning. There seem to be
very definite advantages to the system
but often the advantages to
be gained by its abolition are overlooked
or go unstated. The first-year
men should be exposed to
the arguments for both sides
before they are called upon to make
a decision.

The advantages are usually
stated in terms of service to the
University, close fraternal relationships,
basis of social life,
organizing units for intramural
athletics, etc. The question which
arises and demands examination
is could these purposes be served
as well by alternate means if the
system were abandoned. The
arguments against fraternities,
though rarely stated, are important.
With a greater percentage
of the students living in the dorms,
there would be more force behind
measures which would improve
living and social conditions. The
politics at the University would
become more representative of the
student body. The organizations,
like the Union, the Corks and
Curls, etc., would no longer be
controlled by any specific section
of the student body, like the fraternities.

It is not in my opinion deplorable
that the fraternity system
exists but I think it unfortunate
that there has been little open
criticism or debate on the situation.
I hope that the first-year men examine
the pros and cons of the
system and make an educated and
not a fatalistic decision.