University of Virginia Library

In response to your editorial of
February 17, "Fraternities," we, as
members of the "lone sorority"
here at the University, feel that the
article was extremely opinionated
and failed to bring out any positive
aspects of fraternity and sorority
life.

Concerning the lack of academic
productivity to which you referred,,
over one third of our members
are presently on the Dean's List of
Distinguished Students. We believe
that a sisterhood of college women
founded on the highest principles
and chosen from the top moral,
social, cultural, and intellectual
levels represents the zenith in
unified feminine achievement. Such
a sisterhood challenges the finest
facets of character and personality
to the greatest attainment possible
for the individual and for the
college institution. Our sorority is
the vibrant, living embodiment of
this ideal. We believe that sorority
membership gives those participating
very definite and real values.
To us, a Fraternity is a design or
pattern for living by means of
which each member develops a
richer, fuller life. We further believe
that the qualities of friendship,
scholarship (out reason for being at
the University), activities, social
and personal development, organization
and improving standards are
values to be found in our sorority.

Contrary to your article, we feel
that fraternities and sororities
should exist separately here as they
do now and will in the future. As
women of this University and
members of this sorority, it is not
our intention to provide for coeducational
living, but to obtain an
education and constantly to be of
the highest caliber morally, intellectually,
and socially, and to continue
the high standards and ideals of our
sorority throughout life.

We do not believe that the
"mutually exclusive sorority or
fraternity be laid to rest." The idea
of communal living is absurd!