University of Virginia Library

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL RULES

At the request of the Visitors, Mr. Joseph Carter, President of the Interfraternity Council,
appeared and presented the following proposed rules which had been agreed upon by the Council.

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL HOUSE RULES

1. Ladies may be admitted to fraternity houses between the hours of 12 noon and 10 p.m. on
Monday through Thursday inclusive, and between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 midnight on Friday, 10 a.m.

and 1 a.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. and 12 midnight on Sunday. No ladies are to remain in fraternity
houses after the designated hours unless approved chaperons are present. The Dean of Students will be
requested to compile a list of approved chaperons. Ladies are to be entertained in living and recreation
rooms only.

2. Fraternity houses shall be conducted in an orderly and gentlemanly manner.

3. Special rules will be made for dance week ends and special occasions by the Interfraternity
Council.

4. Each fraternity shall be responsible for the enforcement of these rules and for the conduct
of its members. The Interfraternity Council shall assume full jurisdiction over the enforcement
of the rules as applied to fraternity houses, and over the punishment of any violations thereof.

Mr. Carter stated that twenty-four fraternities were members of the Council and that while
the rules had not been accepted by all the chapters, a majority had signified their willingness to be
bound by them. He pointed out to the Visitors the difficulty of persuading the fraternity representatives
that it is their responsibility to formulate rules for the conduct of their chapters. In reply
to questions as to the late hours and lack of chaperones, he stated that while the rules might be regarded
as liberal they represented, in his opinion, the maximum in regulation that the fraternities and
the Interfraternity Council would agree to enforce.

Mr. Carter stated further that he believed progress was being made in formulating rules by the
Interfraternity Council, the Student Council, and the President.

The President stated to the Visitors that Mr. Carter had been unflagging in his efforts to
arrive at a workable plan for the government of fraternities at the University, and that the rules submitted,
which represented a substantial achievement, were in no small part brought about by his industry
and perseverance.

The Visitors after a lengthy discussion of the subject with Mr. Carter tendered him their
thanks for his assistance and excused him.

President Darden asked Mr. Edward C. Anderson to present to the Board a brief summary of conferences
held by the Student Activities Committee of the Board of Visitors with the Interfraternity
Council, from the formation of the Student Activities Committee in June of 1946 until the present. Mr.
Anderson made the following statement.

"The first contact which I had with student representatives dealing with regulations governing
fraternity houses occurred in the late summer of 1946. A committee of students called on me at my home
to report that the Interfraternity Council had presented a set of regulations to President Newcomb
during the spring or early summer of that year and that President Newcomb had returned the regulations
to the Interfraternity Council without comment. The committee calling on me wanted to know what the
council should do next. I told them that the Board of Visitors had recently appointed a Committee on
Student Affairs and that this committee would shortly meet with the Interfraternity Council and consider
the question of regulations governing fraternity houses.

"On October 10th the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Visitors, consisting of Mrs.
Ben Wailes, Judge A. D. Barksdale, Mr. Richard Carrington, Jr. and myself as Chairman, met with the
Interfraternity Council. The set of regulations governing conduct in the fraternity houses and setting
forth visiting hours for ladies which had been presented to President Newcomb, were again presented by
the Interfraternity Council. These regulations were identical with those which were later presented by
the Interfraternity Council to the Board of Visitors at its meeting on December 12, 1947. A full evening
was devoted to discussing the regulations in question, student behavior in general and particularly
the boy-girl problem in the fraternity houses. The committee tried to emphasize to the students the concern
which the Board of Visitors felt that no adequate regulations dealing with the visiting hours of
young ladies were in force; also these students were told that the Board of Visitors did not with to
prepare rules of conduct governing the fraternity houses but was very anxious that the fraternities
themselves should prepare and enforce a set of regulations which would properly control behavior in the
fraternity houses and set reasonable limitations on the visiting of young ladies in such houses. It is
my recollection that we discussed with the Interfraternity Council a possibility of employing house
mothers or chaperons in order to improve conditions.

"The set of regulations which the Interfraternity Council presented at the meeting was returned
to them by the committee as inadequate and the meeting adjourned with the committee of the board feeling
that the Interfraternity Council would consider the question further and would present a new set of regulations
which would more nearly meet the ideas of the committee. The Interfraternity Council did not
indicate that it would do this. In fact, the statements made by members of the council were to the
effect that the report of conditions at the university was greatly exaggerated and there was no need of
any change being made."

Dean Newman was asked to appear and he presented to the Visitors information which he had
gathered from other institutions bearing on student life. He also presented a copy of the rules under
which the fraternity houses operated at the University during the year 1942-43 - the last year before
the demands of the armed services made it impossible for the houses to continue. He also presented
information from some of the national organizations showing the rules governing the chapters making up
their membership. This information furnished by Dean Newman is set forth below.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF REGULATIONS OR POLICIES RELATIVE TO
PRESENCE OF WOMEN GUESTS IN FRATERNITIES OR CLUBS AT THE
INSTITUTIONS SUGGESTED BY PRESIDENT DARDEN. (Names of
institutions are arranged in alphabetical order.)

Alabama, University of

"Women guests are never permitted in any fraternity house which does not have a housemother.
In case a fraternity should be without a housemother, women guests are permitted in the house only when
there is an approved chaperone present. In all cases, women guests must be out of the fraternity
houses at 10:45 P.M., which is the time the women students have to be in their dormitories or sorority
houses. The special arrangements made for dances provide for chaperoned parties to be given for one
hour after the end of each dance. The dances and at 1:00 A.M. for Friday night dances and at 12:00
midnight for Saturday night dances."

Harvard College

Women shall not enter any student's room, club, or fraternity between the hours of 1:00 and
7:00 P.M. without permission, and then only when there is a chaperone. On special occasions, (football
games, dances, etc.) the time is extended to 9:00 P.M.

North Carolina, University of

"The privilege of entertaining unchaperoned women student visitors in fraternity houses is
based upon the acceptance of certain basic standards. The acceptance is made in the form of a pledge
to uphold these standards, and the pledge is binding on the fraternity that gives it and on every individual
of that fraternity.

"It devolves upon the House Privileges Board to assume the responsibility for the program of
unchaperoned visiting and guarantee the environment of a gracious home for women student visitors.

"The House Privileges Board accepts the responsibility for the overall administration of the
visiting program. The Interfraternity Council and the Women's Council are jointly responsible for enforcing
the agreement. The assumption of responsibility is not taken lightly by this Board and the
following agreement will be administered and enforced in such a manner as to fulfill the obligations we
have accepted.

"The fundamental standards for fraternities, governing conduct in the presence of women student
visitors, are:

• 1. Women students may be entertained only in the social rooms approved by the
  House Privileges Board.

• 2. Approved houses shall be open to women students from 12:00 noon until the
  dormitory closing time for women.

• 3. There shall be no consumption of alcoholic beverages in the presence of, or
  by, women students in the house or on the premises of any fraternity.

"Every fraternity member shall be bound to uphold his part in the commitment of his fraternity.
Every fraternity member shall be required to prevent the occurrence of violations on the property of his
fraternity.

"The individual fraternity is responsible for the conduct of all visitors on its property.
The term "visitors" is all-inclusive."

Dean's personal comment on the subject: "This matter of women students' visiting in fraternity
houses has given us plenty of trouble. ...With all its faults this plan is still in vogue awaiting some
better or more satisfactory arrangement. . . If you find one that is more satisfactory I hope you will
let us know."

Pennsylvania, University of

"Fraternity members are responsible collectively and individually for conduct within their
fraternity house.

"Members of fraternities desiring to entertain ladies in their fraternity house are required
to register such entertainment in the office of the Dean of Student Affairs at least one week in advance
of the date on which the entertainment is to take place. Two married ladies and not the wives of undergraduate
students will be required to act officially as chaperons and their names and addresses must be
given at the time of registration. When written acceptance has been received from the chaperons, the
entertainment will be duly registered and the fraternity notified.

"It is not necessary to comply with these registration requirements when ladies are to be
entertained in a fraternity house between the hours of Noon to 2:00 P.M. and 5:30 to 8:00 P.M. on
Wednesdays and Fridays, and Noon to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays."

Princeton University

From the General Regulations:

"Students will be held strictly responsible for the conduct which occurs in their rooms. Students
must control their visitors.

From the "Gentleman's Agreement"

"It is understood that it is the duty of the resident undergraduate members to see that all
ladies leave the club at nine o'clock. Upon the President of the club granting written permission, an
undergraduate may have a lady in the club after nine but in no case later than eleven o'clock in the
evening. The resident undergraduate members must report to the President the following morning the names
of those members who had lady guests after nine o'clock, whether they stated that they had permission from
the President or not."

Tulane University of Louisiana

"All mixed functions at fraternity houses after 6:00 p.m. will be chaperoned by a couple, or
two or more women of 30 years or over, selected from a list which has been previously approved by the
university. This list will be turned in for approval in order to meet future requirements. There will
be no women in the houses before noon.

"Saturday night and holiday eve parties at fraternity houses will cease at 1:00 a.m.

"Friday and Sunday night parties will cease at 11:00 p.m.

"Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night parties will be held only with special permission
of the university; time to be designated by them."

Yale University

"Ladies may be in the fraternity houses unchaperoned until 9:00 p.m., but if they stay from 9
to 1 there must be chaperones."

From Dartmouth College: Report of the Special Committee on Rules:

WOMEN GUESTS

The seven institutions (Amherst, Bowdoin, Harvard, Princeton, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale)
show no uniformity in their regulations relating to women guests in students' rooms. Amherst and Bowdoin
prohibit women guests in the dormitory rooms at any time. The latter (and presumably the former) permits
them in the social rooms of fraternity houses until 9 on week nights and until 12 on Saturday and party
nights. Only when accompanied by their own or the students' parents or guardians are they permitted to
visit a student's upstairs quarters.

"Harvard permits women guests in a student's room only between the hours of 1 and 7 P.M. and
then only with the permission of the housemaster or the dormitory proctor. A chaperone is also required.

"Williams allows women guests in students' rooms only with the express permission of the Dean
and then only between the hours of 1 and 6:30 P.M.

"Princeton permits an "attended woman guest" in a student's room between the hours of 12 noon
and 6 P.M. Yale likewise permits women guests in students' rooms but only between the hours of 12 noon
and 6 P.M. unless written permission for a longer visit is first secured from the Dean or housemaster.
Wesleyan permits women guests in students' rooms between the hours of 2 and 6 P.M. with the permission
of the dormitory proctor, who incidentally, is an undergraduate."

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH FRATERNITY HOUSES
MAY BE OPERATED IN THE SESSION 1942-1943

These conditions, mutually agreed upon by a committee representing the fraternities and by the
administrative officers of the University on September 24, 1942, shall be in force from this date during
their faithful observance. In case they are not effective in correcting abuses, they are subject to revision
or repeal.

In the event of violation of any of these conditions by any fraternity at the University of
Virginia, the offending chapter house shall be closed by the University either permanently or for such
a period as the University may determine.

• I. Women shall be admitted to fraternity houses under the following conditions:

  • A. They shall under all circumstances be admitted only to the living and recreation
    rooms.

  • B. From Monday through Thursday women may visit fraternity houses from 1:30 p.m. to
    7:30 p.m. This permission does not apply to residents of Charlottesville and
    vicinity, which includes those living in or within five miles of the city limits of
    Charlottesville; or to nurses, co-eds, and visitors who remain longer than two weeks.
    Mothers, wives, and sisters of active members shall be exempt from restrictions
    applying to residents of Charlottesville.

  • C. From 1:30 p.m. Friday till 7:30 p.m. Sunday, women may be in the fraternity houses
    during the following hours:

         

    Friday	1:30 p.m. to 12:00 Midnight
    Saturday	11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
    Sunday	11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • D. On nights of authorized University Dances, the night hours shall be extended to one
    hour after the dance.

  • E. For special occasions, permission for any extension of these hours must be obtained
    from the Dean of the University.

• II. General open mixed parties must be registered with the Dean of the University and suitable
  chaperons approved by him must be present. Those parties must be confined to the inner
  limits of the house.

• III. If alcoholic drinks are served at any party, alternative non-alcoholic drinks must be
  provided.

• IV. No after-dance party may be authorized by the Dean.

• V. A Counsellor for each fraternity house will be appointed by the Dean of the University.
  The Counsellor will live in the fraternity house and be responsible to the Dean for the
  conduct of the house.

• VI. An Advisory Board of five Counsellors appointed by the Dean will advise with him on
  uniform house rules.

• VII. Women of bad character are not permitted in a fraternity house at any time.

• VIII. Decent and upright conduct shall be maintained at all time, and no conduct will be tolerated
  that reflects in any way upon the good name of the fraternity or of the University.
  This applies to excessive drinking, excessive noise, indecent exposure, objectionable
  language, and offensive conduct in general.

Accepted for the _____ chapter of the _____ _____ Fraternity by its authorized
representative on this ___ day of __________, 19__.

____________________
Representative

Authorized for the University

____________________
Dean

STATEMENTS ABOUT THE STAND TAKEN ON THE SUBJECT OF DRINKING
AND THE POSSESSION OF LIQUOR IN FRATERNITY HOUSES BY EACH
ONE OF THE NATIONAL FRATERNITIES WITH CHAPTERS LOCATED AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

The majority of the national fraternities follow the lead of the institutions in which they
have chapters thereby letting each institution set its own standard. Although there are individual
variations, this policy may be stated as follows:

In other words, the institution decides on its rules and the national fraternity exerts every effort
possible to see that these rules are observed by its chapter at that institution.

The national fraternities represented at the University which follow the above principle or
policy are: Beta Theta Pi, Chi Phi, Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall), Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Phi
Epsilon Pi, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Theta Delta Chi,
Zeta Psi.

Phi Delta Theta

"The General Statutes of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity" states, in part, as follows: "Every
chapter occupying a chapter house must adopt strict rules for the government thereof, which shall,
among other things, prohibit all gambling, use or presence of intoxicating liquors and other forms of
vice in the chapter house."

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

"House Rules. Gambling, harboring immoral persons, and use of intoxicating liquor as a beverage,
in a Chapter house or hall of the Fraternity, or at any banquet or event held in the name or under the
auspices of the Fraternity, or any Chapter or alumni organization thereof, are forbidden."

Sigma Chi

"Sigma Chi has in its Constitution a prohibition against bringing liquor into the chapter
house or the consuming of the same therein. This prohibition is for the use of liquor in the house at
any time and for any occasion."

Sigma Nu

Statutes, Chapter VIII, Section 9:

"First. The value of character and the honor of a good name being cherished, the chapter shall
forbid any form of gambling, the use of intoxicating liquors, the presence of any degraded persons or the
utterance of any language which is filthy, obscene or ungodly.

"Fifth. Suspension shall be the minimum penalty in case of violation of these Chapter House
Rules."

Theta Chi

"Our fraternity has a definite national ban against use of intoxicating liquors in the fraternity
chapter houses either by individuals as individuals or for planned entertainment."

Zeta Beta Tau

"The Zeta Beta Tau National Fraternity prohibits drinking in chapter houses."

- - -

Fraternities who have not furnished information on this subject are: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha
Tau Omega, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Phi (St. Elmo Hall), Phi Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha.

- - - -

Dean Newman suggested to the Visitors that it would be most effective if a joint agreement
could be arrived at with the Interfraternity Council and he expressed the hope that negotiations might
continue.

The Visitors, after a mature consideration of the problem, concluded unanimously that it was
incumbent upon them to establish a code governing the operations of the fraternities. They expressed
the belief that the proposals of the Interfraternity Council were not suitable in that the hours for
entertainment would interfere with studying in the fraternity houses and further that the lack of chaperones
when young ladies were being entertained at late hours, was undesirable.

After consideration of the Interfraternity Council plan, the Board amended their rules to read
as follows:

(1) Fraternity houses shall be conducted in an orderly and gentlemanly manner.

(2) Women are to be entertained in living and recreation rooms only.

(3) No women shall be permitted in fraternity houses on Monday through Friday before 3:00 P.M.
nor after 8:00 P.M. under any circumstances.

(4) No women shall be permitted in fraternity houses on Saturday and Sunday before 11:00 A.M.
nor after 8:00 P.M. under any circumstances.

(5) With the proviso that on Friday and Saturday nights women shall be permitted in fraternity
houses until 1:00 A.M. if chaperones approved by the Dean of Students are present.

(6) The officers of each fraternity shall be held responsible for enforcing these rules.

It was understood that there would be no publication of the rules until they could be presented
to the Interfraternity Council by the President who was asked by the Visitors to thank the Council for
their suggestions.