Each year thousands of young men and women begin their college life and each year many of the young men consider joining a social fraternity some of these young men may have already had a chance to learn about fraternity life and ideals others try to find out all they can about fraternities on the
Campus on which they plan to study the fraternity open house invitation is one of many formal and formal occasions when almost any young man of good character and scholarship may meet fraternity members and ask them questions that will help him make up his mind about the fraternity idea
He may then decide to pledge a particular fraternity or he may choose not to join a fraternity at all it remains a tough decision for both the young man and the fraternity because friendships that are made while one is away at college are important the group of men bound together by a
Desire for genuine comradeship and ideals constitutes the lifeblood of any fraternity and therein lies the justification for the paternity idea when a young man is chosen by a fraternity he receives a bid if he accepts he becomes a pledge and his membership for a time is probationary
On many campuses he may live in the fraternity house during this period for the new man there will be a period of growing into the kind of cooperative living that makes the fraternity this is the pledge period during this time there is every opportunity for the active members and
The new man to get to know each other they may study and work together wherever they wish or they may enjoy relaxing in their own house the fraternity strives for a well-balanced chapter with a variety of talents and personalities one of the first things the pledge
Learns is that he is now part of a group which accepts him as an equal and he takes his place at once as an important part of the life of his fraternity the guiding principle of pledge training is to further the art of living with one’s fellows
So that one becomes a useful and effective member of society the chapter selects a pledge trainer to develop the new man effectively for full and active membership in some fraternities each one of the active members serves as a fraternity father and adopts a pledge the pledge trainer and the fraternity
Father both assume responsibility for the overall training and counseling program and maintain continued interest in the pledges the fraternity father may start by initiating the pledge into the art of being a good college man he tells the pledge about the college and its outstanding features and traditions
He introduces him to people who are active in college and student affairs the pledge learns to be a gentleman at all times and to accord each person respect in this way he himself commands respect he is responsible for his own progress but the fraternity can be a powerful factor in the development of
His scholarship character and personality the overall treatment of a pledge is necessarily individual and personal and is prompted by the fraternity’s keen interest in him the fraternity father introduces the pledge into campus and chapter activities opens the way for his participation in organization and starts him on the road toward conscientious study
In the months that follow the pledges as a group work and study together for a common interest and grow into brotherhood each pledge knows that after his training period he must be judged a gentleman in every sense of the word he must be judged a scholar a good member of society
And a credit to his college and his chapter with these accomplishments the probationary period is over the pledge is ready for initiation into active membership with its full responsibilities before he is initiated a pledge traditionally is given a final testing of his willingness to become active this pre-initiation period once called
Hell week is fast becoming health week on many campuses the fraternities are eliminating outmoded hazing practices and are using this week for intensive work on tasks to improve their chapter their school and their community a positive constructive and new tradition no longer is this week meant to prove a
Pledges ability to take it but rather to show how much he will give for others all year round the formal initiation ceremony and its rituals impress upon each new man the deeper meanings of fraternity ideals and bestow upon him a lifetime membership in a fraternal group
In this way the fraternity idea lives on our hearts are ever in our secrets by now the new initiate has learned that the fraternity is a self-governing body and that much is involved in keeping the chapter going he is also aware that fraternity activities are subject to the rules and
Regulations of the college and those adopted by the national governing body for the individual the regular chapter house meetings provide experiences for growth and development in leadership they give him practice in developing the art of thinking on his feet in carefully considering the viewpoints of others and in speaking with persuasion and
Diplomatic appeal meal time in the chapter house is a friendly and cheerful occasion as the boys eat together good healthful food is served and good eating manners are encouraged occasionally traveling brothers or alumni stop over at a chapter house they are always welcomed within the fraternity system part-time jobs national and local
Scholarships and individual loans help some members with college expenses because fraternity houses are run and maintained by the cooperative efforts of pledges and actives belonging to a fraternity today may not cost very much more than living in the residence halls or in a private and often lonely room in town
The efficient operation of a smooth running chapter house becomes a venture of considerable size members of the chapter assume this responsibility with the help and proper supervision of a competent individual usually an alumnus with considerable experience together they make sure that finances are being handled in a responsible manner
Also when needed alumni advisers are always willing to give the chapter their time and the benefits of their experience with social scholastic and other problems fraternities are building and remodeling to provide housing for their members support for these programs comes largely from their alumni college administrators also encourage the fraternities in their expansion
Programs to help ease a housing problem on each campus the various fraternities meet together regularly as an inter-fraternity council to exchange ideas and to act for their common welfare in addition the statewide regional and national conclaves present opportunities for meeting brothers across the country and for an even wider exchange of ideas
And experiences fraternities are also active in the student government on campus and support their members who wish to participate in such activities many members broaden their leadership experiences through serving as elected officers or as committee members in either campus organizations or in their own chapters the range of experience for each
Fraternity member also continues to grow as he performs his everyday tasks with responsibility cooperation loyalty and self-discipline actually the success of any chapter depends upon the way its members handle their own everyday problems for the men in a fraternity make the fraternity sometimes the fraternities executive committee may find it necessary to
Counsel a member whose repeated errors are serious leading to poor scholarship and general unreliability well now that we have had to review john’s case again do all you men feel like this is the best course of action which we could take both for john and for the fraternity
Don’t you think this is a little bit too severe definitely not i think he needs something like this to get him back on the right track well john’s been previously warned and i believe with the facts presented in the circumstances involved this is the only possible action
Well dr burnham has our advisor do you feel that these are the right steps which we are taking well sam i think you’ve handled it very well indeed a situation like this is a very delicate one at best and calls for much consideration which you fellows have certainly given it
Well in the life of the fact the majority agrees upon this decision i suggest that you call john right in of course any action taken is reviewed by the entire chapter john once again the executive committee has had to review your case scholarship is the primary responsibility of the college
And the fraternity places strong emphasis on scholastic achievement special resident counselors often graduate students give members personal help in planning their courses in scheduling their classes and in pointing out resources for study the maintenance of individual high standards in every field including scholarship is encouraged by friendly competition among the fraternities
Coveted plaques and trophies awarded after keen competition are proudly and conspicuously displayed in the fraternity house many of these awards are donated by distinguished alumni the cup of scholarship stands in its place along with the trophies symbolizing accomplishment in football basketball baseball and every other campus sport there are also trophies awarded for
Special events and activities here a chapter proudly shows its award for an outstanding performance by its barbershop quartet sally had a news the chapter trophy case symbolizes the striving for an outstanding and well-balanced college career studying is the job of the student and fraternity members take their studies and exams seriously
A member may choose to study wherever he wishes he may study by himself or with others and it is encouraging to know that he can always count on health from his brothers often regular supervised study periods particularly for pledges are arranged at the house during these periods quiet hours are
Kept both in the daytime and in the evening in general the atmosphere tends to be one of seriousness without solemnity oh foreign tell me why moonlight serenades frequent dances combo jam sessions exchange dinners these and many other enjoyable experiences are also part of fraternity life mother’s weekend is a special occasion
As they arrive on campus mothers are greeted warmly by the boys and their house mother while she is visiting the campus each mother stays at her son’s fraternity house in this way she sees her boys home on campus and gets a feeling for fraternity life she often takes part in a mother’s club
Meeting and gets acquainted with other mothers whether it’s a modest patio picnic or a grand banquet mothers and dads enjoy the weekend activities arranged by the chapter because they are interested in the welfare of the fraternity parents and alumni are kept in touch with chapter activities and university news through
The fraternities publications and newsletters dad has his day too and records his day in snapshots for the memory album he also enjoys meeting some of the other fathers fraternity members are active in both varsity and intramural sports and each athletic season brings with it its own excitement there are countless opportunities for
Recreation and relaxation opportunities to balance hard work with wholesome play fraternity members make lasting friendships with foreign students and learn to appreciate men of other cultures do this balinese students dance sponsored by a chapter is one of the many pleasant and memorable occasions when informal student faculty relations and the
Exchange of ideas are encouraged many members of the faculty are also members of a social fraternity after graduation most men will be working towards successful careers that bring honor and recognition fraternities are interested in the individual careers of men and service beyond self if a man in the prime of his life can
Say that he owes much of his success to the development of attitudes friendships and ideals through living in the chapter house then his fraternity life has been invaluable an outstanding educator president of a leading university is expressing this idea to a fraternity group for whatever service
I am able to give both within and without fraternity circles i cannot properly compensate for what my fraternity has done for me within the fraternity i have found nearly all my intimate personal friends in it as an undergraduate i gained broad administrative experience and from it i have derived imperishable ideals of conduct
No man should accept such a contribution unless he gives of himself unselfishly in return to fraternity work such men never lose loyalty to their college and fraternity and express their support and service in many ways these alumni build and represent the tradition of the chakras the college years cover the span of a
Young man’s life that holds tremendous possibilities for the development of his scholarship personality and potentialities through the fraternity young men can make their college years vital years in which they will enjoy friendships experiences and steady growth leading towards success in their future endeavors you
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