1939–40 Volume 64 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

The SCROLL of Phi Delta Theta for September, 1939 13
ond, that within each group a spirit of
individualism had broken down the aim
of co-operative achievement, just as that
of the fraternities as a group had been
destroyed. In 1934, the Dean of the college
had stated that "the Fraternity
Criteria did not impress Dartmouth
chapters to any noticeable degree, since
the principles stated were in common
practice"; and yet two years later it was
found that they had failed to make themselves
vital.
The work of reconstruction was
started under a new fraternity adviser
with the intention of eliminating a "lack
of purpose and chronic apathy" which
an intensive survey of the social life of
the college had revealed. The interfratemity
council was strengthened and
many discarded activities were revived.
The fraternities forgot themselves and
turned toward the assistance of the community;
in the happiness which their efforts
produced was to be found the
stimulus of satisfaction. Through a closer
contact between faculty and fraternity
was bom a new sense of the common
aim of the college and fraternity. Within
individual groups occurred a similar
renaissance. Beginning within one chapter
a few members studied the ideals of
their ritual and sought to apply these
toward the spiritual enrichment of the
members. Through this self-criticism
were they able to bring to clearer light
the ideals which had stimulated their
founders.
"In view of the gratifying changes in
the status of fraternities at Dartmouth
College both in their local aspects and
in their national relationships, within
the last three years" the trustees in June
voted to table the recommendation for
dissolution and expressed their approval
of fraternity conditions as they now
exist.
At a time when in other universities
questioning glances are being cast at fraternities
by the administrations this
clean bill of health should serve as a
powerful stimulus. In practically every
instance the college administrations are
more than willing to co-operate. The
common fraternity ideals exist in the
Fraternity Criteria, adopted by the National
Interfraternity Conference, and
the projects to which the interfraternity
councils can devote their efforts are
countless. As at Dartmouth, only a few
strong leaders are necessary to inspire
the groups. Where this co-operation occurs,
both the college and the fraternity
will be proud to boast that they have
brought out the "finer man."
Corrigenda
NUMEROUS Phis have called attention to certain omissions and errors in Brother Speers's article on
our high army officers which appeared in the June SCROLL.
The most conspicuous omission, and the one most frequently mentioned, is that of Col. WILLIAM
A. GANOE, Dickinson '02, now on duty at Pittsburgh as Chief of Staff, Organized Reserves. He is
widely known as a lecturer and writer on the history of the United States Army. Another name
omitted is that of Major THOMAS E. MAY, Oregon State '14, Instructor, National Guard of Oregon.
Col. FRANCIS HARDAWAY, Washington (St. Louis) '09, is commanding the Harbor Defenses of
Chesapeake Bay and the Second Coast Artillery, Fort Monroe, Va., not the Coast Artillery in
Hawaii, as stated. Major PORTER P. LOWRY, South Dakota '16, Coast Artillery Corps, is on duty at
the Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, as all who attended the Old Point Comfort Convention
will well remember; he has never been stationed in the Judge Advocate General's office. Major
WILTON B. PERSONS, Auburn '16, is in the Signal Corps, not the Air Corps, as stated. The portrait
given as that of Col. FREDERICK A. PRINCE is that of another officer who is not a Phi.
In fairness to Brother Speers and the Phi otBcer who helped him compile the list, it should be
stated that the article had to be hurried more than it should have been in order to make the
publication deadline, and for that the Editor is responsible. Both the Author and the Editor deeply
regret the mistakes and crave the pardon of the officers concerned.—THE EonoR.