1930–31 Volume 55 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

The University of Manitoba andManitoba AlphaIHE University of Manitoba wasestablished by an act of the ManitobaLegislature in the year 1877, "forthe purpose (as the preamble states)of raising the standard of higher educationin the province, and of enablingall denominations and classes to obtainacademic degrees." For the nexttwenty-three years, however, it actedonly as an examining body, and therewas no instruction provided. In theyear 1900, by an amendment to theUniversity Act, it was given "powerto give instruction and teaching in theseveral faculties and different branchesof knowledge as may from time totime be directed by the Council of theUniversity." The previously existingcolleges within the province, namely,St. John (Anglican), St. Boniface(Roman Catholic), Manitoba (Presbyterian)and Wesley (Methodist)were received into affiliation with theUniversity, and the present basis ofinstruction was established. Lecturesbegan in that year with about thirtystudents and three or four professorsin attendance. In the thirty years thathave followed the institution hasgrown to include over five hundredprofessors and assistants and a studentbody approaching four thousand. Thisphenomenal development over such ashort period of time is unparalleled inthe history of any university in theDominion of Canada. Manitoba nowincludes faculties giving instruction inall the major branches of learning,including engineering, architecture,medicine, arts, science, law, agriculture,pharmacy, theology and accountancy.This rapid growth not onlyBy IRVING KEITH,Reporter, Manitoba Alpha[29]illustrates the increasing interest ofthe people of the province in highereducation, but also the excellence ofthe instruction that has been provided,which has done so much to foster thisinterest.Despite this rapid growth in theacademic field, it was many years beforeany interest was taken in fraternities.The oldest fraternity on thecampus has been established for onlyseven years, and the total number of"nationals" now represented, with theexception of * A 0, is but five, namely,Z *, A K E, 0 K *, S A M and A Y.A X was the sixth fraternity to appear,and was founded in the year1926-27. It was originally the idea ofWilliam Hurst, who proposed it toseveral of his intimate friends. Thefirst meetings were held very secretlyin the homes of the various members,in order that the foundation of a strongbrotherhood might be laid before theestablishment of a new fraternity becamegenerally known. It was thedetermination of each of the foundersthat once the organization was establishedit would continue to existthroughout the lives of its members,at least. Once the project had beendefinitely undertaken, twenty-one boyswere included as charter members, apin was adopted and A X took its placeamong the other fraternities on thecampus. It was accorded a warm welcomeby the older organizations andhas ever since retained a prominentposition in the academic, social, andathletic life of the campus.For the first year the fraternity metin a large room, which it obtained in