1905-06 Volume 30 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 481mark," and that "a prize of $25 was offered for the best song,which has never been awarded." But the fraternity is determinedto have a song book, "the supreme council having increasedthe consideration for the best song to $50—surely areasonable bonus for the work of an hour or two." Thisliberal offer ought to stir up Sigma Alph poets, but if a prizesong is written in that time we hope the Record will print it.The article entitled "Good and Evil of College Fraternities"which appeared in Independent, October 5, IQ05, andwhich was reprinted with editorial comments in THE SCROLLfor December, has been republished in full also in the 2 A ERecord and the Beta Theta Pi, and in part in several otherjournals. At the author's request The Independent did notgive his name, but we are now permitted to announce thatthe article was written by Bro. W. .\. Curtis, WisconsinAlpha, '89. .\s we said in December, we consider it the bestdissertation on the influence of college fraternities that wehave ever read.The investigating committee of the University of Wisconsinhas recently investigated fraternity conditions there and importantrecommendations are expected. The Chicago Tribunesays: "Complaints had been made that the rapid growthof fraternities and sororities at Wisconsin was tending tocreate an aristocracy here that was deepening the gulf betweenthe classes and creating great discontent; that the standardsof living were going higher constantly and tending to makethe institution a rich man's school; that extravagance wasgrowing and with the increasing social demands the work ofstudents was often demoralized."The board of regents has authorized a faculty committeeto investigate charges that have been made to the effect thatthe college work of a large percent of fraternity men in theuniversity has been unsatisfactory, and that this conditionhas been largely due to the fraternity life. After investigatingthe matter the committee adopted the plan of establishinga council, composed of an alumus and an active from eachfraternity, this council to have referred to it all chargesagainst chapters, with power to act. This decision was arrivedat in preference to a suggested ruling that freshmanrushing should be forbidden. Upon the success of this plandepends our hope that no more drastic measures will beadopted.—Nebraska correspondence of A T A Rainbow.