Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/70

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pressed it, and that seems to me the more sensible procedure to follow. There are few things, however, in fraternity affairs that cause more trouble and more heartaches. The chapter that follows the practice of bidding relatives of its former members frequently takes in a weak brother, and the chapter that does not do so, often alienates some of its best alumni. It is a loyal alumnus who can see his son or his wife's brother turned down by his college fraternity, and still keep up his annual payments to the house fund. I could easily furnish a long list of those who have not been able to stand the test.

There are fraternities, I am sorry to say, though I do not know many of them, who, like some political organizations, rather than lose a man, will employ methods in rushing which are neither honorable nor creditable. I think I need hardly discuss such details here. The organization that is not honest and above board in its methods that descends to that which is low and coarse, that wins its members through the telling of risqué stories, or through "showing them the town" is not worthy of the name of fraternity, and the freshman who is beguiled and attracted by such things is no asset to the organization that wins him.

A good many people who deplore the evils of rushing as it is now carried on in many of our