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Published by Alpha Omicron Pi, 2015-10-01 15:35:32

1909 February - To Dragma

Vol. 4, No. 2

146 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

date 450 persons, all of whom may have an unobstructed view of the
demonstration. A l l curtains can be drawn simultaneously by motors
operated by a button at the desk, thus darkening the room instantly.
Upper windows can also be operated by means of a lever. Special
reflectors on the electric lamps so diffuse the light that there is nu
shadow.—The Scroll of <£ A ®.

Seven years ago Ohio State University was given the novelty of
a gymnastic Greek letter society known as T The idea originated
among a few of the student gymnasium instructors called "aides."
The society was launched and has grown steadily, giving special at-
tention to the gymnastic and athletic activities at Ohio State. Being
firmly established at home, the idea of expansion crept in with the
result that a chapter was installed at Ohio Wesleyan University last
April. I t is rumored that other chapters will be established in the
near future.—The Mask of K

The Woman's Building at Illinois University is a fine example
of Colonial architecture and is unique in that no man may cross its
portals except at the invitation of the Dean of Women. The center
contains a large gymnasium, swimming pool and shower baths. I n
the south ell are the parlors, large, artistically furnished rooms,
entirely at the disposal of the girls for lounging or for receptions and
meetings. These open on to a large veranda which overlooks the
girls' tennis court and athletic field. The north ell is used by the
Household Science Department.—Arrow of n B

The University of Virginia, in order to encourage the building of
fraternity houses, has set aside a certain sum of money and will loan
chapters two- thirds of the amount necessary to build, the chapter
itself furnishing one-third. The university further furnishes, free
of charge, a site for the building, retaining, of course, the title to the
land. Carr's H i l l , which is the location of the gymnasium and the
president's house, has been laid off in lots to be used for fraternity
houses. Each member of the Virginia chapter, on leaving the uni-
versity, signs a note for fifty dollars or more, to be used toward the
building fund.—Caduceus.

The X E X sorority, which is not mentioned in Baird's Manual,
was founded about 1900 at Kentucky University, Lexington, Ky.
A second chapter was established at Kentucky State College in 1902,
and the parent chapter became inactive very soon thereafter. The
Kentucky State chapter placed a chapter in Campmell-Hagerman
College, also in Lexington, in 1903, and these two chapters consti-
tute the sorority at present. I n the fall of 1907 the Kentucky State

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 147

chapter bought a one-story frame cottage on South Limestone St.
This contains reception rooms, chapter room, kitchen, etc., and is
used for meetings and entertainment. I t is the first chapter house
in the state owned by a Greek letter fraternity or sorority.—Scroll,
through A X.

During the last few months the following fraternity extension
has taken place: A Y at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; I I B $
at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; T $ B at the Uni-
versity of Oregon; A A A at Leland Stanford, Jr., University;
K A ® at the University of Missouri; A T A at the University of
Maine; 2 K at Brown University, Providence, R. I . ; A 2 A at
Randolph-Macon Woman's College; A * at University of Virginia;
© A X at the University of Illinois; $ A <$ at the University of
Southern California; K * at the University of West Virginia, Uni-
versity of Nashville and at Tulane University, New Orleans; * M
at Southwestern University, Georgetown; B ® I I at Tulane Uni-
versity and at the Colorado School of Mines.

Where a chapter initiates a man, it and the fraternity has the
right to expect from him four years of undergraduate service in re-
turn for the privilege of membership. The great ideal of every fra-
ternity is homogeneity of membership. To obtain this result in its
finished product, the alumnus, four f u l l years of undergraduate
chapter experience is vitally essential. No matter what personal at-
tributes or qualities a man may possess at the time of his initiation,
he cannot, in one year or two years, assimilate his fraternity's teach-
ings, appreciate its ideals, conform to its type. I n A T A we have
had many of these members, who have proved interested and valuable
alumni. But as a rule their alumni value is small compared with that
of the regularly graduated brother.—Rainbow of A T A.

With the opening of school at the University of Chicago a new
departure was made by means of which it is hoped to raise the
standard of undergraduate scholarship. The marking system has
been changed in such a way that the candidate for a degree must not
only satisfy the specific requirements for that degree in regard to
hours of work, but in addition must obtain a certain number of
"honor points," which depends upon the grade given by the in-
structor. Thus, a student who merely "passes" the required number
of courses may possibly not secure sufficiently high grades to secure
his degree, in which case he must take up additional courses to obtain
the requisite "honor points." The system was in operation during
the summer quarter and seems to have given satisfaction in every
respect.—The Scroll of <£ A ®.

148 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

We have included among our exchanges several clippings advo-
cating chapter libraries. We heartily endorse these suggestions for
chapter kodak, memory books, etc. But may we add a plea, too, for
other books—for those books which one expects to find i n the library
of any person of taste—poetry, history, the great fiction, essays—
whatever can be truly called the literature of the world. How much
such a library might aid in the broadening which most college stu-
dents, walled in by the routine of their daily work, so badly need!
A wisely chosen library, conveniently placed, may do as much to
educate those who live in a chapter house as all the hours spent in
prescribed college work. I t is in the selection of such a library that
alumnae can be of most benefit to the chapter—in other than a
material way.—Kappa Alpha Theta.

A few chapter plans from I I B $ :

I t is the custom of one of I I B <£'s chapters to post a bulletin
board in the chapter house, upon which are posted the daily chapter
happenings and plans. The freshmen who do not live in the house
are required to visit the chapter house at least once a day to check
their names from the bulletins.

California Alpha has a chapter birthday book in which each
girl's birthday is recorded. On that day the table is decorated with
that girl's favorite color, a big ribbon of same color is attached
to her chair—for this evening the seat of honor—and at the conclu-
sion of the meal a big box of candy is passed around the table. Dur-
ing the meal we sing Pi Phi songs, always commencing with "Here's
to You." The birthday cake is brought on, blazing with candles, and
the birthday girl must cut it.

Another chapter has a suggestion box.

At chapter meetings each girl will be given an opportunity to
place unsigned notes in this box, the contents of which will be seen
only by the girls to whom they are addressed. The recipients will
consider suggestions and profit by them unless they think for some
reason the criticism is unjust, in which case they will be permitted
to lay the matter before the fraternity at chapter meeting.—The
Arrow of I I B <E>.

I f many of the fraternities do not have a higher standard of
scholarship among their members it will not be because their officers
have failed to work out very excellent plans. One of these we clip
from the Sigma Chi Quarterly:

A "Roll of Honor" is a plan recently inaugurated by A T O in
an effort to stimulate application to their studies on the part of
undergraduate members. Every member is urged to feel that there

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 149

is a record for him to strive for, and that his chapter is interested in
his achievements. The chief officer of the chapter (who, in the case
of A T n, bears the title of Worthy Master) makes reports to the
High Council, and on such reports, as well as other information,
certificates of honor are awarded to such members who may succeed
in attaining a distinguished position in studies or intellectual pur-
suits. While worded in a rather broad manner, it is not understood
that the "distinguished position" means any more than a relative one.
The position of a student who may graduate magna cum laude is a
decidedly distinguished one, and so, in a lesser degree, is that of the
undergraduate who wins a scholarship. There must be a decided
stimulus in the thought that the achievement of a position on the
Roll of Honor means the scattering broadcast to the fraternity of
the name of the one so honored. The plan has much to recommend
it, and its effect will be watched by other fraternities.—The Sigma
Chi Quarterly.

Other editors and business managers seem to meet with the same
difficulties that confront the office of To DRAGMA. We offer the
following for your consideration :

The ® A X convention ruled that each new initiate is to be re-
quired to pay for at least five years' subscription to the fraternity
publication, to cover the whole of the undergraduate period and one
or two years more.

Doubtless those members who attended convention have heard
enough grumbling from the editor. May she never grumble any
more! I t may be well to emphasize right here, however, that, be-
ginning with January 1, 1909, "any chapter of 2 K whose required
materials fail to reach the editor by the 18th of the month in which
it is due will be fined two dollars for the first offense, and not less
than five dollars for the second offense in the same year."

Necessity for such an arrangement does not lie wholly at the door
of the chapter editor. Her path is not one of roses; and how thorny
it is depends upon the support or non-support of the members of her
chapter. Her duties are to write the chapter letters and personals;
to collect the subscription money from the chapter members, and to
see that required material be sent to the editor on or before the 15th
of the month. She should not be refused when she asks you for a
short article of two or three hundred words; i f you are not talented,
do your best, and have the satisfaction of knowing that you have f u l -
filled a duty; i f the editor is i l l you should help her with a letter and
personals; again she should not be expected to pay your subscription
because she has asked you in vain for it many times. Any girl who

150 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

has held office of any kind runs up against many such difficulties, and
after all has been said and done, it resolves itself into the simple
statement, "do as ye would that others should do to you."—The Tri-
angle of 5 K.

1 o Uragma

of , •

Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity

Glabie of (Emtifnta

History of the University of California 159

History of Alpha Beta Sigma and Sigma Chapter. . . . . . 163

College Traditions at U . of C 166

The Greek Theatre of the University of California . . . . 169

The Sorority House 172

Shall we have a Joint Fraternity House? 175

Fraternity Enthusiasm . . . . . . . . . . 178

A Seniors Duties 182

Loyalty of Alumnae .......... 184

The Greater Newcomb .......... 185

Dignity and Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . 187

Frat Songs 19°

Announcement ........... 192

Editorials 193

Chapter Letters »95

Alumnae Chapter Letters 207

Engagements . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

Weddings 208

Births 209

Alumnae Personals 210

Exchanges 209

News of the College and Greek Letter World .212

*. hapter Houses Owned or Rented by Womens Fraternities . . . 220

The Chapter Meeting 221

To D R A G M A is published at 165-167 Main Street Street Menasha, Wis., by
George Banta, official printer to the fraternity. Application has been made for
entry at the Postoffice at Menasha, Wis., as second-class matter.


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