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Show Fraternities Here To Stay field of literary achievements but in housing. De-emphasized Studies With the expansion of the college col-lege and its curriculm, the old emphasis em-phasis on classical studies diminished dimin-ished and gradually disappeared, and the classical literary exercises of the college fraternity likewise went their way. With increased membership came the broad extension ex-tension of fraternity activities as extra-curricular supplementation of the academic program of the college. col-lege. As fine chapter houses began to dot the land, the fraternity chapter chap-ter became a vital center of corporate corp-orate living. From the end of the Civil Wat to the present the college fraternity has expanded several times over. The system, like ihe rest of the country, has suffered several setbacks set-backs including both World Wars and depressions. The Second World War forced suspension of activity in most of the fraternity chapters across the nation. Houses were taken over by the government for conversion into military or naval barracks, and many chanters either struggled along with a handful of members or ceased to exist altogether "for the duration." Over-Crowding After 1945 the fraternities faced the problem of swollen enrollments, enroll-ments, over-crowded housing, and huge chapter memberships which did not fall back to normal until after some chapters counted over 150. In the 1950's many of the fraternities once again undertook large building projects, continued to maintain relatively large chapters. chap-ters. On today's large university and college campuses the fraternity is still playing a major role in the educational process. Unlike the past, the fraternity has been able to keep up with the changing times. They no longer put stress of the classical aspects on which many individual fraternities were founded. Instead, they prepare their individual members for a world full of problems. Each individual in-dividual chapter has its own particular par-ticular problems that arise during any academic year. The members must face these problems and solve them. Because of this, most fraternity fra-ternity men have an easier time of adjusting themselves once they leave the hallowed hall of their institution. Assist Colleges The fraternities still aid the universities uni-versities and colleges in the ever increasing housing problems. They still provide and maintain living quarters for their members. They also assist the large universities in another area. They help to mar tain the individual as an individual. Unlike living in the university provided dormitories, the fraternities fraterni-ties enjoy a monopoly upon the development of gentlemanly characteristics char-acteristics that are necessary for today's hurried world. While no one can predict what form future fraternity development develop-ment will take, it is inevitable that, in the light of expanding college enrollments, the fraternity system will continue to grow and assist universities in supplemental programs. Editor Kote: In the following article, Stephen Swinney, director of public relations for the Interfratern-ity Interfratern-ity Council, presents the case for fraternities. By STEPHEN SWINNEY For decades the college fraternity fratern-ity system has come under heavy fire from persons outside the system. sys-tem. These people have labled the college fraternity as an unnecessary unneces-sary evil which should not exist. They have criticized the fraternities fraterni-ties for harboring unhealthy des-crimination des-crimination practices, developing unethical social habits, nad placing plac-ing the college or university campus cam-pus second to the brotherhood. And, yet, the fraternity system still survives and grows. Even after several decades of criticism the fraternity system is still expanding. There must be a reason for this. Why do the fraternities continue to enjoy the limelight of demand? Why are fraternities still necessary? neces-sary? 1776 In order to answer such a question it would be wise to find out why fraternities ever got started. On the night of December Decem-ber 5, 1776 five students on the William and Mary campus founded the progenitor of the whole fraternity fra-ternity system, Phi Beta Kappa. Although it is now an honorary for outstanding scholastic achive-ments, achive-ments, it developed, in its early days, most of the characteristics of the modern social fraternity. The expressed objective of Phi Beta Kappa was to foster friendship, friend-ship, morality, and literature. With these three ideas in mind fraternities fratern-ities began establishing themselves both above and below the Mason-Dixon Mason-Dixon line. In the beginning they were formed for the advancement of literature. Unlike today the fraternities fra-ternities assisted universities in the teaching process. They were : very much oriented toward literary betterment of the individual. Because Be-cause of this they received a happy welcome from campus faculties. Literary Societies In their early days, then, fraternities fra-ternities possessed features both of social organizations and literary societies. Most educational inst-tutions inst-tutions in the pre-Civil War era existed primarily to train young men for the clergy and the learned professions. The fraternities, just by their nature, aided tremendously in the endeavors of the universities. With the outbreak of the Civil War, college life came to a standstill. stand-still. However, once the country's dispute was settled, fraternities were again reorganized and began to flourish as they had in the past. As colleges expanded, fraternities fratern-ities also expanded. They installed new chapters. The size of their individual chapters increased substantially. sub-stantially. And new fraternities were founded to meet the needs of the times. As chapters grew larger, they found it possible and desirable to provide quarters where their members could be housed together. to-gether. Soon the fraternity house became a common sight in college towns. Again the fraternity began aiding the colleges and universities. This time it wasn't so much in the |