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Show The Focus Attitude Detracts From Success By TOM JOHNSON Perhaps, one of the most flamboyant flam-boyant fashions that the newcomer to a major university encounters is the elaborate superstructure of the fraternity and sorority circles. One is certainly impressed by their long line of tradition, service, and virtues (which any member will gladly expound upon for several hours with or without request). The fast and frantic pace of these social beehives form the very crux of sophistication to the worldly and all-wise college newcomer. Undoubtedly, Un-doubtedly, these organizations form a very integral and noteworthy part of any university worth its salt. They certainly buoy school spirit, activities, and social life; they provide pro-vide needed recreation for their ranks and the studentbody; and they maintain much of the color of university life. Unfortunately, in many respects these assets have billowed beyond the bounds of their realizable value. These organizations organiza-tions try their utmost to foster an atmosphere that equates personal accomplishment with social success. Obviously, the sacrament of the fraternity or sorority is the means to the salvation of the individual. While this is highly speculative at best, perhaps in itself it could be overlooked; but these same organizations organ-izations postulate the principle by being highly selective. However, the mere fact that they are exclusive exclu-sive doesn't guarantee either merit or integrity. Furthermore, these organizations form a mutually exclusive dath arena that dismisses all intrud-Somehow, intrud-Somehow, no matter what the personal per-sonal worth of the individual it is subordinated to the lack of a small pin. These types of people are really meant for each other. Why does a studentbody that prides itself on its skeptical and questioning attitude allow such an atmosphere to be perpetuated? A close inspection of these organizations organiza-tions reveals that personal worth is not synonymous with membership-It membership-It is a fallacy to feel that an organization or-ganization can provide an element of integrity that is not within the individual and a bigger -one to measure one's worth in terms o membership first and accomplishments accomplish-ments second. Alexander PoPe coined it aptly, "Conceit is to nature na-ture what paint is to beauty; it is not only needless but impairs what it would improve." The organizations organiza-tions are fine, but their attitudes are detracting. |