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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 1, February 23rd, 1949.

Fraternities

Fraternities

This brought us to those peculiarly American college institutions, the fraternities, whose nation-wide organisation, power and influence make them appear to be highly commercialised and yankeefied version of "the old school tie." Each fraternity sets its own academic and social standards for potential members, who must be nominated, voted in, and initiated after the manner of lodges and friendly societies. Race or religion is a frequent bar to membership. There are numerous all Negro fraternities, particularly in the South, and these, ironically enough, follow the same pattern. Significantly, Lloyd mentioned that his athletic fame had provided the entree to several of these, but that his "dollar shortage" would prevent him from keeping up with their wealthy members. So he rents a room in downtown Los Angeles, instead of living in a Fraternity House. Incidentally, although Lloyd is taking a general science degree and will probably be a teacher, his secret ambition is to get into Dental School, which is apparently as Utopian as hoping to get into Otago Med. School.

It was now Lloyd's turn for the bath, and McKenley was somewhat less loquacious though equally friendly. The University of Illinois, where Herb, is doing Physical Education, has 20,000 students. Campus City has its own shops, theatres, garages and Mayor and streets and streets of Student Hostels, Fraternity Houses, and common boarding-houses. Imagine a world inhabited almost solely by 'Varsity students!

A character was mentioned who after twelve years at University, during which he has completed degrees in Arts, Science, Law and Commerce, is now looking for new excuses for staying in Campus City. He fears that that fragile flower, his freedom of self-expression and the wide scope permitted his political activities, would wither and die in the bleak climate of today's American community. (Does this apply to anyone you know?)