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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 7, July 13th, 1949.

[Introduction]

One may never experience the company of socially exalted circles such as these fraternities, without objecting too much, if that exclusion does not lower him in the eyes of ail society. The racially restrictive policies of fraternities, however, slash negroes to an inferior biological status. They perpetuate and intensify the prejudices and discriminatory practices that have made us second-rate citizens at and outside this University.

I say fraternities are vicious. Young Americans learn that brotherhood is confined to the brotherhood of a master race—the Aryans.

The 21 fraternities and 16 sororities on this campus with a membership of approximately 2000, embracing more than one-third of the total enrolment, cannot escape the fact that they identify brotherhood with a superman concept, and neighbourliness with a penthouse vision of the world. But on editorial in the April, 1947, issue of "Bank's Greek Exchange" attempts to do just that.

"Some say that the movement to abolish fraternities, which is being rather vigorously pressed at the moment on the eastern and western seaboards, was started by those who are seeking a change in our form of government.

"Articles antagonistic to college fraternities are appearing on a number of academic and scholarly publications. The authors names in some cases have a foreign sound, which is suspicious, at least . . .

"If our government is worth fighting for then the institutions which support it and thrive under it should light those elements trying to destroy it . . .

"If college students are not allowed to choose their close friends and associates, then it is not a step to the complete regimentation after college..."