THE FRATERNITY SITUATION

So novel was the fraternity situation of this fall to the College after years of the "long season" in its various forms, that it will take some time for a judgment of its merits to evolve in the undergraduate mind. The change from a multiplicity of restrictive rules to two very simple ones affecting the binding quality of the pledge, and not the extension of it, was one which required a considerable bit of mental readjustment before its effects could be realized.

Fraternity rushing this fall has been governed by these two regulations: "No pledge shall be official or binding until the recipient of the invitation has become a member of the College. No pledge shall be official or binding until published in The Dartmouth." In accordance with these rules, there was more or less rushing during the summer, acquiring its full force a week before the opening of the semester, a fact which brought nearly half the College to Hanover ten days before recitations commenced. Accordingly, seventy-six freshmen were pledged upon the day that College opened, and sixty-one more by the end of the week, after which the pressure was much abated.

The general attitude of the fraternity man towards the season while it was at its height was one of disgust, due to the extreme rushing tactics necessary to bring about success. As a very short time put an end to organized rushing, however; the undergraduate is now content with the fact that the season, whatever its faults, was of short duration, led to no breaking of agreements since there were none to be broken, and enabled freshman and fraternity member to adjust himself to his college work at an early time.

It is generally regarded as true that the sophomore season is the only logical substitute for the short open season.