PROM IN DORMITORIES

Considerable discussion has been caused in the College by the submission of a proposition by the Junior Prom committee providing that fraternity houseparties be abolished in the approaching Prom and all the guests kept in dormitories which would be opened for that purpose. The attitude taken by the committee is adequately expressed in a communication to TheDartmouth from R. H. Baxter '17, the chairman. He says in part:

"While the suggestion of housing the Prom guests in a dormitory is by no means a new one, the immediate cause of its present prominence is the Prom Committee. It was proposed within the committee as being the only suitable solution. The matter was then referred to the Council on Student Organizations. Here it was discussed informally, the council sympathizing with the proposal, providing the fraternities were willing to make the sacrifice involved. ... I then presented the matter to the Interfraternity Council. This body has met twice and still has the matter under consideration.

"The Prom Committee wishes to remind the College that it has the respon- sibility of carrying out the pledges made last June in behalf of the class of 1917 and for the whole College as well. It cannot carry out these pledges unless it has the cordial support of all. The plan under discussion is proposed in the hope that it offers the best means for making this year's Prom one truly representative of the College."

In the meantime the Committee has called for information from those whom this plan might interest, and is reserving its final recommendations pending careful investigation.

Although no definite action has been taken on the matter as yet, the general feeling seems to be that the plan is impractical on account of the chaperone problem which it creates and which is easily solved in a fraternity house. In spite of the natural increase in the numbers of guests of non-fraternity men, the impression seems to be that there would be a disproportionate falling off in the number of fraternity men who would attend Prom. The lack of a decision by the members of the Interfraternity Council, however, points to a serious consideration of the matter and whatever the final decision, it will be a conclusion reached by careful reasoning backed up by facts.