The Dally Tar Heel
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Friday, Februa'y 12. 1971
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Intramural sports play a big part in a fraternity man's life. Keen competition and
intense rivalries bring each brother closer together and develops great pride by the
brothers in their fraternities.
"Most of the problems encountered in
a fraternity are mainly because fraternity
living is a life situation," accordant to
Fred Hutchinson, president of Sigma Phi
Epsilon. "No house is a Utopia."
Leaders and administrators of UNC
fraternities generally agree that problems
of fraternities stem from the fact that
they are composed of individuals with
differing personalities, desires and
activities.
"The programs of some fraternities are
not meeting the needs of the individual
students," commented Dick Baddour,
assistant dean of men for fraternities.
"Many more options are available in
regards to life styles for students," he
added, "the main one being apartment
living."
"These boys that are living in
apartments find maintaining membership
in a fraternity can be a financial
problem," said Chris Sawyer of Chi PsL
"This is the primary reason for inactive
seniors."
"Basically, fraternities are still geared
for freshmen, sophomores and juniors,"
commented Baddour. "Although we are
seeing a change, there are reportedly 165
inactive brothers, mostly seniors."
"Maybe fraternities aren't meeting the
needs of some seniors," said Hutchinson.
"Or maybe seniors are just tired of the
social life and looking for something
more.
"Maybe they got a false impression
during rush or expected more and have
become disillusioned," he added.
"Maybe they saw only the good things
of fraternities," said Ron Berger,
president of Zeta Beta Tau. "Being in a
life situation, it's not always good.
"During rush, we stress an honest
policy, showing rushees the honest good
things but not creating a false
impression," he added.
Many leaders of fraternities agree that
false impressions sometimes obtained
during rush can be a problem.
"Some problems are with the rushees
themselves," said Berger. 'They think
they have found a perfect situation and
hold a fantastic impression."
Pledge programs also come under
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attack during discussions of problems of
fraternities.
"Some fraternities have not
reorganized and changed their pledge
education programs enough," said
Baddour. "Fewer and fewer boys will be
willing to pledge where training programs
require excessive physical activities."
"IFC (Inter Fraternity Court) is
cracking down on hazing in pledge
training," said Todd Llewellyn, IFC rush
chairman. "There was a recent court case
in which one fraternity was fined after
investigations by IFC court."
The physical conditions of some
houses coupled with zoning restrictions
on repairs and additions plague fraternity
leaders.
"Some of these houses have been
around a long time," said Baddour.
"They have deteriorated until they have
reached terrible conditions and need to
be renovated or rebuilt.
"Rebuilding presents not only a
financial difficulty," he added, "but also
a legal difficulty. Some can't rebuild in
their present locations because of a town
ordinance requiring a certain amount of
parking space."
; "The parking situation is bad as far as
fires go," said Charlie Caldwell, president
of Pi Lambda Phi. "If there were a fire at
our house, they'd probably have to go
through the Phi Gam house to get to us."
The University is planning to pave the
parking lot to change the situation,
according to Caldwell.
; "It's costing more just to keep the
houses up," said Sawyer. "There's almost
no money left for improvements."
"It won't he long before something
has got to be done." commented
Baddour. "Some houses can't be lived in
many more year?
Extreme rivalry among fraternities is
thought by some to be a big problem.
"Rivalry, both during rush and in
intramural sports, is a harm,- said
Hutchinson.
"It's a lingering over from years past."
agreed Caldwell.
"Rivalry can be used toward good
ends," disagreed Berger.
One area of competition that comes
under attack is that of awards for pledge
classes and houses.
"People have different ideas of what
the 'best' fraternity is," declared
Caldwell. "For example, what is the R.B.
House award based on, just scholarship
and athletics? Is it really important that a
house be 'best' in these areas?"
"The awards shouldn't matter so much
to the house or its rushees," said
Llewellyn, member of Delta Upsilon.
"Most people that made the awards or
won the trophies are long gone when rush
arrives."
"What's important is what comes out
of winning," said Sawyer. "Members that
'live and die' for their fraternities are
hurting more than helping."
Stereotypes formed by people outside
of fraternities also 'tend to create
problems for members.
'The freshman sitting in his dorm
tends to form concepts of what each
fraternity is," said Hutchinson. "Bad
images and incidents, which could happen
to any do:m or other living unit, tend to
stay with a fraternity."
"A dorm is more random." agreed
Llewellyn, so incidents are not
compounded into the inuze of the
dorm."
"Fraternities should get rid of the
concept of 'fraternity' and change it to
'living unit,' " said Sawyer. 'This idea of
'mystic rites' and 'bonds of brotherhood
are absurd and hypocritical."
A problem encountered by fraternity
leaders is that "fraternities are structured
so most of the leg work falls on a few
people," according to Berger.
"Everyone hs enough to keep
themselves busy studying," said
Llewellyn. "You don't need a hierarchy
to get something done around the house.
The others can do it too."
'The trouble is that if a house wants
to do anything, it has to pay for it itself,"
said Sawyer. "Dorms g;t their money
from student fees, which IFC and
individual fraternities don't ever see."
Inter Fraternity Council has problems
of its own related to those of individual
fraternities.
"IFC becomes a scapegoat for
fraternities as a whole," commented
Sawyer. "It unifies and identifies
fraternities as a total group, both for the
bad and the good.
"IFC has constructive power," he
added, "as shown by its Upward Bound
and Campus Chest funds. It should
continue to project beyond individual
desires and go forward."
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The basis for the problems of fraternities that
of being a life situation -is also, the basis for the.
positive side of the Greek-coin."- -- - - - $t
"The best reason to pledge any house is the
people there," said Fred Hutchison, president of
Sigma Phi Epsilon. "You're forced to get to know
people that are different from you, and you have
to get along."
"This helps one develop certain facets of his
personality, like toleration," added Ron Berger,
president of Zeta Beta Tau. "It's good to learn to
live with other people becausjp'ou're going to be
doing it the rest ot your lite. .
"People are the crux of it," agreed Todd
Llewellyn, rush chairman of Inter Fraternity
Council (IFC) and member of Delta Upsilon.
Most members of fraternities agree that living in
a fraternity is superior to living in a dorm.
"Some of the friendships you make in a
fraternity are really real," said Berger. "In some
respects, friends are able to develop a friendship
beyond the normal level. This development is not
impossible outside a fraternity," he admitted, "but
it is heightened and quickened in a fraternity.
'This development is a lot easier in a
fraternity," agreed Charlie Caldwell, president of
Pi Lambda Phi, "and you get so much out of it.
You don't get much out of dorm life."
Llewellyn compared dorm and fraternity life by
noting that "classes in a dorm are geared to a
particular year, with no other point of reference.
But in a fraternity, a freshman meets and gets to
know seniors. Therefore, he knows more people in
more situations."
Caldwell pointed out that "a lot of guys that go
through rush are looking for something, for
security,:. Fraternities offer something to relate to
and be a part of. You can always go to the house,
see some friends and always feel welcome," he
added. "This is not so in a dorm."
"You don't lose your individuality by any
means in a fraternity," stressed Chris Sawyer,
member of Chi Psi. "In fact, it sometimes brings it
out and broadens it quickly."
"Fraternities are a means of identification, a
smaller group in a large university structure," said
Dick Baddour, assistant dean of men for
fraternities.
"What people are looking for," said Berger, "is
a deep, close personal relationship with other
people. This coincides with a large wave of
individualism at present.
"A fraternity is not an institution but people,"
he added.
Rush is the means by which fraternities try to
meet new people and incorporate some into their
friendships. IFC initiated an extended rush
program this fall, a program by which freshmen
and other students were allowed to. visit
fraternities on non-rush basis throughout the
semester.
'The new rush system is good," said Baddour.
"Fraternities contact rushees on an individual and
personal basis."
"This system is as normal as possible," added
Llewellyn. "It is relaxed, applying no pressure at
all. It stimulates the informal."
"Last fall's rush was the best yet," added
Hutchinson. "Both fraternities and rushees could
concentrate on knowing themselves rather than
showing themselves." "t t t n f Z '.' n-.
"We also had good luck with thJKxdea;V SsaSd
Caldwell. "Being friendly puts them at ease and we
can decide if we want that person and he can
decide if he wants us."
Rush is not the only way fraternities are
changing and trying to improve.
"Fraternities appear to be taking a very close
look at themselves and changing in ways to meet
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Stories by
Jessica Hanchar
the needs of the individual students," said
Baddour. He noted a change in attitudes from the
time he was a student and fraternity member in
the early 60's and the present. "There is, in
general, a change in emphasis from completely
social to social-awareness," he said.
"The needs of the people have changed," said
Berger. "A beer drinking group is not necessary."
"Most fraternities are changing," said Caldwell,
"and those are changing from within and applying
pressure to those that are still behind."
"They're getting away from the secrecy and the
Mickey Mouse aspect,' said Llewellyn. "For
X" 'example,' IDUX held '-its', non-secret initiation
vSaturdaypight;iri;Gerrard Hall.' HJ4t Yt
"Of . course,, there will always be an element
that still likes the old way, the beer and the
socials," commented Sawyer. "And some people
will always fit the stereotypes."
'The de-emphasis of the social aspect is not
correct," said Baddour. 'There is, rather, more
emphasis on community and university related
projects. Fraternities are the major contributors of
time and energy to many fund-raising activities.
And I think it's a sincere desire to be of service."
"When the going gets rough, the charities look
to fraternities," said Ron Hyatt, director of
intramural sports.
IFC, for example, contributed almost $10,000
to Campus Chest last spring, another $2,000 to
Upward Bound this fall and smaller amounts to
the Heart Fund and the Fine Arts Festival.
From an economic standpoint, most fraternity
members agree it is cheaper to live in a house than
in a dorm.
"A fraternity house is, in a sense, a small
business," said Baddour. "Members manage their
own houses and, in a sense, possess built-in self
government."
"Some of these houses have $50,000 to
$100,000 budgets," said Sawyer.
Most members also agree that fraternities
contribute positively to scholastics.
"The fraternity scholarship is outstanding, as
exemplified by numerous awards," said Baddour.
"The all-fraternity average is higher than
non-fraternity and it is increasing each semester.
"Of course, you have to have a 2.0 to, begin,
with to pledge," he pointed out. r ?- -
Fraternities, as a group, also offer scholarships
to more needy ; members and to people in the
community as well.
Many fraternity members have raised the idea
of holding classes in houses.
"Fraternities have the structure for good things
such as classes and other activities," said Sawyer.
"Let each house be there as a tool, such as Project
Hinton. If the teachers are willing, a lot can be
taken advantage of."
"Fraternities can and should be a learning
experience within the house," added Berger.
"Fraternities are starting to use themselves to
service and academics," said Sawyer. "Some
houses are holding lecture series, f howing movies
and having other such programs."
The intramural sports program is another
activity contributing to fraternity living.
"Competition is keen, rivalry is excellent and
sportsmanship is on a high level," said Hyatt. 'The
fraternity teams have been strong in their support
of the intramural program since the 1 920's, when
it initially formed."
Most members of fraternities realistically assert
that fraternity living is not the answer for all
students. "It's just an alternative," said Berger.
"It's better for some and not for others. But it's
not right to say it's better or worse."
"Some people judge fraternities with closed
minds,." expressed Sawyer. "You can't judge
fraternity living from the outside.
"It's not going to hurt anyone to rush, get the
correct impressions and make his own decision,"
he said.
Fraternities were founded in
Both the Delta Kappa ', Epsilon and Phi
Gamma Delta claim the distinction of being the
first fraternities organized at UNC both were
founded in 1851.
When the University of North Carolina was
chartered in 1789, no "secret societies" were
allowed to organize until 1851. Delta Kappa
Epsilon (DKE), called "the oldest social
fraternity in the state," formed its Beta chapter
in April of 1851. One contemporary history
book described the chapter as "the favorite of
the polite gentlemen . . . When they appeared in
public, they were adorned with canes, gloves and
ponderous chains."
The chapter was successful until
Reconstruction forced the University to close.
The school re-opened in 1876, again refusing to
allow fraternities to organize. In 1886, DKE
again became the first to re-organize when the
ban was lifted.
Meanwhile, other fraternities were quickly
organizing chapters. Sixteen fraternities were
chartered between 1851 and 1895. All of these
still have chapters at UNC.
During the 1890's the campus was stirred by
conflict between fraternity and non-fraternity
men. Officers of the Athletic Association and
editors of "The Tar Heel" were all elected by
fraternity men, and the annual, "The
Hellenian," was published by fraternities.
Of the 512 students in 1900, 419 or 82
percent were non-fraternity men, and 93, or 18
percent, were members of fraternities. During
the 1920's, the percentage of fraternity rose to
approximately 25 percent.
Ten of the fraternities in the early 1900's
were located on Old Fraternity Row, the alley
where the Porthole Restaurant is now situated.
A fire destroyed the frame buildings of Sigma
Nu, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) and Pi Kappa
Phi in 1919.The original DKE house, next to the
Porthole, is now privately owned by a Chapel
Hill resident and also nouses the Episcopal
chaplain.The present Health Department
building was originally the Chi Phi house.
The next year lots were obtained on the west
side of South Columbia Street in exchange for
Old Fraternity Row. DKE, SAE and Sigma Chi
erected their buildings by 1923, and by 1926
the entire Big Fraternity Court was developed.
By 1931, three more fraternity houses were
built on Cameron Avenue, Little Fraternity
Court.
When World War II came, naval trainees were
haused in fraternities, once more suspending the
fraternal life.
After the war, the Navy returned the houses
it had rented for barracks. With the return there
arose problems of refurnishing and repairing the
houses. Increased expenses forced the
fraternities to permit non-members to live in the
houses until the financial situation improved.
Inter Fraternity Council (IFC) strengthened
its role in fraternity life during the 50's. It
headed the campaign to banish hazing from the
campus. IFC court was reorganized and given
the "right to try any fraternity for activity
unbecoming fraternities of UNC and to inflict
any penalties as it sees fit."
The R.B. House Award was established by
IFC in 1957 for the fraternity judged to be the
"most outstanding." DKE won the first award.
Plans for a $500,000 fraternity court near
Finley Golf Course were announced in 1955.
The plans, however, "appeared doomed in light
of vocal and vigorous opposition by persons
living in the area concerned with 'undesirable
neighbors' and possible traffic congestions."
Foiled many times by Chapel Hill zoning
restrictions, a 12-acre tract on Finley Road was
approved in July, 1960.
Fraternities at UNC have progressed until
now there are 25 social, 3 professional and 1
service fraternity scattered from Finley Golf
Course Road to Rosemary Street to Pittsboro
Road.
(Editor's Note: Much of the information used
in this article came from a research paper, "The
History of Fraternities, " by Ron Hyatt, director
of the Intramural Sports Department.)
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In the spring, the fraternity brothers come out to throw their parties on the
lawns and enjoy one of the finer aspects of fraternity living. The psxty atmosphere
of a fraternity is perhaps the biggest criticism leveled by anti-fraternity forces, but
the brothers will tell vou it's the only way to live.