Page 12 University Daily Kansan
Fraternity and Sorority Discrimination Clauses Examined
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As for alumni authority, it was learned that every sorority requires a recommendation from an alumni member before a woman can be pledged. As one sorority house president explained it, "Regardless if every woman in the house wanted to pledge some rushee, this couldn't be done without a recommendation from an alum."
The system of alumni recommendation is not used by fraternity chapters at KU. The interviews did, however, show that one-third of the chapters have given their alumni life membership with the right of "universal veto" or the "blackball."
The "blackball" system, for both alumni and active members requires only one negative vote to prevent the pledging of a fraternity hopeful.
MR. LEE GIVES several examples to show how bias restrictions are maintained.
"Phi Gamma Delta, (the national, not the KU chapter) after removing its restrictive clause, ordered that every proposed new member be formerly approved by the national organization. Chapters understand that the national will not approve a person previously ineligible under the eliminated clause.
"Phi Kappa Psi, national, has never had a constitutional or a ritual requirement to discriminate, but it nevertheless expelled its Amherst chapter for 'unfraternal' conduct — the pledging of a Negro.
"When the national Delta Upsilon deleted its restrictive clause, it depended upon its procedures to screen the qualifications of prospective members. To preserve or resurrect its chapter during and after World War I, it had, in 1917, given all alumni life membership in their college chapter, with the power to blackball any proposed new member."
Alumni life membership and blackball rights are still a part of the DU constitution, although three Negroes have been pledged on other campuses.
Sororities, Mr. Lee contends, are even more subtle in their discrimination than fraternities. He says:
"VERY QUIETLY—without written statements of policy—most sororities segregate themselves even more effectively than do fraternities.
Racial and religious discrimination in sororities is accomplished by what Mr. Lee calls "Ayrianism Underground."
He explains that because sororities often give their chapter alumni equal authority in selecting new members, alumni become over-dominating. He continues:
"Neither democratic nor undemocratic fraternities and sororities could function well without alumni support," he says. "But alumni and alumnae today are often over-protective and unaware of the need of young Americans to face and break with the old tribal biases so that America may meet the challenge of world leadership."
Other examples of religious and racial discrimination can be found by looking at developments on other campuses.
At Lake Forest College, in suburban Chicago, Ill., several sororities had to shift to local status because their nationals would not accept a
Growing Nationalistic Feeling Blamed for Invasion of Goa
The reasons for, and the effects of the capture of Goa by India last December were presented at the Current Events Forum Friday by Roy Laird, professor of political science.
Prof. Laird blamed the Indian invasion on a growing feeling of nationalism.
"FORCES OF NATIONALISM were such that Nehru found he was unable to resist them," Prof. Laird told 85 lively listeners and questioners.
- The pressure on India from African nations, who resent Portuguese colonialism in Africa.
Prof. Laird agreed with the proposals in a recent New York Times article which listed the move as a result of five things:
- Leftist pressures in India.
- Krishna Mennon, Indian minister of defense, who was on shaky ground and needed support which could be obtained by an act against Goa.
- The United States had not sides with Portugal and would not.
- The move against Goa provided
Election-
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Gale. "KU has an excellent reputation in Costa Rica and the Chancellor (W. Clarke Wesco) made many friends during his visit. The people who know the Peace Corps and KU are anxious for KU to direct the project."
CLARK COAN, foreign student adviser and assistant dean of students, agreed that the chance of the training center for the possible Costa Rica program being at KU is good.
"Since KU has a strong Latin-American study area program and a junior year abroad program with the University of Costa Rica, we have a good nucleus of students and faculty members who have been to Costa Rica and can sit in on the training aspect. They might form a possible pool of trainers of the representatives of the Peace Corps," said Mr. Coan who is a liaison officer to get student interest for the Peace Corps.
Mr. Coan said the training program would probably be held late this summer or early this fall to prepare the students to start their work in Costa Rica at the beginning of the academic year March 1, 1963.
a diversion from India's border dispute with China.
"When government leadership, under any system, is under pressure, it must make a diversion." Prof. Laird said.
"THEER IS a growing nationalistic pressure in India and Nehru has been frustrated by China's territorial takeover," he added.
He said the Indian action may have "opened a pandora's box" in relation to the international scene.
"This will, perhaps, make it easier for military action in the future," he said. "It might mean more military aggression (against China) in northern India."
PROF. LAIRD was asked by a listener if peaceful means had been attempted by the Indians before they invaded Goa.
non-discrimination regulation passed by the trustees of the college. The regulation demanded that local fraternal organizations on that campus must have complete autonomy in the matter of selecting their membership.
He was later asked if he felt forceful means is the only effective means to end colonialism. He said yes but added that Nehru had picked an in-opportune time for such action.
"India has been trying peaceful means for some time (since 1949)," he replied.
"Yes, I think it will set a precedent. I also think it was a slight step backward. But 10 years from now you won't remember the Goa incident," Prof. Laird answered.
"THE MOVE must be seen in the context of sweeping nationalism and international communism. The Russians have been pro-Indian while the Chinese have been vitriolic on every thing but the Goan incident."
One listener asked if the Indian action could not be a precedent for other actions and if it was a step backward.
ALPHA DELTA PI. Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, and Gamma Phi Beta (all have KU chapters) were ousted from their national organizations and have since formed local chapters at Lake Forest in compliance with the non-discrimination resolution.
Prof. Laird said that if India's move would have come to a vote in the U.N., "the U.N. wouldn't have been able to condemn India."
THE DISCUSSION then moved to the effect of the incident on the United Nations.
The executive Board of Alphi Phi has explained its action at Lake Forest in the following statement.
He added that the United States' ambassador to the U.N., Adlai Stevenson, fears that India's move could be the first step in the demise of the U.N.
"I don't see this as helping the U.N. but I don't think it will have any serious affect on the U.N." Prof. Laird commented.
- "The Executive Board is obligated to reject the dictates of nonmembers in regard to local modification of the membership selection procedures of Alpha Phi established over the years through tradition and through representative processes.
He added that the move would probably gain Nehru votes among the underdeveloped peoples of the world.
- "The Executive Board is obligated to insist upon retaining our fundamental, constitutional, American right of voluntary association in establishing our own membership selection procedures.
- "The Executive Board felt obligated to relieve the collegiate members from any further coercion or harassment, real or threatened, to which they have been or might be subjected.
- "The Executive Board had urged the Alpha Phi position, orally and in writing, before the authorities at Lake Forest College, but to no avail."
IN OCTOBER 1961, Pi Kappa Phi (no KU chapter) social fraternity at the University of Louisville. Ky., found itself in a squabble with its national "because," the local president charged, "they want us to discriminate." He added that several alumni were prejudiced and were objecting to the local chapter's pledging Jewish members.
Again at Lake Forest College, nine students withdrew from their chapter of Delta Chi after asserting that the fraternity's national headquarters would not permit the pledging of a Negro.
The Stanford chapter of Alpha Tau Omega was ousted from its national organization in March, 1961, for accepting four Jews as members. The national explained that the
Stanford chapter had violated the national constitution which requires "allegiance to Christianity."
THE EXTENT of racial and religious discrimination in fraternal groups at KU cannot be precisely measured. Coupled with the bias restrictions in some social organizations there is also the problem of minority group reluctance to participate in fraternity and sorority rush.
Only in the past few years have members of minority groups participated in rush. Last year, for example, one Negro girl went through the selection procedure; this year six participated. None were pledged.
In this article, a brief review of existing discrimination in fraternities and sororities has been presented. Yet many questions remain. Tomorrow's article will deal with two of these questions: Does a social organization at a state institution have the right to select membership on any basis it desires?, and what authority, if any, does a college or university have in regulating the membership selection of social organizations.
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