An Analysis of Greek-Letter Social Fraternities As a Factor in Student Life at the Ohio State University
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AN ANALYSIS OF GREEK-LETTER SOCIAL FRATERNITIES AS A FACTOR IN STUDENT LIFE AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY DISSERTATION Presented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By WILLIAM AUGUSTUS YARDLEY, B.S., M.A. The Ohio Sta'te University 195S Approved by: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Initially, the writer wishes to acknowledge the time and counsel given by Alice Z. Seeman, Francis P. Robinson, Kenneth J. Arisman, and Earl W. Anderson. Inasmuch as the study was a pioneering venture in the field, their assistance was especially extensive and of particular value. The success of the study was dependent upon the cooperation and contribution of The Council of Fraternity Presidents and the individual chapters. This was realized through the kindliness of Dean of Men Mylin Ross and his assistant James McElhaney, and the graciousness of William Hand and Mort Merchey, chairman and secretary respectively of the Council of Fraternity Presidents. A third acknowledgment Is directed to the writer’s wife. Only because of her return to the teaching profes sion, in a position which was particularly strenuous, was it possible for this work to be completed under ideal circumstances. ’’Beanie" and our two children are due a perpetual expression of gratitude. \ 115927 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ................................ 1 II. GENERAL HISTORICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL INFORMATION REGARDING AMERICAN COLLEGE FRATERNITIES ...................... 17 III. FRATERNITIES AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ..... 44 IV. FRATERNITIES AS GROUPS FUNCTIONING IN A DEMOCRACY .......................... 61 V. FRATERNITIES AS A FACTOR IN INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL-SOCIAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT . 128 VI. FRATERNITIES AS A FACTOR IN TOTa L STUDENT LIFE 171 VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS............ 201 BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................... 221 APPENDIX ...................................... 226 ill LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE I. Responses By Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Religious Qualifications For Membership.......................... 65 II. Responses by Forty—six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Restrictions Upon Political Beliefs of Members...................... 65 III. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Race Qualifications for Membership 65 IV. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Academic Qualifications For Membership ........................ 66 V. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Re garding The Importance of Parental Background in Selecting Members ........ 66 VI. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding The Power of Individual Chapter Members in Selecting Pledges . 66 VII. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding The Amount of Individual Freedom in Fraternity Membership .... 78 VIII. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding the Type of Controls Applied by Their National Offices Upon Chapter Members........ ............. 80 IX. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding the Type of Controls Applied by the Local Chapter Upon M e m b e r s ................................ 81 iv V TAELE PAGE X. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding the Basis Upon Which Members are Dismissed .................... 83 XI. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding the Voting Process by Which Members are Dismissed.............. 84 XII. Responses bv Forty six Ohio State University JEbcial Fraternities Regarding tne Opportunity of a Member to Appeal His Case .............. 85 XIII. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding The Use of Paddles During Initiation ............................ 86 XIV. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding The Right of an Initiate to Appeal Initiation Treatment .......... 86 XV. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon a Member»s Ability to Maintain Individuality ............................ 88 XVI. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding The Frequency of Office Replacement ............................ 90 XVII. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding The Method by Which the Slate of Officers Is Selected .......... 90 XVIII. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Officer Selective Qualifications .......................... 91 vi TABLE PAGE XIX. Responses of Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding the Voting Method by Which Officers are Selected.............. 91 XX. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Member Attendance at Chapter Meeting ........................ 94 XXI. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Member Attendance at Initiations ............................ 95 XXII. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Member Participation In Rush ^eek yb XXIII. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Member Attendance at Chapter Dances .......................... 96 XXIV. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding Member Participation in Non-dance Parts of Social Programs .... 97 XXV. Responese to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Members in Handling Their Own Money .............................. 98 XXVI. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Members Ability to Act in a Socially Acceptable Manner When Indulging In Alcoholic Beverages ........ 99 XXVII. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Member Personal Appearance ........ 100 XXVIII. Responses by Forty-six Ohio State University Social Fraternities Regarding the Opportunity of Initiates to Attend Class During Initiation ............................ 102 vii TABLE PAGE XXIX. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Member Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities ............ 103 XXX. Responses by Sixteen Faculty and Staff Personnel Regarding the Status of Fraternities in Student Life ......................... 106 XXXI. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Member Acceptance of the Views of Others ....................... Ill XXXII. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Member Ability to Act in a Socially Acceptable Manner With Girls . 11S XXXIII. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Member Acceptance of People of Different Social and Economic Levels . 113 XXXIV. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Members Developing Respect for the "Other Guy" In Other Social or Racial Groups..................... 114 XXXV. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon Members in Developing Cooperative ness: Working Together With Fra ternity B r o t h e r s 115 XXXVI. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Emphasis Upon Ideals, Symbols, and Rituals .......... 119 XXXVII. Responses to Questionnaire Item Regarding Fraternity Influence Upon the Promotion and Facilitation of Processes Identified With the Democratic Cause ....................... 1S3 viii TABLE PAGE XXXVIII. Responses to Questionnaire Composed of Items Relating to Personal—Social G r o w t h ..................................... 136 XXXIX. Total Percent of Positive and Negative Responses for Each Ques tionnaire I t e m ........................... 140 XL. Ranking of Questionnaire Items On Basis of Percent of Positive, Nega tive, and No Influence Responses......... 141 XLI. Questionnaire Items Receiving the Greatest Number of Responses in One Category ........................... 143 XLII. questionnaire Items in Which the Numerical Difference of Responses by Freshmen and Seniors Exceeds Ten Percent ........................... 143 XLIII. Self-Evaluations by Fraternity Freshmen Regarding Items Related to Personal-Social Growth ................ 147 XLIV. Responses by Presidents of Thirty-Five Ohio State University Social Fra ternities to a Questionnaire Related to Certain Items Related to Personal- Social G r o w t h ........................... 154 XLV. Responses of Treasurers of Twenty-One Ohio State University Social Frater nities to a Questionnaire Related to Certain Items of Personal-Social Growth . 157 XLVI. Reasons Submitted by Thirty-Nine Ohio State University Social Fraternities for Men Voluntarily Depledging .......... 161 XLVII. Reasons Submitted by Thirty-Nine Ohio State University Social Fraternities for Depledging Men ................ 16S XLVIII. Responses of Nineteen Ohio State University Social Fraternity House mothers to a Questionnaire Regarding the Influence Fraternities Exert Upon Certain Items Related to Personal- Social Growth .................. .. 166 ix TABLE PAGE XLIX. Amount of Greek Participation in Student Activities ....................... 172 L. Scholarship Record of Ohio State University Social Fraternities for Fall Quarter 1952 186 LI. Scholarship Record of Ohio State University Social Fraternities for Winter Quarter 1952 188 LII. Scholarship Record of Ohio State University Social Fraternities for Spring Quarter 1952 . 189 LIII. Comparison of Participation