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brother/sister groups
This is another one of those erroneous tales which has survived
and in some cases even thrived. Some observations over the past 50 years including visiting about 150 campuses with greek
systems. These are generalizations and not meant to impugn any
particular group...and if you think I am bad, read Heller!
The locals scene and the teachers colleges...,many of them had a
brother/sister relationship, and it would vary from campus, none
on a national scale. Sigma Sigma Sigma had NO tie with Delta Delta Delta...NONE, and in those old days the chapter advisor was
non existent, rather there were "sponsors" and these were glorified "patrons" and/or faculty members; the majority had no clue as to what a fraternity or sorority was. Generally they were
invited to fraternity parties to make sure everyone behaved, no
one drank, the seams were straight, etc. They often sat with the
housemother in an adjoining room. We were one of the lucky ones in that our mansion was large and we could have a party easily with a hundred, while other groups would try to rent the dance floor at the virtually empty Eagles Aerie. While our house
was large, we had 2-3 man rooms and a sleeping porch. Many of
the locals, though, had huge houses in those small towns but they were a far cry from SAE-Texas or Pike-FL State, etc
Really kinda miserable. The so-called brother/sister relationship shrank considerably as the
strength of one group or dating habits changed over the years.
These campuses were certainly "in loco parentis" institutions, and
they were greatly concerned about the girls getting back to the dorm on time. Will not dwell on this.
As the larger fraternties began (1941, TKE) to invade those old
normal schools (the normal school was NEVER a high school), to
be joined by Sig Ep and Delta Sig and others...the teachers' groups simply could not compete, had little to offer. Tents were
unceremoniously folded with some, like Pi Kappa Sigma, Theta Sigma Upsilon, Beta Sigma Omicron. Delta Sigma Epsilon was a
bit stronger, but most of these mergers came about so as to let
the larger groups on without the hassle, not that the groups were
compatible or competetive. The only exception is Tri Sigma, who
still holds their own even today although they have some tough sledding on major campi. Again. though, while Alpha Sigma Alpha
did not merge, they have not necessarily thrived, but they may have their own criteria for expansion to certain campuses. Some
very good Alpha Sig chapters yet survive
Housing was a major issue on the non-private and lesser public
schools. Few TC's chapters had a housing fund and darned few
kept intelligible records or had active alums or any plans.
As a former faculty member at two large universities, two teacher'
s colleges as well as a field rep who affiliated over two dozen groups (not all made it). I was HORRIFIED to note that meetings
were began with prayer and mandatory chapel was common. I
will simply say that PA was the worst, and I picked up six there,
five surviving after forty+ years. Conversations in the teachers'
lounges of the old teachers' colleges were unbelievable, and a
comparision of systems there with the big U and these old normal
schools were radically different; the suitcase school was soon
to diminish with the advent of national groups.
BUT...teaching...the old teachers' colleges were INFINITELY better at undergrad teaching, but their grad schools sucked...
Bear in mind, though, the alumni of the old TC were hardly affluent
as there was no med school, no law school, and grad school was
largely a summer session for tired teachers to keep certified.
Again, get an OLD Baird's, histories interesting. You would be very shocked if you saw the enrollment figures, generally under a
hundred students. Check Frederick Rudolph's higher education histories, or John Donald Pulliam's.
It was not 'til after WWII that the ed system exploded....
These are my observations, and if you think the old days were of
much glory in those dark private schools without fraternities or if
you think the old normal school>teachers' colleges>now jokingly
state universities (in some cases). you need counseling.
As many of today's greek charters go to glorified "trade schools"
and elitism is not in vogue, I will tell you a recent experience...you
may find this humorous. With a couple thousand alums here in Denver, we (Alum Chapter) approached a new school about the
plans for a greek system. Oh, yes, and we were invited to talk to
the administration. One lady, upon our inquiry, said she'd hoped
the sororities would get no larger than 15, and the men's groups
about the same. We excused ourselves, and I have since heard
they have been nixed by 4 or 5 major greeks. But eager ones have indeed gone on...how large they are, I know not...
But there will likely be more mergers, and with the sue-crazy society today, some will likely go under. Housing in the future will
be less residential and more lodge-like due to cost. It will be of
interest as to university recognition, and there is a growing number of school (many in CA) who don't recognize greeks. But
they don't care as they are funded by the public and alumni will
have less and less good feelings. And, the whole concept of the
college fraternity has been watered down to such an extent that
it is virtually indistinguishable. YOU CAN HELP...reactivate a chapter and stop this fighting and carping amongst outselves.
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Hybrid Mode
