Duke University - Chanticleer Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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West fraternity rush brought 410 Shake ups in January, a figure greater than last year ' s but a two per- cent decrease in the overall ratio. The continued open relations during the tall had led to several kinks in the system, but tratcrnit ' men were optimistic on the whole. Meanwhile, IFC revamped its pro- gram ot structure and organization. Committees were used to supervise the scholarship, budgets, and social pro- grams of the various fraternities. Joining with members from the stu- dent governments, the Student Union, and independents, IFC members formed a new coordinating body, the Univer- sity Veekends Committee. In this cooperative effort, Homecoming was expanded, with the Student Union providing entertainment by Bob New- hart and Peter Nero, and a new Winter Weekend was planned. In April, Greek Weekend and Joe College brought the campuses again together in quick succession for planning entertainment, floats, and parties. However, Greek activities were not confined to pressures and parties of rush, weekend blasts, and after-the-game open houses. Joint Christmas parties were held for Durham children, a clear Sunday afternoon even bringing the Beta Santa Claus sky-diving down into the field near Wannamakcr. Greeks contributed to national or local philanthropies during the year, and spring brought a revised, voluntary program of Help Week. The Greek system in these ways gave one means for the student to find his own identification with those he or she felt most congenial with. Inde- pendents found similar house, dorm, or group loyalties, and such an identi- fication in relation to others brought something of the answers to the life- 19

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' ill HI ( Wrecks! ® of ways for entertainment and satire. ZBTs in their campus parody of West Side Story brought dow n the house and won first place tor the fraternities, w hiie the KD skit on the fate of the East Beast captured the sorority trophy. ariety seemed to be the watch-word, et behind it all, the Greeks were busy with planning, organization, and weeks-long effort to come up with a polished show. This was the spirit of competition, the urge to be best, the identification cation brought another link between the University and the freshman, sopho- more, junior, and senior. This identity of Duke student brings back the idea of the label or sign one wears during his college years. But the labels are perhaps indicative of just that search for an identity, signs pointing to the what and how and who one is and might be. If one is a Greek he or she is identi- fied with a particular group of per- sonalities and activities on campus. Through the loosely knit Greek system with one ' s own team. Granted that the sports, the follies, and the pig-chase are relegated to college days and col- lege years. Yet the contact across the campus in such events seemed to be enlivened this year. Collectively, the whole University felt the disappoint- ment of not living up to potential in one field, and the same fans vicariously struggled with the team to push the national ranking in another held. As the individual gave his best in skill or support, the sense of idcnti fi- at Duke, the fraternity and sorority students have an added opportunity for contributing to the integral life of the University across the campuses. In the fall, nurses and East campus freshmen went through rush together for the first time. Two hundred and fifteen pledged at the end of rush, of which 32 were Hanes girls. The nurses joined ten of the twelve sororities, and the tenuous bond between East and Hanes became a definite one in this area of campus lite. 18

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long questions appearing so sharp!)- during the college years. The fall Symposium brought to the fore ideas on this same theme from others outside the University com- munity. The Individual in Mass Soci- ety provided the Symposium topic. Speakers this year included Joseph Fletcher, of Episcopal Theological Semi- nary; Norton Long, Brandeis professor of economics; and John Roche, National Chairman of the Americans for Demo- cratic Action. These three authorities in their tields expressed their ideas on the freedom oi the individual in today ' s mass society, and the students had a chance to question, challenge, and support the speakers during the panel discussions which followed, and at several coffee discussions on a more personal basis. 20