Northwestern University - Syllabus Yearbook (Evanston, IL)

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FRATERNITIES Fourth Row-Dunkle, Osborn, Kittredge, Conroy, Grefe, Scrivner, Gross, Vance Third Row-Heinemann, Wieder, Bates, Paterson, Irvin, Vanneman, Solum, Johnson, Wiss Second Row-Boulton, Trenbeth, Ryan, Ekberg, Meyer, Herrmann, Barrett, Clifford First Row-Langhinricks, Irvin, Pfister, Weiss, Silver, Piker, Setterdahl, Mclntyre Jin fer rafernrfy President . . Secretary . . . Treasurer . . President . . Secretary . . . Treasurer . . . . Headed throughout the first semester by Jack Ryan, Phi Delta Theta, and during the second semester by Lee Meyer, Acacia, the Interfraternity Council will be re- membered this year as the body which sponsored a thoroughly successful Interfraternity Ball, and as the group which set about remodeling the structure of the fraternity system. Long recognized and praised for its adequate and democratic housing scheme, Northwestern University this year came under the critical Searchlight because of what was termed the fraternity problem in one of the na- tional magazines. With most of the fraternities on the campus older than, or as old as, the university itself, it was felt by some critics that the system was crying out for some changes after all these years. With the backing of a sympathetic Daily North- western editorial board, an examination of the system was made from within the Interfraternity council. A committee was set up to study changes suggested by Dwight Croessmann and Stan Frankel, Phi Epsilon Pi. 'I6 ODUQCL OFFICERS First Semester ....JackRyan ...Don Ramaker ...Dirk Barrett Second Semester ....LeeMeyer ...Dave Ekberg .. .. ...Tim Herrmann Intelligent discussion of the problems of non-inteIIec- tuality and snobbish selectivity resulted in the adoption of steps toward democratizing the fraternities. It was generally conceded that fraternities are a part of Northwestern and that both the university and fra- ternities benefit from the other. It was also conceded that the only serious evil was fraternity smugness within each house, and so a series of exchange dinners among the fraternities was planned. These were followed by eFforts to improve the intellectual outlook of fraternity men. However, the year was not entirely filled with dis- cussions of serious problems. For at least one happy night, planned and executed by Jack Coney and AI Braun, the council gave itself up to a dance-the Inter- fraternity Ball. The profit of more than S300 resulting from excellent management of the ball was devoted to philanthropic uses by the council, S50 of it going to the support of the Mock political convention. Thus went the year in the council.

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,A ,,.,.f' I ls 4 J 2 i 14 Petty prints, Jones' room, grandly furnished by 16 pipes and one dusty textbook, the recreation room with its new combination radio-phonograph, and the athletic equip- ment, all of which properly impressed the rushee with the dignity and worth of fraternity life. ln a bull session held in the keen, invigorating atmosphere of a murky, smoke-filled cubbyhole, the rushee was further enlightened on such pertinent questions as who won the Rose Bowl game in '34, or why Chicago should be dropped from the Big Ten. This culminated in the pressure session during which were presented some of the minor ad- vantages of fraternity life not already brought out, such :HI 1. .. l 5 warns ION O FRATERNITIES ill 8074 The Greek invasion as the opportunities for friendship a fraternity affords, the character-building it promotes, the qualities such as loyalty, determination and courage, which it fosters, the experience in cooperative living it provides. A weary, bewildered nod from the rushee indicated that a sale had been made, and for him Rush Week was over. And so good-bye to Rush Week: An interlude connect- ing high school and college, unlike anything the fellow has ever experienced in high school, unlike anything he will ever again experience in college, a playground preparation for college, an accurate miniature of the college playground preparation for life. The Greek Week Committee Meyers, Grest, Caldwell, Moechlle

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OPEN HOUSES ,911 ferkolfwe ounci OFFICERS Firsf Semester President ..... .... ........... Secretary-Treasurer . . ........... . , Second Semester President . . . .... . ........ . . . . . Secretary-Treasurer . . ...Lew Nicolini . .Mark Gantar . . .Dick Swenson . . .Robert Lyon Standing-Morris, White, Huston, Swenson, Reilly Seated-Aye, Hoar, Watson, Waters, Nicclini, Carnegie, Daley The lnterhouse Council is a governing body composed of two representatives from each one of the various men's open houses. This group is the activating legis- lative and iudicial body of the entire open house organ- ization. Continually acting in this capacity, the lnter- house Council has pursued a policy designed primarily to effect a closer unification and greater consolidation of the different open houses, both those on north campus and those located off the campus. Working in coniunc- tion with the lnterfraternity Council and the Independent Council, the lnterhouse Council has made many attempts to further the cause of democratic equality among the men students at Northwestern. The social season for the open houses began with a dinner-dance at Goodrich Commons. This affair was followed by the Wildcat Capers, which was held as an all-university informal dance after the beginning game of the football season with Oklahoma. Also the houses presented a program of smokers, at which various prom- inent members of the faculty led discussions in the dif- ferent houses throughout the year. Climax of the social season was the spring formal. Dick Baldwin and Reed Hoar acted as co-chairmen of this event. During this year the council has made every effort to extend its functions beyond that of former years. lt now presents a complete, progressive program for the open house man. 17