Dehn, Lois McBride

Wisdom from her article in The Crescent, 1939: A very general objection against fraternities is their selectivity. The acceptance of some and the rejection of others for membership constitutes in the minds of many a snobbishness which is incompatible with our so-called democratic institutions. If we are perfectly honest, we must agree that life is one long series of selective processes. Even admission to the colleges and universities with which fraternities are associated is based on selectivity, either financial or scholastic or both. This, then, should not be made such an important point of criticism. Nor is it probable that any system can be devised which will eliminate this element. Compatibility is an absolute essential to the strength of a chapter and unless the fraternity chooses me and I choose the fraternity, the bond which unites our personalities in this relationship can never be strong and enduring. While selectivity is a fundamental, if it is carried to the point of teaching freshmen that their group is superior to all others and certainly superior to non-fraternity students, great harm is done the cause of the Greeks. The utopia for which we are striving requires membership selection which will bring the greatest satisfaction to the fraternity and least friction with those outside. Lois McBride Dehn served as Grand President from 1936-40.