)AGE FOUR
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DIEHL McKALIP. Editor
STAFF THIS ISSUE: Night Editor, Phyllis Propert; Copy Editors, Al Klimcke, Dottie Bennett;
Assistants, Ruth Barnard, Jane Casselberry, Gail Gilman, Ron Leik, Harry Davis. Ad Staff: Esther
DonovAn, Bose Ann Gonzales.
How Would ODK Affect the University?
(This is the last of two editorials about
Omicron Delta Kappa, men's leadership
honor society.)
Actually, a local chapter of ODK would mean
one more men's-honorary on campus.
Further significance can best be described
about two or three years after the chapter is
founded. But until ODK comes on campus—
if it does—several major points must ye xi
sldered.
1. What effect would it have on present honor
societies?
2. Does the University need a seventh men's
honor group, and would ODK meet this need?
3. What is motivating its organisers and will
motives affect the value of the organization?
It seems doubtful that establishment of ODK
here would conflict with or reduce the value
of present honor societies.
Overlapping is not necessarily a disadvantage.
While students often have said we have too
many "recognition" groups now, recognition in
itself is not detrimental. It is only when group
members misuse it that it loses its values. Thus,
any loss of value due to a quantity of such
groups would reflect on members attitudes,
rather than establishment of the groups.
Likewise, conflict between ODK and the pres
ent senior honor group, Lion's Paw, would be a
result of members' attitudes only. Both groups
assumedly claim the same nature of goals—
service and good for the University and recog
nition of leaders—and because Lion's Paw mem
bership admittedly does not exhause the sup
ply of student leaders on campus, there is little
apparent reason why the two groups could not
function as contemporaries.
Whether or not there is an actual need for
ODK—or any other additional men's honor
society—on campus is not answered so readily.
Those organizing it apparently feel there is.
If a great many students are going unrecog
nized for jobs well done (and since recognition
groups are a part of our campus life here) then
most likely more groups are needed. It's also
FMA: Win, Lose or Draw?
(This is the last of two editorials explain
ing the workings of FMA.)
The Fraternity Marketing Association is look
ing toward an expansion of its buying program.
Its eventual goal is to offer not only more goods
for sale but services as well.
Such a program is working successfully at
Ohio State, where FMA does a business of over
$1.5 million a year. Not only does FMA offer
food and furniture for sale:but services such as
plumbing and painting at reasonable discounts.
No one will argue that such an expansion at
the University would be beneficial. But such
a program will succeed only if fraternities are
willing to participate in the program.
At present FMA at the University has only 26
&ember fraternities. And again, we wonder
why.
Here are some of the reasons advanced by
fraternities for not joining FMA:
We're waiting to see how FMA works out."
FMA can only be successful if fraternities
participate. This "wait and see" attitude can do
nothing but hinder it. The more fraternities
that participate, the more buying power FMA
will have. And the more business carries: on
through FMA, the larger the discounts dealers
will be able to give.
By ordering in larger quantities, dealers can
save money on deliveries and will be more
willing to pass on savings to fraternities.
Also, the more fraternities that participate,
the larger FMA's operating budget will be. This
will allow FMA to expand its program both in
terms of the number of items it can offer for
Revisions Committee 'Secrecy': Ridiculous
The closed door policy of the All-University
constitutional revisions committee has gone far
enough. The committee, or those members re
sponsible for maintaining the policy, are going
overboard in keeping progress reports from the
student body.
The group has been meeting since the end
of November. When it closed its doors to general
"audiences" and the press, it promised progress
reports to both All-University Cabinet and the
Daily Collegian. One progress report was issued
—.immediately before the end of the fall semes
ter. Committee chairman, John Speer, indi
cated this week that a second report would be
coming Thursday. The report was not given.
The general student body has been pro
hibited from committee meetings for effici
ency's sake—to facilitate discussion and avoid
extended haggling over differences. Such de
sires are quite logical: they are also a typical
rationalization for any group which just doesn't
want to be bothered, or put on the spot, by out
side opinions and advice.
To date, the committee reportedly has, made
few major changes in the constitution—•most
have been concerned with reordering. The first
major change coming up will be in the court
system, which part is under consideration now.
The ea:ninittee has invited to its sessions those
stud:•nt officers immediately concerned with
the matter under consideration.
Xtre natig Collegian
Sate eeeee to THE FREE LANCE. sit ISS?
.01:W. WILLIAM DEVERS. Business Manager
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA
evident that most of the men's hat societies are
not fulfilling a maximum of service projects.
And since few can deny the value of such pro
jects as intense orientation programs, student
faculty discussion groups, and leadership train
ing programs, it seems ODK would have an
open and unchallenged field.
Whether or not the local chapter could or
would meet these needs would depend, ulti
mately, on the membership. Many students have
objected to the seholastiC requiiements of the
organization, saying that by demanding an
average abo;.7e a 1.6, the group would be ex
cluding some of the campus' best leaders.
In considering .his point, students will have
to decide if they think an activities leader
should also have a better-than-average scholas
tic record. •
Another rather significant objection that has
been voiced against ODK affiliation has been
the fear that Mr: Sinclair, who is one of the
organizers, is using it as a means to oppose
Lion's Paw. In the past, he has been outspoken
against the group, making various charges
against it on the floor of All-University Cabinet,
But regardless of Mr. Sinclair's possible mo
tives, it is doubtful if ODK's national secretary,
members of the administration, and the =-
some students who have helped organize the
potential chapter have apl but respectable rea
sans for their support. It is also doubtful if one
student, whoever he might be, could create
policies not endorsed by a group's national
leaders or the administration.
We hope those supporting ODK affiliation
and those still M. doubt about the wisdom of
such action, will divorce as much prejudice as
possible from their minds when they consider
the matter, and try to view it from the stand
point of whether the University needs ODK.
Should the need be truly found, then we hope
further that the formulation of the chapter will
qualify in every respect as a leadership honor
society
sale and physical facilities. FMA is already
thinking of maintaining full-time office facili
ties, which would facilitate its buying program.
Quality isn't so hot."
The fraternities themselves are the check on
quality of FMA goods. FMA members have a
choice of dealers from which to buy. If the
quality of goods supplied by one dealer is not
satisfactory, the fraternity may always switch.
"Who is behind FMA?" •
The answer is simple—the member fraterni
ties themselves. Each member has a voice in
making FMA policy The general membership
elects a Board of Trustees composed of 12 mem
bers: five alumni members, five student mem
bers, and two members at large. FMA is ad
ministered by this group.
"We can do as well as FMA on prices and
discounts."
In some cases, on individual items, this may
be true. But as a whole,. FMA prices are less
than individual prices. And if fraternities would
combine to increase buying power, discounts
and savings would be higher than they are now.
Another consideration is this: At the present
time, some fraternities may be able to equal
FMA prices because they have a "deal" with
a vendor.
They have a cook or caterer who has con
nections. For the present, this is fine, but cooks
and caterers change, while FMA is a permanent
thing.
To sum up: The success of FMA depends on
the willingness of fraternities to participate.
—Don Shoemaker
To this point, the committee has used logical
procedure. What it IS doing is commendable.
But what it is refusing to do is ridiculous.
For instance, committee members are not
sworn to secrecy, nor are students "invited" to
the meetings. A Collegian reporter is allowed to
attend the meetings and "know" what is being
done.
Then what is the committee afraid of? Ob
viously, it is dreading mass reaction to its pro
ceedings and mass opinion that might follow
published reports.
The committee seems to ignore the fact that
mass opinion put each member in a position
to do this revising. Committee work admittedly
would be accomplished faster with a minimum
of student comment; but then. elections, too,
would be speedier if candidates didn't have to
wait for votes.
Gazette ...
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Herbert Aboff, Edwin Biederman, Earl Cairns, Joan Can
an, Marvin Daley, George Mahone, Burton Federman, Ger
ald Fried, Robert Galloway, Seymour Goldstein, Barbara
Brubawiez. Eugene Hanlon, Andrew Hibler, Robert Kaytea,
Virginia Leary, Maurine Leonard, Jacqueline Mulcey, Rus
sell Myers, Rob-rt Novak, Charles Palmer, Richard Parry,
Ray Patterson. John Ryan, James Shambach. George Sons,
William Strausser, David Williams, Larry Young.
Editorials represent the
viewpoint of the writers,
not minimally the policy
of the paper. Unsigned
editorials ere by the editor.
..a of Mirth 3. 1373.
—Peggy McClain
—Peggy McClain
le Man on Campus
Who Came First?
Greeks Debate It
By DON SHOEMAKER
Phi Gamma Delta is generally thought of as being the
first national fraternity to be established at the University.
But two other national groups are known to have existed
on campus prior to the Phi Gamma Delta chapter. However,
Phi Gamma Delta has been the fraternity with the longest
continuous existence at the University.
Phi Gamma Delta was estab-.
lished on campus Jan. '7, 1888. In
1938, when it celebrated its 50th
anniversary, an article, titled
"First Fraternity at Penn State"
appeared in the May issue of the
Alumni sews. The article named
Phi Gamma Delta as the first na
tional fraternity at the University.
McDonnell Challenges -
On June 22 of the same year,
Henry B. McDonnell, oldest male
graduate of the University, wrote
a letter to the editor of the Alum,ni
News, challenging this claim.
In this letter he named Q.T.V.,
a Latin letter group, as the first
national fraternity. A local chap
ter was established at the Uni
versity in 1884. McDonnell was a
charter member of the local chap
ter of the fraternity was estab
lished at Amherst College in 1869.
At the time the local chapter was
established there were six chap
ters.
Greeks Banned '±ll 'BB
What the letters Q.T.V. stood
for is not known. The group was
known as a Latin letter society
because Greek letter fraternities
were banned at the University
until 1888.
Actually the first national frat
ernity on campus was Delta Tau
Delta, established in 1872. Be
cause of the ban on fraternities,
the chapter only lasted a year. It
was re-established in 1912.
O.T.V. Goes National
In 1891, according to McDon
nell, the membership of Q.T.V.
"transferred bodily to the Psi
chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma."
Actually, the change was not
en masse. A few of the members
transferred to Beta Theta Pi,
which was established at the Uni
versity October, 1888.
McDonnell cited the slow
growth of Q.T.V. as the reason for
the change. He said the members
felt this might be partly due to
the fact that the University was
not a Greek letter group.
. . . So Its First
In a later letter, McDonnell said
that Phi Kappa Sigma should be
called the first fraternity.
o'lf Phi Kappa Sigma forfeited
its right of priority by changing
from Q.T.V. to Phi Kappa Sigma,
then . . . Penn State College
should change its seal, as what
was established in 1855 was the
Farmer's High School."
At the close of his last letter,
McDonnell said: "It seems to me
SATURDAY. I=EBRUARY'.I.2; .1965
By Bibler
that the only debatable question
is, if. the Psi 'chapter of Phi Kappa
Sigma, because it was first char
tered as Q.T.V., is entitled to
claim precedence on that account.
The Penn State College was first
the Farmers' High School, and
claims that date as its origin."
As ytt the question has not
been answered, but Phi Gamma
Delta is still listed by the Uni
versity as the first fraternity.
Sones Reports
On Success
Of Orientation
Vernon Sones, general chairman
of the 1955 Orientiition program,
has reported that the reception
and orientation of the 400 new
students on campus this semester
was successful.
Counseling sessions by 40 hat
society men and women on Feb.
2 and 3 commenced the spring
program. New men students met
with counselors and discussed
studying, curriculums, registra
tion, the University, and other
items designed to aid in adjust
ment.
Skits were presented to new
women students in addition to the
counseling by hat society women.
A New Student Mixer on Feb.
4 concluded the program, Over
300 students attended the mixer
which was initiated this semester.
A similar but larger program for
the fall is now being planned,
Sones said.
Camera Club to Meet
The Camera Club will make
plans for the organization of a
permanent Camera Club on cam
pus at a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tues
day in 241 Rec
The group also will discuss the
dark room facilities to be located
in Hetzel Union Building.
This Weekend
On WDFM
91.1 MIGACYCLEEI
795 Shin an
7:30 Spode Roundup
7:35 Phil Wltift
5:15 -- BBC Featuree The Rhodes Scholar
8:45 Jolt for Two
9:30 HI PI Open House
aaa -- shimiliabi he al D.