Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/515

 THE DEVELOPING UNIVERSITY 449 of student organizations, including Greek-letter fraternities. Instead of the old policy, in accordance with which fraternities were admitted under certain regulations, and at the same time with the disapproval of the authorities, there has been adopted a new policy, in accordance with which all student organiza- tions are brought under direct inspection of the University Council, while groups of six or more students living together as an organization are required to organize themselves also as Houses of the University, in accordance with the general rules of such Houses. This action contemplates a close and sym- pathetic interest on the part of the University, which will now co-operate with the societies, to bring about the best possible results. The Uni- versity under no circumstances will interfere in the legitimate exercise of the privileges of fraternities. It will undertake, however, to elevate and purify their life. It was immediately following this statement that the new Board of Student Organizations, Publications, and Exhibitions was estab- lished. One of the rules adopted and enforced by this Board pro- vided that no student should be permitted to engage in any public performance of any kind who had against him on the records of the University a deficiency in any subject, and who was not at the time doing entirely satisfactory work. In participating in public exhibi- tions of an athletic, musical, dramatic, oratorical, or other charac- ter, a student thus demonstrated that his classroom work was of good quality. The question may be asked, how the University solved the prob- lem of chapel attendance. As there was, at the outset, no assembly room that would accommodate all the students, the original inten- tion of requiring attendance was temporarily given up. But the voluntary system did not prove entirely successful, or wholly satis- factory to anyone. The solution of the problem finally made was simple. In the Convocation statement of January i, 1897, the President said: A provisional solution of the chapel problem has been reached in accord- ance with which the various Divisions of the University, faculty, and students meet each once a week in morning assembly, at which a brief religious service is conducted, and in connection with which opportunity is afforded the Presi- dent and members of the faculty to present matters of special interest to the particular body of students assembled. The success attending the inaugura- tion of the assembly during the month of December was marked, and the satisfaction of both students and faculty was apparent.