Page:The Fraternity and the College (1915).pdf/119

 ternity journals and in reports of chapters to fraternity congresses. I recognize the fact, as I have said, that they may have a distinctly broadening effect in that they may bring the members in contact with interests and individuals which they might not otherwise know, but these benefits are not without dangers. It is not impossible to meet the obligations entailed by membership in such an outside organization and at the same time be entirely loyal to one's fraternity obligations. My observation, however, leads me to the conclusion that the fellows I have known frequently are of little value to their fraternity because they have so many of these obligations outside.

Naturally, too, the character of the organization will materially affect the result. I believe that the fraternity man who goes into organizations other than his fraternity will be benefited most by affiliation with those which select their membership from the general student body rather than by confining his interests strictly to intra-fraternity groups. As fraternity men we cannot afford to be considered exclusive, undemocratic, unsympathetic with general student interests and general student thought. Our associations outside the fraternity, therefore, will be quite as helpful to us and to fraternity interests in general if we cultivate our friendships with men who have no fraternity alliances as well as with those who