Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/59

 Usually the one who recommends him most strongly knows least about him directly. It is, or it should be, the purpose of the fraternity in rushing him to find out something about his social and intellectual training, to discover his purposes, his ideals, his initiative, his adaptability. If he is initiated, the members of the chapter will have to live with him for four years, he will be a member of the family; he will help to give the chapter character and reputation, or he will do his part in bringing it to disfavor or disgrace. It is no trifling matter which a fraternity is undertaking when it begins to rush a man, but I have seen fraternity men give more thought and attention in going into the pedigree, history, and winning points of a bull pup they were about to take into their household than they did to the qualities of the young fellow they were about to pledge as a brother.

I think it would be a helpful proceeding for every member of the active chapter to ask himself before he goes into the work of the rushing season just what rushing is for, and govern his conduct accordingly. Years ago, before the University had rid itself of hazing, it was the custom of the unregenerate sophomores to run in any isolated freshmen who might be out alone after night, and force them to take an immediate bath in the Boneyard, a dirty sluggish little stream scarcely more than a ditch