Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/80

 answered as one which was presented in one of the Kansas City high schools to a young freshman with whom I am acquainted. He was asked to name the five greatest educators in the country, and gave as his list, Woodrow Wilson, our athletic coach, the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, the man who asked him the question, and myself. He may have been somewhat influenced in his choice by his interest in athletics, the Democratic party, and the Presbyterian Church, but I am not sure but that his list is as good a one as the average fraternity man would make if asked to name the first five fraternities of the country. If a young fellow can go into a fraternity which has excellent national standing, whatever that may mean, and which has other desirable qualities, also, he is certainly wise in so doing. The fundamental thing for him to decide is whether the group of fellows who make up the active chapter of the organization which desires him as a member is such a group as he would be happy to live with during the four years of his college course, and be helped by living with. If he can answer this question in the affirmative, then he can later go into the subject of local influence and national standing. The national standing business counts for very little, if the make up of the local chapter is objectionable. If called upon to make a list of the