In Our Colleges by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, Cal. · Feb 7, 1911

In Our Colleges

By Editor

RECENTLY President David Starr Jordan uttered some strong words regarding past conditions in Stanford University and fraternal societies in general, especially regarding drunkenness and immorality. Of course the "frat" men, the members of the secret societies, are stirred, and make loud denial; but the public will be inclined to believe Doctor Jordan. For instance, one lawyer opponent says:

When the fraternities were attacked in Michigan, the Masons came to their defense. At Michigan a half million is invested in fraternity houses, at Columbia a million, and at Cornell several millions. Organizations of prostitution and drunkenness do not accumulate such properties.

What argument is this? Some of the wickedest places in this world are sumptuously, expensively elegant. Vice often rears great palaces; but we apprehend that these fraternity houses are often built with the wealth of the parents of the boys who are corrupted by them. Why many presidents do not oppose them may be accounted for in two ways; they fear to offend a strong and overwhelming influence in the school, and so merely endeavor to modify; or moral senses are too blunted to see their evils. We are glad that Dr. Jordan has spoken, that he is strong enough to speak. Those who believe in a hereafter ought to look for a different sort of education from that our great universities are continually revealing.