Spring-Summer. 1948 pha Phi Chapter (Clark College). The following statements represent a summary of techniques employed by these chapters in meeting this challenge and are herewith submitted as recommendations to the fraternity as possible solutions to the problem encountered by its chapters. Pre-Pledge Club Requirements: We feel that there should be a great deal of personal contact between the Alpha men and the Sphinxmen in order to weed out the prospective Alpha men. After the prospective Sphinxman has written a letter to the fraternity indicating his desire to become affiliated. he is subjected to a series of interviews with the Dean of Pledges or any other individual or body appointed by the chapter. Supplementary information is obtained from outside contacts (as subtly as possible) and from opinions of Sphinxmen, who, in all probability, have had opportunity to observe the person in question. It is through this weeding out process that the designated committee of the chapter is afforded an opportunity to test the applicant from the standpoint of personality traits, social behavior and other pertinent points of view. The committee does not think it necessary to mention the matter of scholarship average inasmuch as most of the chapters usually have already set up requirements which will uphold the standards of the fraternity. The committee feels that when a man enters the Sphinx Club, he is already potential Alpha material and that the Alpha man is made in the Sphinx Club (if not before) and not during probation week. Acliviiies in the Sphinx Club: It is the recommendation of this committee that a systematized ritual be adopted for the Sphinx Club. This ritual is to be compiled by the Ritual Committee of the general organization. We further suggest that each chapter might submit to this committee of the general organization a copy of its own ritual for the Sphinx Club for consideration in this connection. The committee recommends that the de-merit system (of some type to be devised by the individual chapters) might be effectively employed as a guidance measuring tool for the Dean of Pledges, but we would not recommend such a mechanical measurement as a basis for elimination from the pledge club. After Sphinxmen have been taken into the pledge club, they should be assigned to individual members of the fraternity on a rotation basis. This rotation should serve a double purpose— that of giving each of the fraternity members an oppornuity to know the Sphinxmen and to allow for any differences in personalities. The committee recommends for the use of the chapters, until such time as the fraternity shall have prepared a directive in this connection. The InterFraternity Manual as compiled by the administration of Ohio State University for regulating procedures employed by Greek letter organizations. The manual mentioned may be obtained by wtriting to the University and may be purchased at a nominal fee of seventy-five cents. The committee further feels that the
THE
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actual probation period should merely be a recapitulation of pledge club activities and not a period of punishment. The effective implementation of a guidance program for the Sphinx Club should be used to a miximum. Conclusion: The committee further feels that the members of the fraternity should be made cognizant of the importance and necessity for fair treatment of the members of the pledge club. Finally, the committee feels that if proper guidance is given to the members of the Sphinx Club, there should be no fear that the necessity for paddling or even a substitute for paddling should arise. Respectfully submitted: Robert L. Jackson, Beta Omicron Chapter. William E. Sterling, Alpha Rho Chapter. Truman Toilette. Alpha Beta Chapter. Thomas J. Holman. Iota Chapter Charles Z. Smith, Beta Nu Chapter. Lee R. Hampton, Jr., Beta Nu Chapter. 'S
Resolutions Committee Having had a most enlightening Southern Regional Conference of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated on the campus of the Alabama State Teachers College at Montgomery, Alabama, the Resolutions Committee, duly appointed by the Vice-President, submits the following for your consideration: 1. Be it resolved that the President, faculty, and students of the Alabama State Teachers College be sent an appropriate letter or telegram by the VicePresident. expressing appreciation for their unusual hospitality and gracious courtesy. 2. Be it further resolved that the brothers of Alpha Upsilon Lambda Chapter and Beta Upsilon Chapter be given an expression of gratitude for their thorough planning and successful execution of one of the most profitable conferences in the fraternity's history. 3. Be it further resolved that our Brothers Abraham Simpson and John Erby. authors of the fraternity hymn, be located and invited to forthcoming General Conventions at the expense of the Convention. 4. Be it further resolved that at all subsequent Regional Conferences, a Ritual Clinic, be conducted, under the leadership of preDared brothers, for the purpose af training new brothers and new chapters. 5. Be it further resolved that the Regional Directors be invited by all chapters at some time during the year for the purpose of providing up-to-date guidance to the chapters concerned. Respectfully submitterd: Robert E. Jackson, Chairman. Thomas J. Holman. Iota Chapter.
Summarized Report From Page 15 know that these practices are correct or incorrect does not necessarily mean that they are going to change these practices—from the minority group's
Page 21 point of view there arise certain questions: (1) Shall we proceed on the basis of compromise and acceptance in terms of the exigency of the moment? (2) Shall there be a program, what would be the best thing for a particular section of the country and to what extent would these conflict with the social pattern? (3) Shall we again say that a right is a right and the manner of achieving these rights shall be based upon the validity of these rights? (4) Shall there be the position that we shall not compromise on any program of achieving social justice—that educators are traitors to their trust if they advocate any type of program which is short, of first-class citizenship? "Perhaps that is the price that we shall have to pay. If there are possible types of approaches that we must use in the matter of sectoring these rights, then education has its function in removing the condition and the purpose of education in a democracy is that we shall encourage and direct all persons engaged in secondary education to participate fully in citizenship activities. There are provided all kinds of activities which bring forth full participation. For many years, we have run away from the term politics. We sometimes think that people in education should stay out of politics. The precinctman who carries out the vote determines the direction of the vote. Our program of education should be designed to reach the man down there. In certain sections of the country in which people do not participate fully—people have been conditioned for a good number of years to not using the ballot or doing anything to offend those who would control our destiny. We need a program of adult education to go along with this program of adolescent education. What we are seeking to inculcate is that we need to direct our attention toward the adults of our population so that we can get them wherever they are. As long as that is a legal condition, as long as we are going to participate in order to eradicate those things which reflect themselves negatively in narticinating action means that we must undergo those oractices necessary. If there is a nror>ertv qualification for voting in a state, then it should be our obligation tn remove that as a barrier. Tn the meantime. we should encourage people to be nronerty holders in order that they might particioate in elections. If there is an educational requirement, again it should be among our initial moves to bring people up on the level of education for citizenship. We have met a ereat deal of noil tax issues in the South. As long as it is the law. then as a matter of information and as a matter of condition. then that is one of the things that we are forced to meet. Education should concern itself to the practical asnects of the program. Finally, education ought to get together about democracy and give some real implementation to the democracy. We need to stop saying that all men are created equal and beein to practice that in terms of our activities. I think that this would be effective if we can become members or if we would become consultants for Turn the Page