Theta Nu Epsilon Society - Articles - The True Sphere of Theta Nu Epsilon

The Theta Nu Epsilon Society.

The True Sphere of Theta Nu Epsilon,

Gordon Case, The Quarterly of Theta Nu Epsilon, 1912, Volume 1, Number 1.

This article appeared in the first issue of The Quarterly, and was written by Gordon Case. It is probably the best statement of the position and policy of Theta Nu Epsilon. Here Case describes a social Society, one founded on the fact that its members are the most concerned, most involved, in college life itself. Theta Nu Epsilon, then, as a college society dedicated to the idea of college itself;—a place where those who have the most to offer to the college experience, and who want to get the most out of it.

As such, this article is one of the most important of the series offered here.

The fraternity system in colleges is a peculiarly American custom and it is pre-eminently a system of class distinctions. Though the constitution of the United States distinctly states that all men are born equal, yet it is a well recognized fact that in every large community or assembly of men there is bound to arise, in the natural course of events, a gathering into groups of those men who have a prediliction towards each other.

The underlying causes of this are various. The pursuit of certain studies; the inclination toward sociability; the desire to assist, in the social, mental, and moral uplift of men less fortunate than themselves; the longing and aspirations for higher and better attainments; the love of sports and the proclivity to be before the college world as leaders, are some of the many reasons which bring college men together in clans or factions.

But, be the causes what they may, the fraternities bind their members strongly in the solid bond of brotherhood. The youth, at an age when he is most impressionable, enters a fraternity and takes, with due solemnity, the vow of loyalty to that fraternity. So deep an impression does this obligation make on his adolescent and susceptible mind that he rarely, if ever, fails in his obligations during his college course or in after life.

During the first years of fraternity life there is a marked tendency toward narrowness and bigotry, and an inability to discern any good quality or virtue in the members of another group. The Junior and Senior years usually inculcate in the youth a little more tolerance and appreciation of those who do not belong to his particular group; though in some cases the bias remains throughout life.

The underlying cause of this narrowness is the lack of suffcient freindly intercourse, on the same plane, between the men of the various groups. This is a great evil both to the individual and to the group. To the individual by lessening the number of lasting friendships, by diminishing the opportunities of meeting in friendly relation, minds and characters of a diverse bent and thereby depriving him of the culture resulting from contact with those following a different path from himself. To the group by fostering a spirit of aloofness and engendering a spirit of suspicion as to the motives of others, and maintaining a spirit of petty jealousy between groups.

To correct this evil, various class societies have been organized, societies in which the men of the various fraternities and non-fraternity men meet on an equal footing. In these societies, college men have learned to know each other thoroughly and to appreciate one-another’s good qualities, to observe that a may may be a good, all-round character even though he does not belong to a particular group, and they have become broader and better men. These intergroup societies have been very numerous. They have been born, passed through various trials, many have fallen by the wayside, and a very few are vigorous and flourishing.

Of these last, Theta Nu Epsilon is the strongest and the most active. Like the rest, she has had her trials and tribulations, occasionally coming in contact with ‘the powers that be’ with the result that some local chapters have succumbed, but on the whole she has ridden the storm and after a few repairs has been as seaworthy as ever.

With the formation of a National Council in T.N.E., a centralization of power and a unification and harmony of the scattered chapters has been effected and the rosy dawn of a prosperous future is before the society.

Membership in T.N.E. means that a man has spent at least one full year as a student in college; that he has gained prominence in his class, either in having been elected to some class office, by being a good athlete, by being first in his studies, or in some college activity. That he is looked up to by his classmates or that he is a leader recognized by the student body. Aside from, and more important than, having been a participant in the various college activities, he is a man of good morals and of a congenial disposition, or, to use the phrase of the day, he is ‘a good mixer.’

T.N.E. does not desire to enter into the field with the fraternities. Her rôle is not so serious. Her aim is to supplement, not to compete with them. Membership in T.N.E., then, means congeniality and a uniting of the prominent men in the Sophomore class, irrespective of fraternity affiliations.

Because of this universal sufferage, the members being well-acquainted with each other and, recognizing their merits, when it comes to the question of electing a class or college officer, or a captain of the athletic teams, a T.N.E. man will be able to vote intelligently and is not so apt to be biased by fraternity ties; by his membership, he has a wider and more intimate acquaintance among his college mates.

The fraternities will find that membership of their men in a good live chapter of T.N.E. not only will NOT lessen the loyalty of these men to their fraternity, but will be of great benefit by broadening other members and giving them new ideas through observing, in others, what to emulate and what to avoid.

We have tried to show that T.N.E. has a place in the college world that is a very necessary one, and her present flourishing condition is ample proof that she is well able to fill that place.

We ask of the fraternities that they deal justly with us, that they give us a fair and impartial trial. There need be no fear that T.N.E. will ever enter into competition with the fraternities, so that one of the objections fraternities have had is abolished, and we are sure that deeper consideration will convince them that, by aiding us in our fight for a universal brotherhood of college men, they are working in their own interests.

We would plead with the faculties of the various institutions also, not to be biased in their attitude toward T.N.E. for they will find that T.N.E. is fighting for the BEST in college men, and when fairly used will tend to raise the standards of the student body.