Oi- 7V&J, FIJI T^uCii^^cct 6^(f' ^euie'i»*t f^nutici. ^eltei ferred his attention to something else, then buried them under a folder that was filled to overflowing with confidential material. The business of preparing folders for the 31 committees of the Ekklesia was long and tedious—and for Bill Zerman, who had been up until 2 a.m. the previous morning, it was downright maddening. Still there were papers to sign, folders to complete, and Plush Shoreham Hotel in Washington, site of the Wilkinson Ekklesia. "Tha block of granite which wa> on obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping stona in the pathway of the strong."—Carlyle missing memos to find before everyone could go home. Zerman glanced over at the new plant that had been placed on his mantle and smiled a kind of haif-smiie. He comment ed that the plant enhanced the office quite a bit more than the old, withered growths An Ominous Wind the brotherhood, they felt the price would have to be paid. By nine o'clock Tuesday night, August Influence at work 23rd, the East Banquet Room of the Shore ham was packed with Fijis. Old, young, or First blood had already been drawn in a that his new addition had displaced. He in between, all were laughing, drinking and statement issued August 15 by Charles E. fully enjoying the renewing of old friend Heydt, president of the New York Chapter, then glanced at his watch, scribbled the ships and the molding of new ones. word "suit" on a piece of scratch paper to remind himself to stop by the laundry But beneath the loud buzz of conversa after work, and puffed vigorously at his tions, the singing of fraternity songs and the frequent boisterous laughter was an cigar. ominous wind which could only be noticed Xi. He systematically refuted many of the arguments which had been set forth by four of the fraternity's archons, George Gunn, Jr., Hayse Tucker, Hubert B. Keenleyside and Harry L. Davis. The volumes of smoke drifted heavily in the strained expressions worn on the These archons, in a statement issued back over his shoulder, diffusingrapidly into faces of a few delegates. Men were pres ent who had worn their badges for nearly August 3, called for a firm stand by ail unbearably hot and humid — a typical August day in the nation's capital. Newly-appointed field secretary Tom Gil- 50 years, but more tban three score at the standing membership qualifications, stat reception or on their way to it knew they ing that, "We believe there are influences might lose their badge—even before grad at work that would like to destroy the liland came in with some literature to be included in one of the committee folders. uating from college. the laboring air-conditioner. Outside it was delegates against any change In the principles that have guided our Frater Then he helped with the final and stimulat had come to this 112th Wilkinson Ekklesia nity for one hundred twelve years." The archons pointed out that 60 percent of the ing last act of binding each folder and plac to fight for their lives as brothers of Phi undegraduate chapters favored no change Many delegates from the north and west ing them in the big trunk that would be Gamma Delta. Still more, it seemed, had1 in the constitution and that 73 percent of delivered to the Shoreham at 10 a.m. the come to help preserve what to them were next day. Strangely missing from this group the ancient and hallowed traditions of the of folders was the one labeled "Special fraternity. If this preservation wouldi Committee on Membership Qualifications." mean the dissolution of nearly a fourth of the graduate chapters favored no change. These figures were drawn from a questionnaire released by the Special Com mittee on Membership Qualifications. \r\nrule on individual problems of various chap, ters when they came up. After the dust had settled and everyone had gone home—many delegates partially unsatisfied but hardly any wholly so—the men who had worked so hard to come up with a good answer sat back to appraise what they had done. Said retiring field secretary Michael O. Shipley, "It Is expected that the chapters which have been granted personal chapter autonomy by the archons will maintain the same high ideals and standards that typify Phi Gamma Delta since it founding ^ Lfii? I ~ vSiii in 1848, so that no additional action need be implied or entered into on behalf of the Holding New York's sign aloft, Zeta Deuteron Tom Rideout accompanied by Steve Rutledge and Don Partlngton to the right played important roles in the Ekklesla. Brother general fraternity. Rideout headed the Committee on Scholarship. fraternity has not been impaired what soever. In reply, Heydt made note of the fact that less than 20 percent of the graduate chapters even responded to the question naire in the first place. The undergraduate future—which meant that 55 percent, and perhaps more, of the active undergraduate than a statement of preference, issued with tions of the problem facing the fraternity or would be in the foreseable future. In a statement issued by Omega Asso In regard to the archon's mention of fraternity principies, it was said that "no raciai or creedai barriers were fixed by our Founders. ciation Membership Committee Chairman Willian C. Woodson, he said that; "It is evident that the Fraternity must make a as a whole." It was not untii 1898— I think we made the most real- istic decision possible at this time." chapters were facing the problem currently replies were, according to Heydt, "no more out knowledge of the scope and ramifica The strength of our choice: either the elimination prohibited of the restrictions, or the drastic, probably fatal, change in the size and nature of the Fraternity . . . we have no desire to engage in a moralistic crusade." 50 years after—that the first such barrier was set up." No Moralistic Crusade Hugh J. Baker Twoivo yoors of hard. work The pre-Ekklesia scrimmage resulted in a forthright statement of the facts and dangers facing Phi Gamma Delta. In all, 11 chapters were facing imminent danger of losing their charters due to pressure from their respective campuses. Bill Zerman leaned back in his chair over a cup of coffee in the headquarters kitchen and reflected: "We worked for at least 12 Fully 37 more years (referring to the national officers and fraternity legal adviser U. J. Baker) to come up with an answer for this problem. chapters expected to face agitation in the Our solution is similar to decisions of other groups, but there has been no mutual co operation on the problem." Michael O. Shipley " . . . most roalistic docition possible . . . " The Settling Sands J^\ j In the days of the Ekklesia, much was dis "Our decision is our own. According to the vote of the Ekklesia, this plan seems to be the best solution we could come to. Inasmuch as it provides that we don't cussed and much was brought to the fore. necessarily have to lose chapters because The closing days revealed that the frater nity was so evenly split on the problem of of university-imposed mandates." Though the decision still remains to be altering membership qualifications (a small tested, the work which brought it about by majority favored no change) that an alter the dedicated men of the National Frater native solution was proposed and passed. nity is something which can never be repaid. Without actually changing the constitution, During the Ekklesia, it was truly our step William S. Zerman And naw, tima to pick up that tuh. the power was granted to the archons to ping stone for the future, \r\nPrize-Winning Pledge Class r SSss Nu-i* During Homecoming Weekend this year j at W & L, Fiji pledges very markedly dis- r r played their growing devotion to the purple IT { banner. In competition with 17 other fraternities they worked long and hard and ulti- r Kf mately captured the Homecoming Display Award—a handsome silver tray. | '♦ r*'*'' The theme chosen by the Fijis was ^ -j. "Laundromat the Diplomats,"—the Diplomats being the visiting Franklin and Marshall team. The display was dom- j^TiVroif 20 feet high. His hand rested on the crank 0'^ » of a giant washing machine, while half- \ _ft squashed In the huge ringers lang^shed a 1 ^ t J f * r\ somewhat impressionistic Diplomat in pink kleenex. Construction was done with tr*w. J J ^^6/^ ^ Inated by a W&LGeneral standing over I ^ A t t ^ ^1i 'i m tl wooden frames, chicken wire, and countless boxes of kleenex, paper napkins and sundry other available tissues. These things combined to make an extremely impressive, colorfully original set which impressed not only visthe ofQcial Following their flrst-place the energetic Fiji pledges armed themselves with bells and donned distinctive headgear to go about winning priiewinnlng Homecomings Prizewinnlng Homecomings Display—The Display—The Fiji Pledge Class won Arst prize for their the Spirit Trophy. This trophy is awarded Homecomings capturln( the Spirit Trophy for the second year In Homecomings Display Display as as well well as as capturing annually to the fraternity which has done succession. succession. the most to support W & L, and was won in 1959 by the FiJis. , , . the brothers living in the house The Fiji Pledges ot ^ the Pep Rally before the Home- Although present are inconvenienced because of ^m ng oame ame and at game itself, coming at the game itself, the ^j,g labor and ^^d funds needed to put the secDuring this 1960 Rush Season, Zeta Fijis literally jumped jumped to the forefront with floor shower h=.^i, back into operation, it it is Deuteron of Phi Gamma Delta pledged their incessant clatterand appealing slogans j-oned that this orobiem can be resolved in seventeen boys representing an astounding borne on lofty poles. The results were ob- / problem can be resolved in geographical backgrounds and vioiis «7hBn intJ^io fv,„ „„ iis were oo ^he next few months. individual interests. There is an extraordi. . , , original . s aFiji m e , captured a barragethe of . ^ maior proDiem nroblem which of scholars, and highly cheers wnicn faces races nary combination leaders, all of whomathletes, are united crowds' enthusiasm and thus clinched a house now and when it can be solved, common ideals and an intense dewe shall shall turn to improving improving those those parts of sjre sire to to travel travel the the hallowed hallowed road road of of the the two-fold victory for Phi Gamma Delta turn to parts of the basement which are now used only as Purple Pilgrim. House Improvements a haven for junk. The pledges have already Rick Belser graduated from Dreher High begun to sort the usuable from the worth- School in Columbia, South Carolina. He was been de- ®member of the Student Council and parAlumni returning to Zeta Deuteron would less, much much of the latter having been nr.c,t,>a rv,.-.., moons ago. o,.., track football. He was posited mony ^ticipated delegatein to Boysand State. At W&L Rickalso is find many physical improvements in the Posited house. During the past summer, work was While the house at present looks its writing for the Ring-tum Phi and is piarticcompleted on the first floor resulting in an best best in years, perhaps the best it has ever ipating in Glee Club and spelunker activlooked, there there is is no no reason reason why why it it should should co-president of the pledge appearance of which all the brothers are looked, m_ • .1 m M . . be neglected or why efforts should not be quite proud. ... Hanging from the walls of our newly- C13SS. „ae..d: paneled dining room are caricatures of In order that this be done properly, ihe nessee. Jay was Chairman of the Dance acttve support of all brothers, both active and Committee, Assistant Editor of the year- members which were done last alumni, is requested. book. News Editor of the newspaper, a dorm ... councilor, and President of his Senior Class. Alumni are heartily invited and encour- He also played football, was granted a Cum spring. The living room, hall, and ladies' powder room are a shade of green which highly complements the furnishings. With aged to visit the house as soon as and Laude scholarship, and was the President the construction of a new bannister for whenever possible. Zeta Deuteron is still the main staircase, the flrst Aoor was .i.x.Q.re ...ill V, t Team and is Society. a member anda always will Ko be x.r,,.,. your chapter, ando we Debate tional Speleological transformed from its rather rustic look strongly solicit your interest and cooper of last spring into a veritable palace. ation. Debate Society. Here, Jay is on the of the Na- A graduate of the Penn Charter School is Clem Clark from Philadelphia, Pennsyl- \r\n7^ 9^ ^eta in ^n.