From the Academy

Several months ago, I published in these pages two articles on the campaign against fraternities. These pieces brought me a deluge of interesting letters. I haven’t yet contrived to answer them all, but eventually I shall reply to all my correspondents; and from time to time, I may devote “From the Academy” to discussion of the questions they have raised.

What the courts of the land cannot do, I do not think the colleges ought to attempt. It is true that the colleges must exert some discipline over fraternity-chapters. But this discipline has its limits. Students, including fraternity-members, are not the property, or the employees, of the university or college. Their relationship to the college is contractual, not monastic. Fraternity houses, at most colleges, are not the property of the colleges or else are held on long leases from the colleges. The jurisdiction of college administrations over fraternity chapters, in short, is by no means identical with their jurisdiction over ordinary dormitories.

RK

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Russell Kirk

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Several months ago, I published in these pages two articles on the campaign against fraternities. These pieces brought me a deluge of interesting letters. I haven’t yet contrived to answer them all, but eventually I shall reply to all my correspondents; and from time to time, I may devote “From the Academy” to discussion of the questions they have raised.

What the courts of the land cannot do, I do not think the colleges ought to attempt. It is true that the colleges must exert some discipline over fraternity-chapters. But this discipline has its limits. Students, including fraternity-members, are not the property, or the employees, of the university or college. Their relationship to the college is contractual, not monastic. Fraternity houses, at most colleges, are not the property of the colleges or else are held on long leases from the colleges. The jurisdiction of college administrations over fraternity chapters, in short, is by no means identical with their jurisdiction over ordinary dormitories.