Fraternity “Smoker” Stressed Manners

           
   Director Howard mentioned the advantages of fraternities especially in the training it could give the student in regard to social matters of etiquette, development of self-confidence and poise, personality, and with regards to leadership. He stressed the need of leadership in a fraternity if it is to continue to be a worthwhile organization on the campus.– 1932 Cigarette advertisement

Smoker Enjoyed by Fraternity Members 

The second annual Inter-fraternity smoker held Monday night in the classroom building auditorium was a very enthusiastic and successful event. Gene Crump, chairman of the event, acted as master of ceremonies. The smoker was opened with the distributing of cigarettes among those present, after which competitive singing between the fraternities was held.

Heinte Sevier gave the first talk of the evening. He urged the fraternities to continue to cooperate with each other as much as possible, because in this way a much stronger campus spirit as well as closer relationship between the organizations could be built up.

Two exhibition boxing bouts and a wrestling match followed Heinle's remarks, Presentation of the Inter-fraternity basketball trophy to Herb Cannon, coach and player of the championship Philo Delphos team, was made by Milton Tavernetti, Inter-fraternity council president.

The principal speaker of the evening was Director Howard, who talked on the advantages and duties of fraternities. He mentioned the advantages of fraternities especially in the training it could give the student in regard to social matters of etiquette, development of self-confidence and poise, personality, and with regards to leadership. He stressed the need of leadership in a fraternity if it is to continue to be a worthwhile organization on the campus. Dr. Howard stated that the fraternitles on this campus are much more democratic than those at larger institutions and therefore more students are given the privilege to enjoy the advantages of fraternity affiliations. 

He gave a brief history of the fraternities on this campus and mentioned a few prominent alumni members of each. He also urged the organizations to keep the alumni as interested as possible as they have much to do with the success or failure of a fraternity. Dr. Howard concluded his talk by mentioning a few of the fraternitiy members attending the college here and told a few of their characteristics.

President Tavernetti told a little about the scholarship trophy awarded each semester to the fraternity having the highest scholastic average. He then presented the cup to James Denny, president of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. This is the fourth consecutive semester that the organization has won the coveted trophy.

Fred Abbott was called upon to give the closing talk of the evening. He told of the duties of a fraternity to the individual and the college. He urged the houses to cooperate to the fullest extent in campus activities and to have all the members and pledges know the heads of the various departments on the campus. He pointed out that the first duty of a fraternity is to its college. 

He stated that local traditions are an important factor in college life and urged that they be enforced. Abbott urged the fraternities to continue to cooperate with each other and to hold their inter-fraternity contests each year, as it helps create a friendly spirit among the members which in turn is reflected on the campus.

The smoker was closed with the singing of college songs and cheering led by chief yell leader Dave Mari and Mel Baumgarten, one of his assistants. Refreshments were served after the smoker. This affair has come to be a very important one on the campus and it should be carried on each year. — California Aggie, 1932

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Etiquette and Pinning Sweethearts

Some of the “unwritten laws of etiquette,” like those for the “pinning” or “lavaliering” of college sweethearts, are passed on generationally in fraternities and sororities. –“Ever since society allowed young people to see one another in a romantic setting, dating formalities have existed from gentlemen callers to today’s less formal art of ‘hooking up.’ Somewhere in between lie two levels of commitment familiar only to Greeks – lavaliering and pinning. Lavaliering is a Greek tradition born out of various dating rituals going back to a pre-Penn State era. An actual lavaliere is a necklace with the fraternity's letters on it. The level of commitment varies from fraternity to fraternity and school to school. Some fraternities don't recognize lavaliering, and others don't allow members to pin the women they date. But if a fraternity allows members to lavaliere their partners, it adds a more concrete commitment to the relationship than what existed in the past...” – Pictured above, a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity pin- Quote from The Daily Collegian, 1992

“Pinning” is Social Security for College Students

Sometimes a mother is upset by the news that her daughter has accepted the fraternity pin of a college beau. But there are several reasons why this campus custom can mean much to the future happiness of the boy and girl involved. Pinning is a kind of social security in the years before marriage. Less binding and more private than an engagement, it is an attempt to find someone to depend on. 

For hundreds of years a woman could only be single, engaged, married, widowed, or divorced; pinning has created a new social status. You won't find the rules of pinning in the etiquette books, many parents have never heard of it; society doesn't recognize it; but those most concerned honor and understand it. – San Bernardino Sun, 1953

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia