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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1978)
monday, november 13, 1978 daily nebraskan page 9 Dartmouth's faculty supports drive to close Greek houses By Scott Nelson The fraternities that helped to inspire the movie Animal House with their wild parties and outrageous pranks may be closed because of their raucous behavior. The Dartmouth College faculty ap proved by a 67-16 vote a proposal to close the school's 20 fraternities and two sorori ties. The proposal goes before the board of trustees in February for a final decision. James Epperson, an English professor who has lead the drive to close the fra ternities, claims they encourage alcoholism, misbehavior and values that are contrary to academia. He and his supporters cite incidents the fraternities were involved in during the past and say problems have steadily escalated in the past five or six years. Furniture, pianos burned Fruniture has been burned on the front lawns and pianos burned in the houses, fra ternity members have urinated in public at football games, and invited women into their houses to humiliate them, according to Epperson. The Dartmouth said about a dozen people were taken to the hospital and treated for alcoholic convulsions last spring during Sink Night, traditionally the year's biggest fraternity party. One of the screenwriters for Animal House was Chris Miller, a 1963 Dartmouth graduate and fraternity member. In a recent appearance at Dartmouth he said some of the incidents in the film are based on his memories of college fraternity life. 'Out of control' "The fraternities here are out of con trol," Epperson said. "They have resisted pleas from the dean, faculty, townspeople and fellow stu dents for change." Ken Beer, president of the Interfra ternity Council, denied none of the char ges but pointed out that the fraternities were attempting to clean up their act before the Epperson proposal was circulated last spring. "I think it's just a misunderstanding and the fact that we do have to reappriase our selves," he said. "In the past four years there has been no interaction between the faculty and fra ternity students," Beer said. "They were only going on the behavior they have seen and making some generalizations. They don't know what goes on beyond that." ' Survey conducted Dembro said the paper conducted a sur vey last spring when the proposal to abolished fraternities was circulated. The survey found that 42 percent of the students at Dartmouth were dissatisfied with the present fraternities, although 87 percent were opposed to Epperson's pro posal. "I think it's the whole perception that students in fraternities are somehow pro tected from the standards everyone else has to live by," Dembro said. Epperson said fraternities started getting wild in 1972, when women were first ad mitted to Dartmouth. He said the transi tion from a men's school to a coeduational one was well-received by all but "a group of reactionary knuckleheads." They hassled, heckled and humiliated women who came to Dartmouth and touched off a wave of outrageous behavior, according to Epperson. 'Worse than children' "They want to be treated like men and then they turn around and act like children, worse than children," he said. Both Beer and Dembro saw the proposal as a strong mandate condemning the fra ternities' past behavior and demanding fu ture reform. But Epperson was more skeptical. "Attempts at reform have failed for a decade. There is a tradition of violence and destruction that has to be stopped, and frankly I don't see much hope of reform," he said. Epperson emphasized that he is not against fraternity life as a whole. "I remember with great affection my days as a fraternity brother at the Uni versity of Utah. We had a good time, but we didn't beat up on women or urinate in public. "I guess I want people to know that this movement is not lead by some crackpot. I had lots of support from students and faculty, and the vote was overwhelming," Epperson said. "We love this institution and like the students. But this institution stands for civilization. What I and others have seen is barbarism and the two just don't mix." FREE MOVIE Aw zzmZi i 0 &?f A 1957 anti-war film by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas. "Paths of Glory" Tuesday, November 28, 1978 6:30 pm Union Small Auditorium FREE ADMISSION Sponsored by Army ROTC with introductions by Dr. Isenberg and Dr. Maslowski of the History Department. ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 0 f fJZr KISS "I AIL IL 10 IT LL11 E H I GOOSE 10 N-l L N Q V A . E TJH A N IUGN0NEG1NEK 0 R I 0 OF "IS E N 0 L N A T I" 1 r r?Ai''''"is ARB r-i B0R AjGG I ETfs I BEN A T 0 I TG R I 0 SC GIRO H0!!LIlE0 v !JLIN E s tZJc pi vT!h 0 E L m C it A " M 0 L eTTb EVES H iR W I L I 1 H T L L S NO fl T 1 1 1 Will t1askslIa1r1eIa1eer STUDIO THEATRE 12th &R 472-2073 I I J1 rnzr I I AWARD nuze I 9F Nov. 28, 29, 30 & Dec 1, 2, 3 Tickets: $350 & $4.00 m M 4T Lincoln's Quality Adult Theater "SUPERB!!! MILES APART FROM THE REST. RATED: 92" - Screw Magazine "A CLASS ACT!" - Playboy THE FINEST PORNO MATCH -UPS OF ALL TIME. RATED: FULL!"-Hustler "MOST DESIRABLE WOMEN OF THE YEAR!"-Gallery Introducing Maria Forsa Starring Harry Reams PLUS 2nd XXX Rated Feature "GO YOUR OWN WAY" Continuous shows from 1 1 am Late shows Fri-Sat Must be 18-Have I.D. ' W I'Qju ir tie) ; eif. titfyfflfo MAKE IT WITH GOlDOH SUVfR IMPODIiO BOTTUD BV KQU'LA JALISCO S A SI LOUIS MO 80 PH00F rr prN 4ir ill WW eUoiif, TI(C JESQTAaraO Staff Re A StwiSeint Dicst! STUDENT HOST APPOINTMENTS WILL BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 1, 1979 AND WILL LAST ONE FULL CALENDAR YEAR. IN THAT TIME , HOSTS WILL BE PAID $550 PLUS FREE ROOM AND BOARD FOR SUMMER ORIENTATION, AND THEN SERVE IN AN ON-CALL, VOLUNTEER CAPACITY THE REST OF THE YEAR. Applications Are Now Available in Undergraduate College Offices and Campus Activities & Programs CAP - East UNL Cultural Center 200 Nebraska Union Nebraska East Union 1012 No. 16 St. Need Mdre Information... attend one of these meetings. Tuesday, November 14 - 3:30 pm Nebraska Union Thursday, November 16 - 7:00pm Nebraska Union Sponsored by Campus Activities & Programs
