FRATERNITIES/SOROITIES (HIGH SCHOOL)

FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES (HIGH SCHOOL). Beginning in the 1913/14 academic years, fraternities and sororities were banned in Dubuque high schools. The board responded using state law to make the groups illegal. As a first step, Superintendent Harris announced that each student entering high school in 1913 would be expected to sign an individual statement that he/she would not join any fraternity or other secret society during the attendance period at the school. Violation or evasion of the pledge would be grounds for suspension.

The first mention of Greek organizations in high school came in 1905, when an article in the Telegraph-Herald stated that Nu chapter of Phi Sigma, would be holding its seventh annual banquet at the WALES HOTEL on December 25th. (1) In commenting on fraternities, the editors of the Sioux City Tribune stated in 1913... (2)

                     it seems to be fairly unanimous and it is to the effect that fraternities
                     are so many social cliques within the student body, that they encourage
                     snobbery and tend to make the poor boy or girl feel more sharply their
                     limitations because of lack of money to keep up the social pace.

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Source:

1. "The City in Brief," Telegraph-Herald, December 27, 1905, p. 3

2. "Fraternities Are Given Death Blow," Telegraph Herald, September 24, 1912