Thursday, May 10, 1990 Oregon Daily Emerald Advertising Supplement Century-old greek organizations are alive and kicking "It von arc being rushed b\ a fraternity, do not let it cause you to go doicn town ansi purchase it bigger hat /rum ihe t 'mi mil- StuJcm "Ht'lle" ft >■ >1- 10 ” University forefathers pro!' ably didn’t realize advice such as this would still be applicable to students of the 1990s. The specifics mat change with the times—it’s doubtful people run out and buy new hats to celebrate rush but many of the sentiments and philosophies of the early days re main alive today. In 1901, the l niversitv established Sigma Nu fraternity as the first greek organization to exist on campus. Other fraternities quickly followed, with membership at around 1 b peo ple in each house. The first sorority on campus, (lamina Phi Beta, re ceived its charter in 1908. Although many traditions and rit uals of the early days are upheld by modern grecks, it seems that the ex elusiveness and supreme secrecy of the groups was taken much more sc riously in the beginning. In the 1914 edition of the University's Student Handbook, the incoming freshman is advised that “if the fraternities desire your fellowship' they will ask you. Until then, the details of their activi ties need not be of any interest to you and the less you ask about them or comment upon them, as a new comer, the wiser you are. According to the PUt- Prudent Hnndbtxrk, every student in the greek system was assigned to an up perdassman in his or her organiza non. 1 he upperclassman was "direct Member* of the first sorority <>o campus, Mamma I'hi lieta, pose i>/i the step* ot their house in I'fOti. Is responsible to the fraternity tor the scholastic standing ot his room mate and his success in school acttvi ties," for tire first two years of the student's college career. In addition, no freshman ssas allowed to leas e the fraternity or sororitv house on a school night “svithout special permis sion from an officer of the fraterni ty," ai c ording to the public at ion. As the l niversitv expanded over the years, the greek system also eti joyed healths grosvth. I'niversity se nior >ue Bright, sc ho first attended school here in the earls N40s, said greek affiliation seas tremendously svtdespread during her das as a soror ity member. "When I moved to hugene, 1 real i:ed that every girl in high school was focused nil going to College just tor sorority life,” Bright said. "Very tew of them thought in terms ol hi reers, they went to school to find someone to marry.’' Bright, who was a member ol ( Mtmn.l Bln Beta, said she tell a deep sense of sisterhood with the rest of the sorority members, because there were only about 4s member- and all were required to live in the house. "We were also required to partki pate m many mx lal and m honl ,u tiv ities, but it was easier to do that be i ause scIhhiI w as a breeze back then,” she said. "We lias.) a lot ol California girls in my sorority be i ause they i ouldn’t get into the t all forma {k run»l) system. “Oregon ye .in .1 country club back then," Bright added "We IukI plenty ot time ti' Jo 'Mickey Mouse things.” Bright Juln’t graduate Juring those “Mu key Mouse" Jays, bei ause she left sy hoot to join the Navy at the Beginning of World W ar I After getting married, raising ti family and getting divori ed, she .ltd she tin.illy found time to get Back to the l ni yeroty to finish her degree require merits. Bright said she knows of tyyo yeomen yy ho were sorority members at the l 'diversity during its inception on i umpus. " I liev still talk about those days," Bright said "IhcyYe gone through life Being old son >i ity gii h." I he popularitv ot greek organiM lions lontinued to groyy at a regular rate until it reached a j'eak in the early 1960s, when there ycerc JJ fra tei nines and it' sororities on i.tmpus. In the Into lM'Os, hoyyever, mem Bership in the greek system dropped dramatically, causing 14 houses to i lose in the period ot six years. By the fall of 1*470, only six percent of the student body was involved in the greek system. I he rising anti-estab lishment mood anil sixial changes during the Viet Nam era contributed to the dei line in greek popularity. .\ho, racial discrimination clauses in house i barters added to the slump in membership, according to an Oit. 31. 1*471 article in the Register ( hi.irJ. Since that periixl of decline, the Turn to HISTORY, I’u.y hfi GREEK LIFE NOW YOU'RE GOING PLACES ARE YOU UNDER 21? * ARE YOU HUNGRY? DO YOU LIKE ITALIAN FOOD? DO YOU LIKE AMERICAN FOOD? THEN COME TO yiicLOZr E* □ O' □ O' □ O' □ * If you arc over 21, you arc also welcome to join us. Mon