UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 269]

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STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

251

foreigners' clubs, motorcycle clubs, chess clubs, semireligious clubs, clubs of all sorts and conditions, were organized. In 1909 the IUiiti conservatively estimated that fifty per cent, of the students took an active part in one or many organizations. There were then 23 fraternities and 8 sororities, 11 honorary fraternities, and 6 literary societies, while the remaining organizations made up a list of 125. Six years later this number had certainly increased to 150, and there were few students who did-not meet some group of fellows regularly. The number of social fraternities alone in that year was 30 and of sororities 11, with a score of honorary Greek letter bodies. The growth of the latter list marks the rise of standards and the growth of registration over a wide curriculum. A chapter of Tau Beta Pi was established in 1897, one of Sigma Xi in 1903, and one of Phi Beta Kappa in 1907, with many honorary fraternities of less importance at intervening and later dates. Certain prominent undergraduate organizations have a history of their own; and chief among these is the Illinois Union, founded in 1909 on the model of similar organizations at many older universities. In Dr. James's first talk to the students in 1904 he called attention to the desirability of an organization like the Harvard Union, and this suggestion he repeated on various occasions. In 1909 Prof. L. P. Breckinridge told the Juniors at a smoker that they Bhould make an effort to obtain a smoking and rest room in a University building, and this idea was broadened by conferences with the faculty until it approximated the President's. By June of that year the Union had been organized, had enrolled 2,000 men, and had been offered $1,000 by the President towards a building. It at once took charge of a large