Fraternity.......

My Fraternity Group Picture From 1963.  I Am The Handsome One At Bottom Right.  Ha.

The year was 1963, and I was a freshman at Furman University in Greenville, SC.   I decided to join a fraternity.  I was recruited heavily by one frat in particular---Pi Kappa Phi, or "Star and Lamp", as the school referred to it at the time.

Above is a picture of our group from 1963.  I am at the bottom right.  Handsome, no?  Ha.

To be accepted into this fraternity, the new pledges were required to court favor with the upperclassmen in the club.  This meant there was a lot of running errands for them.  Typically, these errands involved going to get food for them in the evening.  College guys generally eat a helluva lot of food---mostly hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries and sweets---not to mention everybody's favorite, beer.

Also, I was asked on many occasions to see to it that their beds be made up in the mornings, and little things like that.

After a couple of months of this harrassment, there was an evening of torture and belittlement.  If we got through that ordeal all right, we became full-fledged members of the fraternity.

I recall our night of torture very vividly.  Three of us were taken under cover of darkness to a private place atop Paris Mountain, which towers over the campus.  There, around a campfire, we were forced to be paddled. Then, we were stripped down to our underwear and forced to do things like dance and act stupidly for the upperclassmen we were entertaining.  The final (and VERY painful) indignity was when we had to submit to having wintergreen squirted on our private parts.  I never hurt so much in my life.  We howled in pain.

Paris Mountain, Next to the Furman Campus, Was the Site of a Major Harassment

You may be asking yourself, "Why would these guys submit to going through that in order to join a club?"  Believe me, that is an excellent question.

Then, around midnight, in our underwear, we were set loose to find our way back to campus as best we could.  Fortunately, before we were seen in our skivvies by the general public and hauled off to the jailhouse, one of the upperclassmen (Earl Prevost---his name is misspelled in the picture) took pity on us and picked us up in his car and drove us back to our dormitory.  

It was a lot of fun being a member of that group for four years.  I am in semi contact with only one person now from the club---Harold Reed (bottom left).  Sure would like to know what happened to the other guys.  I do know that John Howland died about 10 years ago, but the others I have lost track of.

Furman University

Furman occupies the most scenic campus in the nation

The Front Entrance Beckons

As a high school senior in 1961, I was beginning to feel the pressure of choosing a college.  I was to have the honor of being the first in my family to have to opportunity of a college degree, so I really wanted to make the right choice.  I applied to the University of Georgia, just up the road from where I lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia.  I was quickly accepted, and I rejoiced.  However, I was bothered by the thought of going to such a large institution, away from home in an ocean of undergraduates.

The Historic Bell tower on the Lake

My high school counselor told me about a smaller school in South Carolina that might suit me better.  Furman University had smaller class sizes, excellent instruction and a brand new campus.  I discussed this with my parents, and we decided to travel to Greenville to see the facility first hand. 

The James Buchanan Duke Library

We were all very impressed.  The campus was still under construction, since the school had moved from their older campus in downtown Greenville over the past few years. 

The Chapel

The new campus was beautiful.  We were given a tour of the facilities by the registrar's office, and came away with an enthusiasm for the school.

I applied for admission, but my counselor cautioned me that my high school grades might not quite measure up to be accepted.  I worried about this for a few weeks, but one day in the mail came the good news!---I was going to be a Paladin!

President Bush Speaks

First, however, I had to find out what the heck a Paladin is.  There was a popular western TV show at the time called, "Have Gun, Will Travel".  The star of the show was named "Paladin" (Richard Boone was the actor).  In this series, he was a good guy, always righting wrongs and saving the day.  So I figured that "paladin" must be something very good.  I was right---"Paladin" means "One of the legendary peers of Charlemagne's court, a knightly champion".  Yes!---that sounded good to a 17 year old boy from Georgia.

My first few months at dear old FU were a little difficult as I tried to settle into a life away from home for the first time.  It was as much a learning experience as my classroom instruction.  Looking back on my four year college experience, I can see how Furman helped shape my thinking and view of life.  It was good.

The Paladins Kick Butt on Most Saturdays in the Fall

Today, Furman University occupies 750 acres on its campus outside Greenville, S. C.  Enrollment is approximately 2,550 undergraduate and 550 graduate students.  The university offers majors and programs in 42 subjects.  Founded in 1826, Furman is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the U. S.  More Furman grads have gone on to earn Ph.D. degrees than any other private liberal arts college in the south.

"Christo et Doctrinae"---For Christ and Learning

Furman's seal expresses this slogan:  "Christo et Doctrinae"  (For Christ and Learning).

Four Years of Hard Work Pays Off!