Permission for organization at Brown University of a chapter of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, which is predominantly Jewish in membership, has been granted by university officials, it was announced here.
Authorization for nine students to form a Brown chapter is expected to bring to a close the controversy that has waged since last April when a group of Jewish students surrendered their chapter in Pi Lambda Phi although retaining membership in the national organization. This action was taken because the Brown chapter of
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the fraternity was formed, according to college officials, without the knowledge or consent of proper authorities.
At the same time that announcement of permission to organize a Brown chapter of the fraternity was given from the office of the Dean, it was stated that the Lambda Psi club, a Jewish undergraduate society, is officially permitted to function as a local association although not as a fraternity. The Lambda Psi club applied for this sanction on March 1.
The application of the Pi Lambda. Phi fraternity was made to former President W. H. P. Faunce early in May following the statement by the corporation on May 1 of its policies toward non-sectarian fraternities with memberships composed in fact of persons of one race or faith.
The Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, although predominantly Jewish, is nonsectarian by the provisions of its constitution. Dr. Faunce referred the application to the executive committee of the university corporation which, after study by a sub-committee, approved the application. The applicants are the same, it is understood, who last April surrendered their charter.
The statement issued from the office of the Dean read:
“Brown University announces that it has received a petition from nine students for official sanction to organize a chapter of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity. This permission is now granted and the petitioners may organize a chapter at such time during the academic year 1929-30 as may be agreeable to them.
“Brown University also announces that it has received an informal petition from certain students for permission to organize a so-called Lamba Psi Club-a local association, not a fraternity. This petition is also granted, and the petitioners may organize such a club at any time they desire.”
This statement is expected to bring to a close the Jewish fraternity issue which has broken out spasmodically at Brown during the past few years. The apparent failure of Brown University officials to sanction a fraternity at the university, composed of Jews, attracted national attention.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
