DISCUSSION OF PHI BETA KAPPA

As a result of recent complaints the Yale chapter of Phi Beta Kappa is taking steps to raise its admission requirements. Among the various suggestions for improvement it has been urged that the high-stand men, amounting to ten per cent. of each class be admitted to the society, thus placing the system of election on a purely competitive basis. There are many objections to this plan, however, for if men were chosen at the end of their senior year under this arrangement, there would be no undergraduate chapter, and if at the end of their senior year under this arrangement, there would be no undergraduate chapter, and if at the end of their junior year it would be possible that some men whose records were brought up to the Phi Beta Kappa's standard in the senior year would not have a chance for the society. Moreover, a class with poor academic standing would have just as many men in it as a better class.

Another suggestion which may be adopted is that of raising the high standard requirement to three instead of two years.