The
founding brothers were men of diverse persuasions
and varied interests.
For its philosophy,
the founders adopted the guideline:
Since almost all of the founders held scholarships,
a weighted grade average of 1.75 was the
prime qualification for an invitation to
apply for admission into the select group.
While they belonged to the campus elite,
they did not come from elitist backgrolunds.
Neither did they want to be elitists.
They welcomed all who desired to share their
fraternal bond and the objects for which
they had founded their brotherhood. They
wanted to share the ideal of aspiring for
relevance not only in the context of the
campus, but in the larger national fabric.
While they sought an increase in numbers,
the founders insisted in the maintenance
of quality among the recruits.
1940 was a year of expansion and consolidation
for the Alphans.
Antonio L. Azores was Lord
Chancellor for the first semester, and Adriano
Garcia for the second semester. Prospects
for membership had their backgrounds checked
from records of the University Registrar
and the Secretary of the College of Law.
Those with the scholastic qualifications,
and showed potential for leadership in campus
and national affairs, were invited to join.
The neophytes were oriented to the ideals
and aspirations of the founders. Those who
decided to proceed with their applications
were made to undergo tests in skills essential
to prove their actual possession of perceived
potential, and commitment to the ideals and
causes of the founders. Physical initiations
were not encouraged on the theory that this
would demean the brotherhood. No aspirant
was turned down just because he did not have
the social background or financial resources.
In addition, there were tests of humility,
surrender of the individual to the larger
aspirations and interests of the group, and
the ability to yield total obedience to the
consensus of the majority. While this seemed
a simplistic approach, compared to the other
fraternal organizations on the campus that
believed that intensive physical tests sealed
fraternal bonds, the founding brothers felt
that those with a low threshold of pain,
but nonetheless had all the other qualifications
for membership and would be assets, would
not be turned off and stay away. The approach
worked, and the best minds on the campus
joined the new fraternity.
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