College Fraternities

Individual members of a college fraternity may enjoin the unauthorized withdrawal of the charter of the chapter to which they belong; the membership would remain to them in spite of the withdrawal. The fact that a college has not the proper material for the maintenance of a Greek letter fraternity is no ground for the withdrawal of its fraternity charter by the head council, where there is no provision in the constitution or by-laws authorizing such withdrawal, except for a violation of the rules and usages of the fraternity. A disclosure by charter members of the constitution of a Greek letter fraternity and of certain secrets relative to an attempt by the grand council to withdraw a charter was not such a violation of the constitution and by-laws as would authorize the fraternity to forfeit their charter, where such violation was rendered necessary by the fraternity itself. Heaton v. Hull, 51 App. Div. 126, 64 N. Y. Supp. 279. See 42 Am. L. Rev. 170. COLLEGIUM (Lat. colli gere, to collect). In Civil Law. A society or assemblage of those of the same rank or honor. An army. A company, in popular phrase. The whole order of bishops. Du Cange. Collegium illicitum. One which abused its right, or assembled for any other purpose than that expressed in its charter. Collegium licitum. An assemblage or society of men united for some useful purpose or business, with power to act like a single individual. All collegia were illicita which were not ordained by a decree of the senate or of the emperor; 2 Kent 269. A corporation.