Secret Societies - Eating Clubs, Finals Clubs etc. at Elite Universities.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They aren't good people at UVa, but they will give money to the school and will make $$$.

I hope this is sarcasm. Please go read “Secret Societies at UVA” in wiki

This keeps getting posted but the Wikipedia article describes a bunch of self serving clubs and some recent philanthropy.
It looks like UVA had some elitist societies at the start and much later some people started making their own societies to make it a trend.
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False

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an example of how the secret society members give philanthropic gifts to UVA. https://newspub.live/south/virginia/virginia-athletics-receives-40-million-gift-from-former-student-athlete/

This was a former student athlete who turned pro. I don’t see anything here to indicate it was a secret society member? That said they DO a lot for the school from a philanthropic standpoint.

Jim Ryan says that the family was a big supporter of UVA and, in another section, the household was a big supporter. That’s unusual language. If you are a “7” donor no one finds out until you die. A floral 7 shows up at your funeral. I assume spouses know because some of these gifts are huge, like the $40m

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t you not supposed to disclose you were in a secret society? How do people know their co-worker was, etc?

That was my understanding. I'm skeptical of some of these answers, especially from women. Most of these societies were all male.

None of the “big” societies are all men anymore, though there was one junior society that is men’s only, at least during my time at Yale. There’s a sense that we’re not supposed to disclose the particular traditions of our society, but really, people don’t take it that seriously anymore. I was not in the three mentioned by a PP, but had friends in them.

Another PP was right that some had “lines.” When I was in college, Skull & Bones definitely had a football captain line and I think a Yale Daily News editor-in-chief line if I remember correctly (so whoever is the next captain or EIC would automatically be drafted for interviews and likely get a spot). These lines can sometimes end if a bad candidate comes through. Alumni can submit candidates for interview as well, and because alumni donations help fund the societies, sometimes there can be pressure to tap based on alumni involvement (e.g. child of large and involved donor is interviewing). The point of tapping the next class is to find balance in the next class year in terms of diversity and to integrate people who may not have known each other.

Generally, there is a bit of a difference between the “landed” societies and non-landed ones, with landed meaning the society has a property/house dedicated to the seniors. The more prominent ones had bedrooms, study spaces, chef, etc. It was easier to meet up and get to know each other if you had a place to go.

The different societies all have different traditions, so it’s hard to otherwise give blanket statements about them. But generally every society, regardless of prominence, would meet every Thursday and Sunday and each member is required to give a self biography, lasting anywhere between 2 hours (shortest I experienced) to 8+ hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended Oxford University. The people in the secret societies there were shits like Boris Johnson who destroyed the country for their own advancement.

Aren’t you lovely?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An anonymous forum seems the perfect place to ask this question. What is their purpose? What is their future? How do other students not selected feel about their presence on campus?

Eating clubs at Princeton and finals clubs at Harvard are social clubs similar to Greek life. Secret societies seem more old money.

Inaccurate.
Some Princeton Eating Clubs are "Old Money" and some more inclusive.
The seven Male Harvard Final Clubs definitely "Old Money".
There are dozens of Yale Secret Societies but only the 3 most exclusive ones (Skull and Bones, Wolf's Head and Scroll and Key) would be considered to have "Old Money" roots.

It is fair to say that these "Clubs" are far different today than they were 75 years ago.

Most of the Harvard finals clubs are now co-ed are also all women finals clubs. They are not Secret as to their members

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They aren't good people at UVa, but they will give money to the school and will make $$$.

That must be why the school lets them graffiti the whole campus. I find it weird.

You haven’t been on campus lately

[Anonymous]

“On grounds”!^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you kill yourself to get into “Harvard”, and they let you in because you satisfy some sort of stats they need to prove to the world that they are not really a beacon of white privilege. Then, you grind away a second time gunning to get a job where you will slog away the rest of your life at Google or McKinsey or whatever with the rest of the mere mortals, while the pre-ordained back door legacies get a tap on the shoulder, run around naked and are handed keys to the “real” power that was their family birthright anyway. The “big” connections are still closed to admission. And the goal is to meet 2 times a week to spill your guts to make sure that damage control is on the ready lest you are a dud? Sounds awesome!

PP here whose nephew was in one of the most prominent societies at Yale.

I guess from what I read in the press, maybe skull and bones is something like what you describe, but the one my nephew was in is nothing like that. It's also the one commonly described in the media as the wealthiest, and I saw no evidence of that when I went to several of their events over graduation weekend. The kids were extremely diverse in terms of ethnicity and income, including several and first gen kids. It was really pretty laid back.

How is it secret if they are throwing events for their aunts and uncles to attend?

Some of these mentioned here are not truly secret. Skull & Bones is not secret about its membership. The Seven Society is secret because it is about anonymous philanthropy to UVA and community for your entire life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended Oxford University. The people in the secret societies there were shits like Boris Johnson who destroyed the country for their own advancement.

You overlooked David Cameron. Sorry the Bullingdon Society didn’t tab you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended Oxford University. The people in the secret societies there were shits like Boris Johnson who destroyed the country for their own advancement.

You overlooked David Cameron. Sorry the Bullingdon Society didn’t tap you

[Anonymous]

Washington & Lee has an obnoxious secret society with stupid tattoos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in a (less well known/prestigious) secret society at Yale. Most of the societies had 15 seniors as members - we had 2-3 faculty members who belonged also. As to purpose, we met twice a week - Thurs and Sunday - at night and got to know each other very well. I knew a few of my fellow members before senior year but not well. Over that year, we came to know each other very well, and most importantly each were given one night to present a very detailed oral autobiography of ourselves. That’s one night devoted solely to one person. And it was a conversation, with questions and comments - favorable and not - from the full group. Most of the time, it was a great experience; occasionally it turned too critical. Every secret society I knew details about at Yale did something comparable. I would do it again in a minute.

A relative was in a well known one. As he described it, sounds a lot like what you describe. A couple of things stood out to me:

- the level of accomplishment of the kids. They were all top students, but most also amazing athletes or actors or musicians.

- the economic and racial diversity off the kids (I was invited to family events at graduation and met the kids and families).

- the money available to the society. They didn’t charge the kids, but they had an amazing building full of cool antiques and several staff — all to support an after school club for 12 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They aren't good people at UVa, but they will give money to the school and will make $$$.

I hope this is sarcasm. Please go read “Secret Societies at UVA” in wiki

This keeps getting posted but the Wikipedia article describes a bunch of self serving clubs and some recent philanthropy.
It looks like UVA had some elitist societies at the start and much later some people started making their own societies to make it a trend.

I know am alum from uva and he’s the biggest ass. I can guess he was in a secret society. He was in a fraternity for sure. He and wife talk non stop about connections and networking literally all the time. It’s like a chess match they only spend time with people who they think can help them and their kids succeed socially and professionally. There’s nothing sincere about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They aren't good people at UVa, but they will give money to the school and will make $$$.

I hope this is sarcasm. Please go read “Secret Societies at UVA” in wiki

This keeps getting posted but the Wikipedia article describes a bunch of self serving clubs and some recent philanthropy.
It looks like UVA had some elitist societies at the start and much later some people started making their own societies to make it a trend.

I know am alum from uva and he’s the biggest ass. I can guess he was in a secret society. He was in a fraternity for sure. He and wife talk non stop about connections and networking literally all the time. It’s like a chess match they only spend time with people who they think can help them and their kids succeed socially and professionally. There’s nothing sincere about it

How nice that you know ONE alum from UVA. YOu readily admit that have no idea if they are in an anonymous philanthropic society at UVA. Nevertheless, you extrapolate your perceived judgments about this person here, mistakenly thinking that one person's behavior can apply to all alums. Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington & Lee has an obnoxious secret society with stupid tattoos.

Doesn't sound shitty to me. No mention of tattoos in wiki. And more anonymous philanthropy (a good thing):

Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, has two secret societies: the Sigma Society and the Cadaver Society. Founded in 1880, the Sigma Society is one of Washington and Lee's "oldest, continuous social organizations".[116][117][118] While membership information is not necessarily anonymous, the group's purpose and inner workings remain a secret. The group has long had a connection to President George Washington, though the extent of that relationship is unknown to the public at large.[117][119] Similarly, the acronym P.A.M.O.L.A. R.Y.E.—which is inscribed on buildings and in classrooms throughout the Lexington area—also bears an unknown significance to the group. The group has largely gone underground since 1994 when University officials tore down the Sigma cabin and paid the Sigmas $15,000. Associate Justice to the Supreme Court Lewis Powell Jr. is one of the group's most prominent members.[120]

The membership and organizational structure of the Cadaver Society are largely unknown. Cadaver has been in continuous operation since its founding in 1957. The Cadavers have a bridge that bears their name, connecting the main campus to Wilson Field, as well as their symbol in many prominent places throughout the campus. Cadavers are known for donating large sums of money to the university and for upholding the school’s historic values. They have been criticized for their secrecy and many of their activities include running around dressed in all black and masks late at night as well as drawing their symbol all over campus.[121] They have been known to run through the Sorority houses, talking in high voices and attempting to wake everyone in the houses up.