-Caveat Lector- http://www.yaleherald.com/frosharticle.php?Article=810
Summer 2002 | Something Blue Behind the sacred walls of Yale's secret societies BY MOLLY BALL AND EMILY BELL While the past three presidents of the United State hold Yale degrees, two of them are members of one of Yale's more infamous secret societies: President George W. Bush, DC '68; and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, DC '48. Recent exposure in the big-budget thriller Skulls and a more intellectual Atlantic Monthly article has only added to the mystique and n otoriety (or infamy) of Yale's exclusive societies. Although societies such as Skull and Bones, Book and Snake, and Scroll and Key are inextricably linked to the Yale name, these societies play a small part in the lives of most undergraduates, since they consist solely of a few seniors. Nonetheless, the looming and mysterious presence of their respective "tombs" and the awe they inspire make secret societies a very intriguing aspect of the Yale environment. There are reportedly about a dozen senior-only secret societies, only a few of which have tombs. The oldest, Skull and Bones, was founded in 1832. Not all secret societies date back that far; some formed in response to the entrenched elitism of their better-known counterparts. Most choose juniors and conduct interviews at the end of each year, though some societies actually accept applications. You might not even realize the societies exist until Tap Night, the April evening when societies invite select juniors to join their ranks. Cloaked and hooded seniors lead the blindfolded "taps" around campus in obscure initiation ceremonies that often involve screaming and odd behavior. This year, one tap had to hump a pole while munching Nilla Wafers and shouting, "Scooby snacks!" The dark, ancient "tombs" where the societies meet add to their air of bizarre mystery. Hardly noticeable to the casual passer-by, the tombs have few or no windows and are enclosed by locked gates. One rarely sees anyone go in or out, and the details of what transpires inside are kept secret. Rumor has it that Skull and Bones has the highest water bill in all of New Haven—enough to fill several swimming pools every month. Rumpus, Yale's campus tabloid, routinely reports on societies' alleged naked parties and debauched rituals. Most societies meet Thursdays and Sundays for dinner. Sometimes a guest from the community, such as a professor or local businessman, is invited to speak. Often, societies have members present their "autobiographies," revealing personal details—from childhood scars to sexual exploits—using props or slides. "Normally, you become friends with people and then get to know them; here, you get to know people and then you become friends with them," one tapped junior said. The Pundits, however, lack all the elitism that surrounds traditional secret societies. A mock secret society, the Pundits ridicule the stuffy atmosphere that their serious counterparts cherish. A traditional Pundit prank is the once-a-semester streak through Cross Campus and Sterling Memorial Libraries during finals week. The group also once nearly succeeded in impersonating the all-senior Whiffenpoofs a capella group on The Today Show. The purpose of secret societies is not simply clandestine fun and games—many members join for the promise of getting to know people they ordinarily would never meet. "There's just 15 or 16 people depending on each other," one secret society member said. "Everyone starts on level ground." The all-male, WASPy, "Old Blue" mold is no longer very dominant, and most secret societies work hard to represent the diverse Yale community. No matter how hard secret societies try to project a politically correct image, they are undeniably exclusive. Tapped juniors have been known to turn down bids from even the most prestigious societies. One tapped junior who did accept was nonetheless hesitant; he said, "I was worried that I might feel it was too elitist, that it would mean I wouldn't be able to spend as much time with my current group of friends." However, for some of the "chosen" ones, it is exactly this exclusivity that makes Yale's secret societies so appealing. According to one senior society member, "The exclusive element of it makes you have a closer relationship [with the other members] more quickly." © 2002 The Yale Herald The Herald is an undergraduate publication at Yale University. We can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6; –´ p l(@ ˜ÄS 5bÁl Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.yaleherald.com/frosharticle.php?Article=810";> TheYaleHerald - Freshman Issue - Behind the sac…</A> <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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