Difference between revisions of "Senior Societies"

From WikiCU
Jump to: navigation, search
(History)
Line 15: Line 15:
 
The Nacoms were formed in the first decade of the 20th century, and the Sachems began as a protest group that broke away from them in [[1915]].
 
The Nacoms were formed in the first decade of the 20th century, and the Sachems began as a protest group that broke away from them in [[1915]].
  
Their commitment to secrecy has wavered over the years. 1930s and 40s issues of ''[[Spec]]'' even list new members on the front page, though the practice ended in [[1951]]. At the time, the societies engaged in constructive projects such as compiling reports on university athletics. In [[1965]], the groups appear to have been hit with a crisis as numerous members resigned.  
+
Their commitment to secrecy has wavered over the years. 1930s and 40s issues of ''[[Spec]]'' even list new members on the front page, though the practice ended in [[1951]]. At the time, the societies engaged in constructive projects such as compiling reports on university athletics; in [[1931]], the Nacoms formed a five-member committee to investigate "commercialization of the [[football]] team".
 +
 
 +
In [[1965]], the groups appear to have been hit with a crisis as numerous members resigned.  
  
 
The Sachems were responsible for a [[2005]] prank in which the [[Lerner Hall]] ramps were decorated with saffron colored banners to mimic Cristo's "The Gates" installation in Central Park.
 
The Sachems were responsible for a [[2005]] prank in which the [[Lerner Hall]] ramps were decorated with saffron colored banners to mimic Cristo's "The Gates" installation in Central Park.

Revision as of 20:16, 16 May 2013

the Sachems's 2005 Lerner prank[1]

Columbia does not really have any Secret Societies (unless you count St. A's, which can be pretty $ecretive). If it does, then they're pretty damned secret because no one knows about them. But Columbia does have two very low-profile Senior Societies, the Senior Society of Sachems and the Senior Society of Nacoms, and they're pretty well-hidden from public view. Most students don't even know the societies exist.

Each society taps 15 juniors each year, the Sachems by luring the candidates into an ambush where he or she gets hit in the face with pie, the Nacoms by convincing the candidate that he or she is in trouble. As of 1954, at least, members could be identified by the rings worn on their little fingers - Sachems on their right hands, Nacoms on their left. The Nacoms' ring has a "green snake" zigzig pattern around it; the Sachems' consists of 13 small black diamonds.[2]

Society membership tends to reflect powerful student leaders across the campus, and some seats develop 'lineages', passing on from one holder of a leadership position to the next.

Current members take the secrecy element very seriously, but many alumni put the affiliations on their resumes.

History

There is some indication that there was a secret society nearer the beginning of Columbia's history, possibly called LNF (but what that stands for is a mystery), but little to nothing is known about it, and if it did exist, it is unlikely that it still does.

The Nacoms were formed in the first decade of the 20th century, and the Sachems began as a protest group that broke away from them in 1915.

Their commitment to secrecy has wavered over the years. 1930s and 40s issues of Spec even list new members on the front page, though the practice ended in 1951. At the time, the societies engaged in constructive projects such as compiling reports on university athletics; in 1931, the Nacoms formed a five-member committee to investigate "commercialization of the football team".

In 1965, the groups appear to have been hit with a crisis as numerous members resigned.

The Sachems were responsible for a 2005 prank in which the Lerner Hall ramps were decorated with saffron colored banners to mimic Cristo's "The Gates" installation in Central Park.

Society ring designs

External links

References