Skull & Keys

Skull & Keys is a men's honor society of the University of California, Berkeley cite book |last=Baird |first=William Raimond |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities |year=1920 |publisher= |quote=California, University of — Skull and Keys, 1892 | url= |isbn= ] which, even though goes by the same name, is in no way affiliated with the Skull & Keys chapters of the older society Theta Nu Epsilon.

History

Skull & Keys was founded in 1892 by, among others, the novelist Frank Norris. Its membership was initially drawn from Senior and Junior classes at the university.

Now members are chosen from the university's Greek system and athletic teams, but is open to all men of high social character. Fact|date=September 2007 Historically, it meets semi-monthly in a facility known only as the Tomb. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Neophytes In Front Of The Skull And Keys Tomb. |url= |quote=Berkeley; October 5, 1925. University Of California. The Elmhurst district In East Oakland volunteered to clean up the streets ... |publisher=The Oakland Tribune |date=October 6, 1925 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ] It is led by the Uncle, who is elected by voice vote of the active members. It hosts an annual social called the Shitfly. Membership is invitation only and invitations are only extended upon unanimous vote of the active membership. Fact|date=September 2007 Invitees endure the initiation ritual known as the Running. cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Skull and Keys Running; Annual Initiation of the Inter-Frat Society To-Day.|url=http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/uchistory/archives_exhibits/online_exhibits/1899/document_texts/dailycal11091899.html |quote=Notwithstanding the threatening state of the weather yesterday, the Skull and Keys initiates appeared on the campus at 8:30 in dress suits with duck trousers. After being put through the toils around North Hall they were marched in a body to South Hall. They were marched in to see the President, who gave them a short talk. |publisher=The Daily Californian |date=November 9, 1899 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Running Of Skull and Keys Society Under Feminine Ban. |url= |quote=Berkeley; April 2, 1920 ... annual Running of the Skull and Keys ... |publisher=The Oakland Tribune |date=April 2, 1920 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=No Public Pranks This Semester by "Skull and Keys." |url= |quote=Berkeley; October 13, 1923. No "Running" of the Skull and Keys Society at the University of California this year. ... |publisher=The Oakland Tribune |date=October 13, 1923 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ] Survivors are formally admitted and presented with a Skull & Keys Lid. Fact|date=September 2007

Members

* Frank Norris cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Frank Norris In His Chapter |url=http://www.phigam.org/history/Magazine/NorrisAtUC.htm |quote=Frank Norris took part in the college dramatics and would have made a name for himself upon the professional stage had he chosen that branch of art for his future career. He wrote the ritual and other ceremonials for Skull and Keys -- the junior-senior society at the University of California -- which still ranks as an honor society. |publisher=Phi Gamma Delta |date=April 1, 1930 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ]
* William H. Orrick of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Skull and Keys Initiation; Annual Running To-Day.|url=http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/UCHistory/archives_exhibits/online_exhibits/1899/document_texts/dailycal11081899.html |quote=The eighth annual running of the Skull and Keys society takes place to-day on the campus. The public initiation of this dramatic society chosen from the Senior and Junior classes has come to be one of the great events of the College year. |publisher=The Daily Californian |date=November 8, 1899 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ] It is also believed that there are several other chapters of the Skull & Keys at Colleges around the US. The University of Kentucky and the University of Alabama are thought to have active chapters on their respecitve campuses.

ee also

* Theta Nu Epsilon is also referred to as Skull & Keys.

External links

* [http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft0n39n6k1/ Skull & Keys] initiation at University of California

References