What are campuses hiding?

Recently a freshman died at a fraternity house initiation ceremony at the University of Texas in the US. Dangerous inductions are quite the norm when it comes to many fraternities, sororities and especially secret societies on American campuses. Once you gain access they often lead to the circles of power in the country. US President George W. Bush is a member of Yale University?s mysterious Skull and Bones group. Reema Saffarini and Sara Saleh present the dark world that seems to populate the corridors of many top universities. What does it mean to students in the UAE?

What are secret societies?

A secret society is a social organization that requires its members to conceal certain activities such as rites of initiation or club ceremonies from outsiders. Members may be required to conceal or deny their membership, and are often sworn to hold the society?s secrets by an oath. The term ?secret society? is often used to describe fraternal organizations that may have secret ceremonies.
- Information courtesy: www.reference.com

What do students in the UAE think of secret societies?

?I don?t know much about these societies, but I know that they can never be created in universities here, for example. It?s just not in the nature of the people in the country.?
- Shikha Devadiga, grade 11, Indian High School

?These societies are terrible. If these societies were public and open for everybody or only the best students get chosen to join that would be a different case. But overall, they are horrible.?
- Abdullah Shazli, computer engineering, McGill University

?I think such societies can influence people a lot. However, I don?t know much about them.?
- Shrutha Devadiga, interior design, American University of Sharjah

?These societies can be one way for students to socialise. These societies can be a good idea if these societies worked for good causes.?
- Salman Shaikh, travel and tourism, Emirates Aviation College

?I think these societies are evil. Their members do all sorts of weird stuff. Many dominate the world of politics and have connections everywhere. I mean look at George W. Bush, and where he is now. I think this is all because of their influence and power.?
- Mohammad Obada, electrical engineering, American University of Sharjah

?These societies are just nonsense. When you go to college your aim is to study and work for the future. You don?t want to be a gangster or part of a fraternity and be a troublemaker. Even if some politicians in the US are part of these societies, look at their country!?
- Asser Ahmad, travel and tourism, Emirates Aviation College

What do experts say?

Name: Ahmad Maher
Position: Manager of the Counselling Centre
Institute: American University of Sharjah

?I lived in the United States for more than 14 years. I visited a lot of university campuses. In fact, one of my college roommates was a member of one of the fraternities and I asked him why he wanted to be part of a secret group. He told me that because through the connections these groups provide, he will be able to get a good job, connect to politicians, businessmen and people in any field including show business.?

Why is it so important to be part of a society?

- Some students are motivated to join by fear.

- Many students come from rich families and feel vulnerable so they look for security.

- Another reason is control.

- The transition from school to college and the move from home to dormitories makes some students feel that they have lost control over their surroundings and life.

- Being part of a society gives them a sense of belonging.

THE LIST

Phi Beta Kappa

History:
- It was founded in 1776.

- It was the first society to have a Greek letter name. It introduced the essential characteristics of secret societies, ? an oath of secrecy, which was discarded in 1831, a badge, mottoes in Latin and Greek, a code of law and an elaborate initiation ritual.

The first women were elected to the society at the University of Vermont in 1875, and the first African-American member was elected at the same institution two years later.

Symbol:
- It is a gold key engraved with the image of a pointing finger and three stars.

- These represent the ambition of the young scholars and the three distinguishing principles of the society: friendship, morality and learning.

Membership:
- It is granted to approximately one per cent of college graduates.

- Today there are 270 chapters and over half a million living members.

- Members included: Bill Clinton, Hilary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Henry Kissinger and Theodore Roosevelt.

Mission:
- Offers many awards and scholarships to foster excellence in undergraduate liberal arts and sciences

- Information courtesy: www.pbk.org

The Flat Hat Club

History:
- It was established in 1750 by six students who said they were ?tired of faculty control over their lives and wanted to discuss social issues in private?.

- It is believed that F.H.C. was the precursor of Phi Beta Kappa.

- The ?brothers? of the F.H.C. devised and employed a secret handshake, wore a silver membership medal, issued certificates of membership, and met regularly for discussion and fellowship.

Symbol:
- It is circular in shape with an elaborate coat of arms on one side and F.H.C. in a large monogram on the other.

Membership:
- Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was a ?brother?.

Notes attempted to get in touch with real Flat Hat Club members, however, we were told that ?the FHC was and is a secret society. If all the answers were available it wouldn?t be so secret anymore?. 

Information Courtesy: www. en.wikipedia.org, www.flathats.com and flathat.wm.edu

The Machine

History:
- Founded in the University of Alabama by US Senator Lister Hill in 1914, it comprised a select coalition of traditionally white fraternities until the 1970s, when sororities were also allowed to join.

Activities:
- According to weekly US news magazine Newsweek, the ?Machine rules over campus politics with an iron fist.?

Famous member:
- US Senator Richard Shelby

The Cambridge Apostles

History:
- It is an elite intellectual secret society at Cambridge University founded in 1820.

- The society takes its name from the idea that its members are the 12 ?cleverest? students at Cambridge.

Membership:
- Active members, usually undergraduates, are referred to as Apostles.

- Former members ? graduate students ? are called angels.

- Every few years, amid great secrecy all the angels are invited to an Apostles? dinner at a Cambridge college.

- Undergraduates being considered for membership are called ?embryos? and are invited to ?embryo parties?, where members judge them.

- Embryos attend these parties without knowing they are being considered for membership.

- Becoming an Apostle involves taking an oath of secrecy and listening to the reading of a curse, originally written by Apostle Fenton Hort, the theologian in about 1851.

Famous members include:
- Edward Fitzgerald, poet and translator of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

- Michael Whitney Straight, American magazine publisher and KGB spy.

- Anthony Blunt, art advisor to Queen Elizabeth of England, MI5 officer and KGB spy and many others.

- Information courtesy: www.en.wikipedia.org

Quill and Dagger

History:
- Founded in 1893, and one of only two Cornell University secret societies.

Famous members:
- Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank

- Samuel ?Sandy? Berger, National Security Advisor to former President Bill Clinton 1997-2001.

Skull and Bones

History:
- It was established at Yale University.

- Called America?s most powerful secret society, Skull and Bones was founded in the early 19th century and is also known as The Order of Death, The Eulogian Club and Lodge 322.

- Each year, 15 Yale juniors are selected for membership for their following senior year.

- Up until 1991, when the society voted to allow admission of women, the society had been an all male group since its birth.

Mission:
- The purpose of this society is to get members into positions of power and have those members hire other members into other prestigious positions, therefore building a powerful and influential alumni network across government, media and financial institutions.

Initiation:
- In a ceremony that takes place in Skull and Bones? most secret room, members dress up in weird costumes like the devil, the pope and Don Quixote, and then ?knight? the new members.

Fascinating trivia:
- Clocks in The Tomb, where they meet, are set intentionally five minutes ahead of the rest of the world in order to give the members the sense that the Skull and Bones space is a totally separate world.

Member benefits:

- Members are guaranteed financial security for life as well as exclusive access to the society?s luxurious retreat called the Skull and Bones Island.

Famous Bonesmen:
- Senator and Democratic presidential candidate in the 2004 elections John Kerry

- President George W. Bush.