University of Virginia Library

Noted For Eccentricity, Mysteriousness

Societies Beneficial To University

By Jay Steer
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Down Rugby Road they came,
bearing their king on a wicker chair
throne.

In something similar to a May
Day procession, the IMP
Society-student leaders dressed in
capes and bright red devil caps
complete with pitch forks-paraded
to the Rotunda on Easters
Weekend.

The frivolity represents the less
serious side of one of the
University's many secret societies,
which include the Seven Society,
Eli Banana, T.I.L.K.A., the "13"
Society, the "Z" Society and the
Society of the Purple Shadows.

The IMP Society grew out of
the nineteenth century secret
society called the Hotfeet Society.
Administration pressure forced the
Hotfeet to disband and they
reformed as the IMP's.

In the 1954-55 session, the IMP
Society established its faculty
award, which is presented annually
to the member of the faculty who
has contributed "most to further
student-faculty relations." The
society also presents an annual
award to the fraternity that
maintains the highest scholastic
average.

Perhaps the most mysterious of
the secret societies is the Seven
Society. Little is known about the
society because it surrounds its
activities with secrecy.

Even the identity of the
members of the Seven is a closely
guarded secret. One hears about a
member only when he dies. At that
time the bells in the University
Chapel toll exactly seven times.

Anonymous Nature

The owed purpose of the
Society's anonymous nature is to
allow the society to perform its
functions without incurring any
recognition for its individual
members.

Among the deeds of the Seven
Society are loan funds,
scholarships, the University Carillon
and Mac, gifts to students in need,
as well as recognition of
outstanding members of the
University community.

Whenever the Sevens announce
any of their gifts to the University,
they do so in their own inimitable
fashion.

Last fall they announced one of
their gifts to the University at
half-time of one of the home
football games. They instructed
President Edgar F. Shannon Jr. to
dig a hole seven paces from one of
the goalposts.

While he was digging, an
airplane dropped thousands of
leaflets engraved with the Seven
Society emblem into the stadium.

The Sevens also paint their
emblem at strategic places on the
Grounds. Last year someone
noticed a giant "7" painted on top
of University Hall.

Eli Banana and T.I.L.K.A. are
the University's two ribbon
societies. The former was founded
in 1878 and is the forerunner of all
such societies at the University.

Members in these two
honoraries can be distinguished by
the ps they wear on their coat
lapels. The Eli's pin features a
banana, while the T.I.L.K.A.'s have
a large gold "T" on their's.

Honoraries

These two honoraries tap into
their ranks distinguished men from
all phases of university life.
Members are selected from the
entire student body and they must
be in at least the first half of their
third year.

The "13" Society is so named
because its membership never
exceeds 13. Although membership is
usually confined to those students
who are in their fourth year,
selection may be made from the
entire student body.

The "Z" Society, the symbol of
which adorns many buildings on
the Grounds, donates monetary
awards and gifts to further
University ideals.

The newest of the secret
societies is the Society of the
Purple Shadows. Founded in 1963,
the society works "to contribute to
the betterment of the University
and to safeguard vigilantly the
University traditions."

Members Of IMP Society Carry Newly-Installed King

Leader Arthur P. Gray Represents One Of Many Secret Societies