University of Virginia Library

Oldest Society

The history of political parties at
the University has been complex
and exciting. In 1895, Skull and
Keys, the oldest surviving political
society, was established to "promote
social enjoyment and a spirit
of class allegiance."

The Sceptre Society was
founded in 1896 as Lambda Pi. The
Sceptre Society states as its purpose
to "promote good student government
in college activities."

These societies were formed
primarily as academic fraternities.
In 1939 they united to form the
old University Party, which controlled
College elections until it was
overthrown by the newly-organized
Cavalier Party in the 1951 election.

Both the Cavalier and the old
University Parties are now defunct.
With the demise of these two
parties, Skull and Keys and Sceptre
again emerged as rivals.

Now the party system has
reached a crossroads. The two
caucuses are considering a merger
to consolidate against the independent
threat. However, the independent
parties have met with a
consistent lack of continuity. Their
success has been their freshness,
and they have found it difficult to
be fresh each year.

It seems evident, though, that
one consistent fact is emerging.
There is a split in the voting habits
of the student body, and this split,
is developing along ideological lines,
rather than the old inter-fraternity
and fraternity-independent lines.
Where this will lead the University
is an uncertainty that will only be
resolved in future elections.