A secret group recently founded at the university is breaking free from the stereotypes that once typified secret societies: Rather than focus on secret handshakes and ritualized initiations, this group awards people for doing good deeds.Arete, founded within the Greek community of fraternities and sororities, is secretly sending out awards to students, faculty and staff the group perceives as making positive strides in the community.
Junior Burke Miller, vice president of external affairs for the Interfraternity Council, checked his mail one day to find a wooden plaque with his name and the Arete symbol on it.”The plaque had the word ‘passion’ on it, because I was at a lot of action committees for the IFC,” said Miller, an English and government and politics major who still doesn’t know how he came to be nominated for the award.
“Arete members may have been to my action committee meetings and saw the good things I was doing,” he said.The award is meant as an encouragement indicating the individual has met the virtues of the group and should continue to do good deeds, said an anonymous Arete spokesman, who declined to give his name in order to maintain secrecy.
Arete is founded on seven virtues: kindness, sincerity, passion, justice, courage, perseverance and growth, a spokesperson for the society said. The society’s name comes from the Greek word “arete,” the Greek spirit of virtue and excellence. During a second interview, another spokeswoman said the society decides as a whole whom will be recognized by voting. Students cannot approach the group and simply ask to join and there are no rush events, the spokeswoman said.
Not much is actually known about the society because of members’ unwillingness to disclose information about themselves. A spokesman said the society exists only to praise others, and that it maintains secrecy in order to assure it does not take teh focus off the good doers. In order to even contact Arete, students must send an e-mail with their phone number and a contact time. A member then calls anonymously at the designated time. When each spokesperson contacted a reporter, the number was call-blocked.
“The society has been a frequent topic of discussion among the fraternities lately, but I never heard of them before this year,” Miller said. “There are rumors going around that they’ve been around for quite a long time, and have only recently surfaced to reward people.”
Arete members leave the society’s symbol wherever they believe fraternities, students or the administration has done something positive for the community, a spokesman said.”They’ve actually asked permission to do things like put their symbol and flags on the [fraternity] row,” said Michael Hayes, director of fraternity and sorority life. “The society has given us a flower arrangement as well with their symbol on it,” he said.Despite the praise the society is receiving from some students and staff, others are skeptical about why Arete is here in the first place.
“It was really weird that the society suddenly spoke out,” said freshman finance major Adam Blechman, referring to a candlelight vigil presented by Greek students a few weeks ago, which was sponsored by Arete.
The vigil, dedicated to members of Greek society who have died, involved a poem recitation in front of candles arranged to form the Arete symbol. Senior biochemistry major Nicole Patton and other members of Alpha Chi Omega sorority were asked to arrange the candles before the event and read the poem by the society.Patton said she thought the vigil was a positive event because it brought the entire Greek community together. Others, however, did not share her view.
“I could have cared less about attending the candlelight vigil,” said senior government and politics major Ben Rodkin, a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. “I’ll have nothing to do with them.”Although there are questions about what exactly the secret society does beyond vigils and recognition for good deeds, some students believe the ambigious aspect of Arete is what makes it interesting.”It’s cool because everyone is asking questions about the secret society,” said Nick Verderame, a sophomore journalism major. “But it’s also important that the society doesn’t reveal themselves or else everyone will want to be recognized for good deeds.”Jim Osteen, vice president for student affairs, said this is the first time a secret society has shown up at the university to do positive deeds for the community.
“If their purpose is to do good things, I think it’s probably OK for them to be here,” Osteen said. “They seem to be very involved with the Greek community.”
However, the secret society is not recognized by the university as a student organization, according to Hayes. In order to use resources and reserve space for events, student groups must register with the university, something Arete has not yet done.Other societies from different colleges have had the same positive impact on communities, despite the negative image they have earned from movies and pop culture.
“These secret societies have been philanthropic and promote efforts of community service,” said Tim Monaghan, a member of the University Guide Service at the University of Virginia. “They contribute to the university and give a lot back.”
Every year, the “Seven Society at UVA” donates money in denominations of seven to the incoming freshman classes. After various student leaders speak at the convocation, the seventh seat of the seventh row is asked to read a letter found under their chair that indicates the sum donated.
Although not much is known about Arete, Hayes believes the group is making a positive effort to help the community.”Even if they are not recognized by the university, they are making an outreach effort for the sororities and fraternities on campus,” Hayes said.
Contact reporter Jeremy Tam at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.
