They’re watching you – waiting for Shuttle-UM, walking down Fraternity Row or buying a burrito from Chipotle, they can see your every move.
Junior Burke Miller, vice president of external affairs for the Interfraternity Council, opened his door one day to find a plain manila envelope. Not knowing who gave it to him, he took the envelope inside and opened it, only to find a wooden plaque with a weird symbol and the word “passion” on it.
“I have no idea how or why I got it,” said Miller, an English and government and politics major, referring to the mysterious wooden plaque. “But I’ve seen this symbol before in front of a lot of frat houses.”
The symbol, a teardrop shape with the number seven attached to a cane hooking from left to right below it, is the symbol of Arete, a secret society recently founded at the university.
Senior biochemistry major Nicole Patton also received a strange offering from the society – a letter asking her to read a poem at the candlelight vigil she held dedicated to members of the Greek community who have died.
Wanting to investigate further, a reporter decided to contact Arete. However, the secret society responded to an e-mail by saying its members cannot meet in person for an interview. The group was only available for contact by providing a time and phone number for them.
After getting in touch with a spokesman from the secret society, it was discovered the society was giving out awards and symbols to students, faculty and staff who exemplify the group’s founding virtues: kindness, sincerity, passion, justice, courage, perseverance and growth.
The awards and symbols are 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.
During a second interview, a spokeswoman said the society decides as a whole who will be recognized by voting. Students cannot approach the group and simply ask to join. There are no rush events, the spokeswoman said.
But many students are wondering why the society is remaining so secluded.
“I don’t know if it’s just someone on campus trying to get people to do good things,” 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.”
Freshman finance major Adam Blechman found it odd that the secret society exposed itself at the candlelight vigil.
“It was really weird that the society suddenly spoke out,” Blechman said. “But I’ve seen many secret societies becoming evident lately at many colleges and universities.”
A spokesman said the society exists only to praise others and that it maintains secrecy in order to assure it does not take the focus off those it recognizes for their good deeds.
These societies, often traditionally thought of as cryptic cults with ritualized initiations and secret handshakes, are changing how they operate.
The Arete secret society “actually asked permission to do things like put their symbol and flags on the [Fraternity] Row,” said Michael Hayes, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. “The society has given us a flower arrangement as well with their symbol on it,” he said.
It still remains a mystery why these secret societies are helping out in the community. At the University of Virginia, the “Seven Society” donates money every year 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.
“These secret societies have been philanthropic and promote efforts of community service,” said Tim Monaghan, a member of the University Guide Service at UVA. “They contribute to the university and give a lot back.”
Some students have found it interesting that Arete has shrouded itself from the Greek community.
“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.
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.
