The Order of the Elm and Key
The Order of the Elm and Key is a secret society at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The society inducts twelve rising seniors each year to carry on its traditions.
History
The Order of the Elm and Key was founded by two students dedicated to ameliorating the intellectual and social climates at Trinity College . They sought to unite students equally devoted to their cause and provide a forum for discourse on matters of the campus community. Poised on the edge of an era of self-scrutiny, Trinity was in position to be improved by student insight.
The founders started growing the society by adding two more sophomore students. With the group now numbering four, ideas for its future expanded rapidly. One of the new members imposed a stricter degree of formality upon the developing society, encouraging the founders to standardize their procedure for initiating new members. With a new set of procedures in place, the budding society brought in three new members with various connections to the original four. With a membership of seven, the group was ready for a name. Reflecting desires both to emulate the structure of names of other collegiate secret societies and to pay homage to symbols of Trinity College, they chose to call themselves The Order of the Elm and Key.
After a brief hiatus during which most of the seven members were studying abroad, the Order reunited and resolved to increase their membership. December of 2012 brought the early graduation of one of the original seven members and the formation of an alumni network. With an improved initiation process, the remaining six doubled their number by adding six new members. With a society of twelve senior students, the group began initiating the next class of Elm and Key members.
Membership
Members of The Order of the Elm and Key are Trinity College students who exhibit the greatest potential and desire to carry out ameliorative measures for the intellectual and social culture of the campus. Importantly, members are students who have demonstrated significant achievements in academic departments and have engaged significantly in student organizations. The society comprises twelve senior undergraduates having different academic interests and representing different areas of campus life. Each year, four founding junior members are selected at the end of the spring semester to build the next class of Elm and Key members throughout the fall semester of their senior year. The unique aspect of the selection process is that new members are initiated two at a time, slowly growing the group. With this process, all members have the opportunity to shape the identity of the membership, so the society develops camaraderie and cohesion as it grows .
History
The Order of the Elm and Key was founded by two students dedicated to ameliorating the intellectual and social climates at Trinity College . They sought to unite students equally devoted to their cause and provide a forum for discourse on matters of the campus community. Poised on the edge of an era of self-scrutiny, Trinity was in position to be improved by student insight.
The founders started growing the society by adding two more sophomore students. With the group now numbering four, ideas for its future expanded rapidly. One of the new members imposed a stricter degree of formality upon the developing society, encouraging the founders to standardize their procedure for initiating new members. With a new set of procedures in place, the budding society brought in three new members with various connections to the original four. With a membership of seven, the group was ready for a name. Reflecting desires both to emulate the structure of names of other collegiate secret societies and to pay homage to symbols of Trinity College, they chose to call themselves The Order of the Elm and Key.
After a brief hiatus during which most of the seven members were studying abroad, the Order reunited and resolved to increase their membership. December of 2012 brought the early graduation of one of the original seven members and the formation of an alumni network. With an improved initiation process, the remaining six doubled their number by adding six new members. With a society of twelve senior students, the group began initiating the next class of Elm and Key members.
Membership
Members of The Order of the Elm and Key are Trinity College students who exhibit the greatest potential and desire to carry out ameliorative measures for the intellectual and social culture of the campus. Importantly, members are students who have demonstrated significant achievements in academic departments and have engaged significantly in student organizations. The society comprises twelve senior undergraduates having different academic interests and representing different areas of campus life. Each year, four founding junior members are selected at the end of the spring semester to build the next class of Elm and Key members throughout the fall semester of their senior year. The unique aspect of the selection process is that new members are initiated two at a time, slowly growing the group. With this process, all members have the opportunity to shape the identity of the membership, so the society develops camaraderie and cohesion as it grows .
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