Cadaver Society
{{Short description|Washington and Lee University group}}
{{Infobox fraternity
| crest = Cadaver Society logo.png
| founded = {{start date and age|1957}}
| type = Secret society
| scope = Local
| chapters = 1
| city = Lexington
| state = Virginia
| country = United States
| emphasis = Pre-med
| status = Active
| birthplace = Washington and Lee University
| affiliation = Independent
}}
The Cadaver Society is a secret society for male students at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, United States.{{Cite web |title=University Chronology : Washington and Lee University |url=http://www.wlu.edu/about-wandl/history-and-traditions/a-brief-history/university-chronology |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722173648/http://www.wlu.edu/about-wandl/history-and-traditions/a-brief-history/university-chronology |archive-date=2015-07-22 |access-date=2015-07-22}}{{Cite web |last=Sbar |first=Hyatt |date=November 9, 2021 |title=The Cadaver Society |url=https://ringtumphi.net/6531/opinion/the-cadaver-society/ |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=The Ring-tum Phi}} It was founded in 1957.{{Cite book |last=Tibbott |first=Julie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=caeeDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Cadaver+Society%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT241 |title=Members Only: Secret Societies, Sects, and Cults — Exposed! |date=2019-08-01 |publisher=Zest Books ™ |isbn=978-1-5415-8192-0 |language=en |via=Google Books}}
History
The Cadaver Society has been in continuous operation since its founding in 1957. The society refers to itself as "A Friend of the University".{{Cite web |title=6 Strange Secret Societies You Probably Didn't Know About |url=https://thecommentsection.org/viewarticle.php?id=7047 |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=thecommentsection.org}} It is known for nocturnal pranks.
The membership of the Cadaver Society is strictly anonymous. Membership is speculated to consist of older students, pre-med students, or leaders of Washington and Lee's athletic teams and fraternities.{{Cite web |last=Cock-Starkey |first=Claire |date=2016-09-14 |title=9 of the Most Exclusive College Secret Societies |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/86032/9-most-exclusive-college-secret-societies |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=Mental Floss |language=en-US}}
Symbols and traditions
The Cadavers symbol is a skull with the letter C around it. It can be found in many prominent places throughout the campus. One place in particular where the Cadavers' logo can be consistently seen is on Wilson Field; they painted it at the endzone every Friday before a game when the field was grass. Since the renovation of the field in 2008, and the replacement of grass with Field Turf, the Cadaver symbol in permanently on the hill separating Alumni from Wilson Field.
The society's members wear a skull mask and all black for anonymity while on campus excursions. It has long been rumored to have underground passageways spanning the campus and surfacing in the campus library.{{Cite book |last1=Turitz |first1=Neil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkNIEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Cadaver+Society%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA111 |title=Inside Secret Societies: Behind the Scenes of the Knights Templar, the Order of Assassins, Opus Dei, the Illuminati, Freemasons, & Many More |last2=Zimmerman |first2=Barak |date=2021-11-02 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-951274-91-7 |page=111 |language=en |via=Google Books}}
Scholarship and endowment
A Cadaver Society Scholarship was established in 1997.{{Cite web |title=Student Support |url=https://colonnadeconnections.wlu.edu/donor-relations/endowed-fund-listing-student-support |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=Washington and Lee Alumni Director}} The scholarship is to be awarded every four years to an incoming freshman. The Cadaver Endowment was committed in 1981 to be designated as a residual fund in Cadaver's name to the school each year.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wlu.edu/x33075.xml |title=Other Endowment Gifts :: Washington and Lee University |access-date=2009-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528052548/http://www.wlu.edu/x33075.xml |archive-date=2010-05-28 |url-status=dead }}
See also
References
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