Skull and Dagger (honor society)

{{Short description|Student society at the University of Southern California}}

{{Infobox fraternity

| name = Skull and Dagger

| crest = The_logo_of_Skull_and_Dagger.png

| image_size = 120px

| founded = {{start date and age|1913}}

| birthplace = University of Southern California

| affiliation = Independent

| status = Active

| type = Secret society

| scope = Local

| emphasis = Seniors

| chapters = 1

| city = Los Angeles

| state = California

| country = United States

| website = {{url|https://skullanddagger.org/}}

}}

Skull and Dagger Society is the oldest secret honor society at the University of Southern California.{{cite web |url=http://www.skullanddagger.org/ |title=Home |website=skullanddagger.org}}

History

Hallam H. Anderson and Cloyd H. Marvi founded Skull and Dagger Society at the University of Southern California in 1913. The Society is primarily for graduating seniors consisting of leaders, scholars, and student-athletes.{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@kchebs/uncovering-the-secrets-behind-the-university-of-southern-california-8793034b89c2 |title=Uncovering the Secrets behind the University of Southern California — Medium |accessdate=2015-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601134635/https://medium.com/@kchebs/uncovering-the-secrets-behind-the-university-of-southern-california-8793034b89c2 |archivedate=2015-06-01 }}

Traditions

The society is known for its tradition of secrecy and discretion, and its members are sworn to keep the group's activities and identity confidential.

Newly inducted members each year pull a prank on the University and the student body.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-04-me-33704-story.html|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times|date=4 May 1999 }}{{Cite web|url=http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll104/id/69057|title = University of Southern California}} In the past, members have pranked the school by announcing an on campus early screening of the Star Wars Episode I trailer, only to greet the hundreds of students lined up outside the auditorium with U-Haul trailer with a poster that read: "Star Wars Trailer--Episode 1."Another notable prank includes the Society's 1997 prank, where it staged a memorial for Traveler IV, the University's horse mascot. During the event, a trailer supposedly containing the replacement of Traveler IV arrived only to reveal a donkey, wrapped in a banner that read, "Traveler IV is alive. Don't you feel like an ass?" Recently, the Society has been criticized for its annual prank practice with opponents stating that some of the pranks "damage the trustworthiness and credibility of respected campus services."{{Cite web|url=http://dailytrojan.com/2011/04/17/skull-and-dagger-pranks-need-to-have-limits/|title=Skull and Dagger pranks need to have limits|date=18 April 2011}}

On the day of the prank the newly initiated members reveal themselves wearing odd hats and tailcoats.{{cite book

| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PKL4DQ4XLtUC&pg=PA330

| title=Embattled Dreams: California in War and Peace, 1940-1950| page=330 |last=Starr |first=Kevin |authorlink=Kevin Starr |year=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York | isbn=978-0-19-516897-6}}

Activities

The Skull and Dagger Society is known for its involvement in many important USC events and traditions, such as the homecoming parade and the senior class gift.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} Members of the society also participate in community service projects and charitable activities.

Philanthropy

= Gifts to USC =

Skull and Dagger has made gifts to the University. In 1994, the Society donated "The Wall of Scholars" to honor students who have won national and international fellowships, as well as recipients of USC awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.usc.edu/libraries/locations/leavey/wallofscholars/ |title=USC Libraries:: Leavey Library:: Wall of Scholars |accessdate=2015-04-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404094726/http://www.usc.edu/libraries/locations/leavey/wallofscholars/ |archivedate=2015-04-04 }} In 2011, the Society embarked to restore the University's class marker tradition and has been donating class markers ever since.{{Cite web|url=https://news.usc.edu/49569/class-markers-unveiled-at-alumni-walk/|title = Class markers unveiled at Alumni Walk|date = 19 April 2013}}

= Skull and Dagger Foundation Scholarships =

The Skull and Dagger Foundation has established two scholarships in memory of former Permanent Masters of the Society. The first was established in 1989 and is named in memory of Dr. Kenneth Owler Smith, a professor of Journalism, who served as Permanent Master of the Society from 1983 until he died in 1988.{{Cite web |url=https://dornsife.usc.edu/assets/sites/1/docs/admission/CSS_2015/2015_Skull_and_Dagger_Cover.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-date=2015-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226091747/http://dornsife.usc.edu/assets/sites/1/docs/admission/CSS_2015/2015_Skull_and_Dagger_Cover.pdf |url-status=dead }} The second was established in 2002 in memory of Dr. Harrison M. Kurtz, a professor of Biological Sciences, who served as Permanent Master from 1989 until he died in 2001. Both scholarships are awarded annually to the continuing USC students (graduate or undergraduate) who have demonstrated significant campus and/or community leadership.{{Cite web |url=http://www.skullanddagger.org/Skullanddagger/scholarships.html |title=Dr. Kenneth Owler Smith Memorial Scholarship |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-date=2015-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224173151/http://skullanddagger.org/Skullanddagger/scholarships.html |url-status=dead }}

Membership

Membership in Skull and Dagger is highly selective and is offered to USC students and alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and achievement in their academic, personal, and professional lives.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The identities of the members are kept a secret.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}