Skull and Swords

[gadoosh]

145 is for the artillery platoon.

[jrook573]

Gadoosh, I'll head to the library this weekend to check that you and tell you guys what I find.

nustudent, 145 is Arty's number and they may or may not had had something to do with the riders in the past. If you want to know what it means you'd have to go out for Arty.
Unless you're that guy asked them what it meant at the informational meeting last night. If that was you I would stay far, far away from arty indoc because I heard em talking after and they were not happy about that.

[Some advice]

ROOKS: Gadoosh has given you some outstanding clues.
Something happens in 1919 that leads to a split within Theta Chi (a front for what we now know as Skull and Swords)
The Story
ORIGIN:

In 1850’s a group known as The Regulators emerged on campus and produced a unauthorized paper that was critical of individuals that they felt were behaving out of line with the values of the institution called “The Norwich Regulator.”

The need for the organization likely had something to do with the intense rivalry between Dartmouth and Norwich which were separated only by a river. The regulators likely wanted to force the members of the corp of cadets live and act in pure form to the strict ideals of the University.

The paper elicits a counter point called The Norwich Owl

For some reason “The Regulators” are forced off campus (MYSTERY: Why and how were they forced underground)

THE FRONT FRATERINTY

In a stroke of genius the remaining members of “The Regulators” Author Chase and Fredrick Freeman with the help Egbert Phelps reorganize the organization as a Fraternity called Theta Chi. Hidden with in Theta Chi they rename their organization “The Mechanics”

THE MYSTERY

In 1919 the mechanics split. Skull and Swords and the Night Riders. WHY did the University establish Skull and Swords as the official secret society? Something happens. But what?

THEORY

Theta Chi, after 50 years of never progressing beyond the School explodes, chapters are established at several schools, dues are collected and Theta Chi for the first time has… funds. Was this money used to pay for gifts? Sentential Stairs? Gates that remind us to “be faithful to the past”?

RESEARCH:

Has Gagoosh lead you to evidence about what happened in 1919? Only you can find the answers. Good luck and post often.

[nuguest]

I am a current rook, and i have not heard of any form of "nap time". It would be nice, but as far as i know thats a privilege we get at recognition on march 3rd.

[2013]

Nap time was something that was instituted for the class of 2012 because of their horrible grades. 2013 didn't get it because we were able to maintain our grades while doing all the other things that were required of us. I doubt 2014 will get it as well.

[cousin314]

Im amazed by the narrow focus of this conversation. The Truth was always written on the desks of Webb Hall. Its been too long since a pumpkin was placed on top of Jackman Hall on Halloween.

There was always a counter balance for these groups mentioned through this conversation and who knows maybe these still live on somewhere.

[Zulu]

I don't think that the conversation is narrowed focus. I believe it's just trying to look into the more historical groups of the university. 314/LOS/The Truth as you call it was founded in the 90s.

I'm surprised that no one from 314 has posted exploits on 572 or 192 since it seems they have a lot of valuable knowledge. Seemed like the most rebellious group of them all. Definitley a counter balance of the the more historic groups as they were made up of mostly cadet privates. The good guys if you will.

[Interested]

Hello all,

This is all incredibly interesting to me. I read through all these posts twice on two separate occasions and want to know more about these Norwich secret societies.


I was a rook in 2003 and only lasted the first semester. I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic, spent a number of days in the hospital, and was unable to continue. Military is pointless as a insulin dependent diabetic so i ended up transferring to another University which had a little better Male/female ratio.

Anyways. I want to thank all the people who offer information. If the Secret societies at Norwich are truly inactive...(which i believe) then their history and traditions are going to die with them.

S&S, Night riders, LOS... please tell us and document your past and make at least some of it public. don't let you and your contributions to Norwich be forgotten.

My company has done some engineering work for Norwich long ago. Maybe I'll have to go searching the company archives for the "lost tunnels". should be shown abandoned or not or utility plans.

If anyone can supply more information to me i would be more than interested for intrigue and entertainment only.

Thanks

[e-mail]

[Ex drill co rook co 12]

Well this is an interesting forum. I went to NU 1 semester, my grades dropped so I was going to lose my scholarships that got me there. So if the story was told about the power in Gerard going out and someone getting a letter stating there tuition was paid for, it was a lie. On the other hand there was a lot of talk about the S&S and the Night Riders. I was convinced that the Skull and Swords still were in existence. I did go to the basement of the chapel, and not once did I see a ghost. Other locations i did as did my old rook brothers and sisters.
Regarding the privileges that we received, we didn't want them. They didn't make us feel like we earned it. Yet it happened, I'm glad that the rook classes that that have come after mine is having to earn it. Take pride in that fact. You shouldn't be nutsbags just cause you can. If you don't like the school, you don't have to be there. Don't go running to Jackman and accuse your cadre of stupid things. I was accused of doing that, someone wrote on my white board that did.

So if you have any information on the secret societies, or if you have a question about the ghosts please email me at [e-mail]
Sorry for the long post.

[1 of the tri]

Two of my best friends that I played football with were chosen and our friendships were never the same. My roommate and I were Chair and Vice of the Corp Honor Committee [Which pissed off the outgoing Bones to no end (Hodge) in the fact that a bones member was not in either position (No say in any final decisions)] and he told many stories of how the "Bones for Bucks" would always try to bully him into submission for some Buck who complained about something that every other cadet had to do. True it has included some Great guys who all deserved the positions but their efforts were sometimes misguided.

And as for the Night Riders, their only problem was that they didn't have the balls to stay above ground. They too were made up of some great guys, especially one who is no longer with us.

I have been back to the Wick and feel that ever since the presents of civilians on campus, never mind the UP, it has been the start of the down fall. There is very little tradition left in this world. Leave it all alone.

Anyone who reads this from my class will no who wrote this. Look me up...

[civie]

i am currently a freshman at norwich...and i'm a civie. i came upon all of this when i decided to look for info on the tunnels. considering im not a big believer in ghosts, i might do some snooping around and look deeper into some of the theories on this forum. im sure numerous rooks before me have tried, but, who knows. if i find anything i'll repost on here.

[intersted]

Dec 20, 2010 18:29:08 GMT -5 @Interested said:

Hello all,

This is all incredibly interesting to me. I read through all these posts twice on two separate occasions and want to know more about these Norwich secret societies.


I was a rook in 2003 and only lasted the first semester. I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic, spent a number of days in the hospital, and was unable to continue. Military is pointless as a insulin dependent diabetic so i ended up transferring to another University which had a little better Male/female ratio. ;)

Anyways. I want to thank all the people who offer information. If the Secret societies at Norwich are truly inactive...(which i believe) then their history and traditions are going to die with them.

S&S, Night riders, LOS... please tell us and document your past and make at least some of it public. don't let you and your contributions to Norwich be forgotten.

My company has done some engineering work for Norwich long ago. Maybe I'll have to go searching the company archives for the "lost tunnels". should be shown abandoned or not or utility plans.

If anyone can supply more information to me i would be more than interested for intrigue and entertainment only.

Thanks

[e-mail]

I actually fallowed up on this and there are no significant tunnels i could find on record. I did not have full complete utility plans. but yes it seems that if there are tunnels it was built for the steam heating system. What is interesting is these old steam systems have to be able to be serviced and do have tunnels of some sort. Probably line with asbestos i would wear a mask if you decide to venture.

the old steam lines should be at least crawl-able. O would try the obviously plant and any vents. Any unlabeled manholes that amt drain or sewer might help. need to know how to pop those though.

All the entrances are obviously locked up/bricked up by now. Only way i think is to do a little recon with a sewer video cam. There are lots of sewer investigation companies that will come out to inspect pipes and stuff via a small remote camera. never clear jackman, some rook must rent some equipment him/herself and put a camera into some of these boarded/blocked up entrances.

[Senior Buck]

During the 50's, 60's and 70's the Cadre and Cadet Officers managed the Corps, The Honor Committee maintained the Honor Code and the Skull and Swords assisted the administration with the management of Cadets off campus "difficulties." At that time, all Cadets were issued rifles, there was only 1 cop and maybe 1/2 State Trooper between Northfield and Montpielier and very few on campus activities on weekends. Most Cadets left campus Friday afternoon to find their excitement elsewhere occasionally leaving "troubles" and the potential for bad press around New England as they wandered. The Skull and Swords were the fixers of those problems.

Vietnam and the acquisition of Vermont College changed a lot of that. After the Corps was "disarmed" (who wants 1200 "organized" college age students running around with rifles during the protests of the 60's?) Seniors no longer had to march, stand inspection or have their rooms inspected. Soon the women were no longer 10 miles away after being introduced to campus, followed by civilians. The mood changed and the S&S found themselves with little to do.
Technology and necessity expanded the local police coverage, I-89 was completed and the world changed dragging Norwich with it.

BTW...the main entrance to to the Steam tunnels was on the access road behind Alumni Hall and the old Library, near the steam plant no less.

Ah...those were the days...

[curious]

where was the meeting room for S&S?

[int]

Mar 29, 2011 19:15:27 GMT -5 @curious said:

where was the meeting room for S&S?

church

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