Secret societies reveal new members on Tap Day

The ceremony recognized students involved in six secret societies at MU.

By Shannon Montanez

Published April 20, 2009

The secret societies of MU came out of the shadows to reveal their new members in the sun to friends and family Friday on Francis Quadrangle for Tap Day.

Once a year, the MU community comes together to recognize the students involved with the six secret societies on campus: LSV, QEBH, Mystical Seven, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa and the Rollins Society.

"I think it is important to acknowledge the amazing things that people do on campus. This is an opportunity to hear their accomplishments, not just their names," LSV and Mortar Board member Jennifer Kimball said.

Kimball was tapped last year, returning Friday to the ceremony to remove the hood and reveal an inductee of LSV, a senior women's organization.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs acted as the moderator of Tap Day.

"The history of Tap Day is unique to this university in the way that we handle revealing to our community who is in these secret societies," Scroggs said. "This is what makes it unique."

Patrick Margherio, a new tap into QEBH, said he is anxious to begin his work with the organization. Margherio is involved with Sustain Mizzou, the sustainability task force, the Associated Students of the University of Missouri and Tiger Treasures.

"I don't really know what's going to happen, but all the people I'm with are great individuals, and I am really happy to be involved with that group," Margherio said.

ChaToyya Walker was also tapped into QEBH on Friday as well as into LSV. She acts as a co-chairwoman of Four Front, treasurer of the Feminist Student Union, fundraising chairwoman of the Vagina Monologues and with Stop Traffic.

Different from the other secret societies, LSV reveals its members after a year of service.

"LSV was rewarding because you do things on campus, and you usually get recognized in some way. With LSV you drop that pretension," Walker said. "It's really humbling."

Walker found the number of people being recognized for their accomplishments impressive. Since her service was done in secret, she had to convince her friends to attend the ceremony without revealing her secret.

"The ceremony is awesome. I had to lie to a lot of my friends to trick them into going," Walker said. "I was sending out last minute text messages saying I was going to be late talking to a professor and still going."

Kimball said LSV has been the most amazing experience of her life.

"It started as random acquaintances and now they're my family. I consider them to be my best friends," she said.

Even after her year of service is over, Walker will still be involved with the organization.

"Alumni are very involved in the process in order for it to be successful," Walker said. "There has to be people who are not in secret in order to make it work."

Tap Day is considered on of the highest honors at MU. Tap Day itself is a historical event that was first held in 1927, taking place on the foot of the columns on Francis Quadrangle.

"The historical part of the ceremony made it bigger, more impressive," Margherio said.