Secret societies have long existed at Penn State. With membership in both these societies and influential student organizations, lines are often blurred.

It was a regular Sunday evening. I was preparing to settle down and complete my homework. A friend of mine texted me and asked if she could come over and have a study date. Having no objection, I patiently waited for her to come to my apartment. My phone buzzed alerting me that she was outside. I rested my phone down on my desk and went outside to welcome her in.

Once I opened the door, I knew something was afoot. She had no bookbag, no books and no hint of wanting to study. Instead, she asked me one simple question, “Do you trust me?” Confused, I nodded my head yes, as this was someone I knew from my orientation from freshman year. She then took me by the hand and started leading me away from my apartment. I stopped several times, demanding to know what was going on. She only repeated, “Just trust me”.

Next thing I knew, I was blindfolded and was led into a car. The car was bumping to the sort of music you would hear at a football game: Penn State fight songs and the alma mater. The music was so loud I swore I was watching a horror film. After minutes of frustration and silence, I took off my blindfold and saw there were two other persons in the car besides my captor. As we drove further away from campus, I saw many trees and unfamiliar territory. I honestly didn’t know if I was driving towards my death.”

"I honestly didn’t know if I was driving towards my death."

The car stopped and I was led into an open gathering. There was a male standing in front of me who handed me an envelope and told me to look up when I was finished. The letter invited me to join a secret society called Parmi Nous and offered other details regarding how to begin the process of joining the society. When I looked back up at him, a flash of lights went up in a circle and it became clear to me that there were about 20 people standing around me in a circle and they all chanted my name in unison. It was one of the most frightening images I’ve ever seen in my life. I was then led back into the car with the blasting Penn State music and dropped off at my apartment. I scurried back into my apartment and was so grateful that I still had my life. In the days that followed, my email inbox was filled with welcome emails from students and faculty alike welcoming me to one of Penn State’s most elite secret societies who congratulated me for joining “Among Us.”

Democracy and secrecy mix like oil and water

This is just one of many anonymous stories that have been shared with The Underground regarding secret societies on campus. The story above was written by a former student, who wanted to remain anonymous for risk of retribution. In sharing their experiences, they hope to shed light on the influence of these societies at Penn State.

Secret societies have long existed on campus. Students from various facets of the community are tapped and inducted into one or more “senior honor societies,” devoted to preserving the traditions of the university. The university currently recognizes three senior honor societies: Lion’s Paw, Skull & Bones, and Parmi Nous.

These societies honor students primarily involved in landmark campus organizations such as student government, THON, Homecoming, Greek Life, MLK, Jr. Commemoration Week and philanthropic groups who “demonstrate humble service and leadership.” Students are often asked to “eliminate false pride and self-esteem” in exchange for “humble service and leadership to the university.” Penn State faculty and staff members have also been in these organizations and in many cases, serve as their advisors.

With membership in both these societies and influential student organizations, lines are often blurred.

Lion’s Paw

Over 100 years ago, university president George Atherton sought out first-year students when conflict and misunderstanding arose in the student body, charging them to settle grievances in a way they deemed fit.

As the student body began to grow and take a larger role in the Commonwealth, Atherton gathered those same students and other right-thinking students to “establish a way of living together and growing together as part of the family of students, faculty and administration.”

Years later, under university president Edwin Sparks, several students looked to build upon that legacy and form an organization devoted to preserving the welfare of the university.

Meeting in their own rooms, trailblazers “Jimmy” Acheson, John Barnes, “Bud” Furst, “Potsy” Postlewaite, Frank Simon and possibly “Dick” Pennock then formed Lion’s Paw, a senior society, realizing the great role the organization could play in the life of the university.

Today, the group meets weekly in room 419 of Old Main, following a decades-old $1,000 exchange with the university for space in its administrative building. The room, colloquially known as the “lair,” remains locked at all times and does not appear on 20th-century blueprints.

While not much is heard about the society on campus, its legacy can be found stretched across Happy Valley.

The group helped fundraise over $30,000 for literal lion’s paws, brimmed in bronze, outside of the Palmer Museum of Art and its commitment to conservation can be seen with its purchased land on Mount Nittany and the founding of the Mount Nittany Conservancy.

The society proclaims itself as the “highest honor accorded an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University.” Every year, no more than 15 students are chosen for the society unanimously by the former class and receive a monetary award from the Lion’s Paw Endowment Fund, which, as of September 2017 vales at over $580,000.

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Current and former members of the society include student government presidents, THON, Class Gift Campaign and Homecoming directors, as well as those associated with fraternities and sororities.

Skull & Bones

A good name is earned by fair play, square dealing and good sportsmanship in the classroom, on the athletic field and in all other college relations. We earnestly desire that this spirit become a tradition at Penn State. – The Penn State Honor Code

When some think of Skull & Bones, their first thought is the undergraduate society at Yale University. Formed in 1832, it is the oldest senior society in the country and boasts the likes of United States President William Howard Taft, George H.W. Bush and former Secretary of State John Kerry.

While not associated with its counterpart at Yale, Penn State’s Skull & Bones Honor Society seeks to honor students that display “humble service and unselfish leadership to the University.”

Founded in 1912, the society began with 12 men seeking to eliminate false pride and personal glory in student leaders at the university. The society began around the same time as the other societies, under the guidance of University President Edwin Sparks.

In its early years, the society sought to encourage school spirit and to “correct any tendency toward a disregard for or violation of college customs and traditions.” Students in the society were involved in all facets of undergraduate student life, serving as orientation leaders and assisting in Homecoming operations.

While its past membership initiations have been public, tapping students during the university’s “Move-up Day,” initiation ceremonies have become private and shielded from the public eye.

Parmi Nous

“Skull and Bones, Skull and Bones/To you we hiss and boo/We are Penn State’s finest/We are Parmi Nous.”

Former football coach Joseph Vincent Paterno and Mike “the Mailman” Herr are just two well-known members of Parmi Nous, the third honor society on campus.

Founded in 1907, Parmi Nous is the oldest of the three societies and is “dedicated to the advancement of outstanding scholarship and student leadership.”

French for “among us,” members of this organization traditionally include students involved in athletics, Blue Band, multicultural organizations, and theater.

In its early days, membership in the society was public with applications for new members open to the campus community. More recently, initiation ceremonies have been private, taking place at Old Main and the Obelisk.

The group claims secrecy for the purpose of humble service. Donations to campus include the Parmi Nous Obelisk Garden and monetary funds to support the Renaissance Scholarship.

Despite a devotion humble service and unselfish leadership, claims of intimidation and abuse of power by society members and administrators have been reported to both campus media and student conduct organizations.

Over the next few days, The Underground will shed light on these accusations and allow members of the Penn State community to come to their own conclusions.

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