- Z Society
The Z Society is a philanthropic organization that was founded at the
University of Virginia in 1892.Bruce IV: 100.] It comprises outstanding student leaders who give time, talent, and financial contributions to groups and individuals that exemplify the spirit of the society and uphold the ideals of the university. Additionally, the Z Society encourages and recognizes excellence through a number of honorary dinners and academic awards.The organization's membership chooses to remain anonymous because of the belief that service, when provided anonymously, provides a unique philanthropic opportunity. After graduation, members may opt to wear Z Society rings.Irons.] Selection for membership is considered a high honor at the University.
The Z Society contributes significantly to the University through monetary donations, recognition events, such as a First-YearRecognition Dinner, service opportunities, encouragement letters, and major awards such as the Edgar Shannon Award, presented to one student from each school during graduation.
Like the
Seven Society andIMP Society , the Z Society is known to paint their symbol around grounds. Superstition holds that if a woman walks directly over the Z on the steps of the footbridge near Ruffner Hall, she will become pregnant before she graduates.History
The Z Society was founded as the Zeta Society in 1892 in the wake of a series of disputes between the
Eli Banana society and the faculty and Board of Visitors of the University. According to University historianPhilip Alexander Bruce , the society was formed to "skim the cream" from the Elis and T.I.L.K.A.; by his estimation, some 90% of the membership of the Zetas were "in society," that is, of social distinction.The early Zeta society, along with Eli Banana and T.I.L.K.A., was a "ribbon society," one whose members were denoted by a cloth ribbon worn on the lapel.Bruce V:277-279] .
Over time, the Zetas, now called the Z Society, began a tradition of philanthropy around the school, for which they are remembered today. Past gifts to the university include an annual fund for the purchase of books at Alderman Library, established in the honor of Robert Kent Gooch at his retirement in 1964;Dabney, 579-580.] a scholarship in honor of University president
Edgar F. Shannon, Jr. , established in 1973;Dabney, 594.] the Z Society Award for professors who contributed to the community beyond their academic responsibilities, established in 1972; and the Z Society Award for Organizations, dating from 1971 or before;Dabney, 465-466]The society became a secret organization sometime in the late 1960s (they are described in 1969 as "semi-secret").cite news
url=http://scripta.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-textwg/cavdaily.pl?str=z%20society&offset=22245008&fileid=19690910
title=Secret Societies Aid University, Honor Community Members
work=Cavalier Daily
date=1969-09-10.]In recent years, the Z Society has been outspoken in support of diversity in the University community, symbolically painting its white Z symbols black in response to a 2003 hate crime;cite news
url=http://www.cavalierdaily.com/news/2003/mar/12/show-of-zolidarity/ |title=Show of 'Z'olidarity |last=Bland |first=Beth |work=Cavalier Daily |date=2003-03-12] and writing letters of support to organizations that support Jewish student life at the Universitycite web |url=http://www.uvahillel.org/NewSite/ZSocietyLetter.pdf |title=Z Society's Letter to Hillel |date=2007-09-23|format=PDF ] and in Charlottesville.cite web |url=http://www.chabadofcharlottesville.org/templates/articlecco.html?AID=381888 |title=Z Society's letter to Chabad |date=2006-04-28]See also
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Collegiate secret societies in North America External links
* This article on [http://www.virginia.edu/religiousstudies/admin/awards.html Teaching Awards] lists an award sponsored by the society.
* [http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/handbook/awards/shannonz.cfm Shannon Award Winners from the Medical School]Notes
References
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