The 21 Society announced its founding on June 21, 1999, citing "direct challenge(s) to student self-governance" and claiming an intention to "unify the politically active students of the University." Since its inception, the 21 Society has contributed philanthropically to a variety of groups, including the Center for Politics and corporate sponsorship of charitable causes organized by students. The group has occasionally offered politically-oriented messages centering on issues of student self-governance and the promotion of the university’s honor system. Like other Secret societies at the University of Virginia

Secret Societies at the University of Virginia

Secret societies have been a part of University of Virginia student life since the first class of students in 1825. While the number of societies peaked during the 75 year period between 1875 and 1950, there are still five societies active that are over 100 years old, and several newer societies...

, the 21 Society paints its "mark," a large "21," around the University grounds, such as fraternity and sorority houses.

Recognitions

Like other secret societies at the university, The 21 Society routinely recognizes members of the community for their contributions to the university. A speaker is generally invited to address the class in a reception. Speakers in the past have included Allen Groves, Dean of Students, and the recognition ceremony is not limited to those students from undergraduate schools. Graduates of other school of the University, such as the School of Law, have been recognized in this annual ceremony. The Society also recognizes students in other ways as well, including private letters. In addition to its ceremony for graduating students, the 21 Society has held recognition ceremonies for outstanding second-year undergraduate students as well.

Membership

Little is known about the membership of the 21 Society. The group is said to be “fully secret” society whose members are not revealed until their deaths, similar to the Seven Society

Seven Society

The Seven Society is the most secretive of the University of Virginia's secret societies. Members are only revealed after their death, when a wreath of black magnolias in the shape of a "7" is placed at the gravesite, the bell tower of the University Chapel chimes at seven-second intervals on the...

. To date, no members have ever been officially revealed publicly through death or otherwise.

Projects

Its projects have been diverse, particularly with respect to student life. For example, in 2004, The 21 Society began placing containers on the Lawn and the “quad” areas of the University filed with footballs, soccer balls, and flying discs for use by visitors and students. The signs bore plaques encouraging free use of these items under the university’s honor system. In 2009, the society made available to students a box of copies of the forms required for adding or dropping classes after the undergraduate registrar posted a sign indicating students would no longer receive free copies of such forms.

Political Activism

Though not as common as its service projects or recognitions, the society has occasionally interjected comment regarding the political process at the university. In 2007, for example, the school’s spring election resulted in the passage of a special provision expanding the number of Honor Committee representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences from three to five. Seven students had run for the position, but only three could be elected because the provision did not apply to the current election, and accordingly, two vacancies were immediately created and needed to be filled. Usually, students are chosen for such positions in student-wide elections, but the constitutions of the Honor Committee and the College of Arts and Sciences authorized the President of the Arts and Science Council to appoint the representatives unilaterally because it was a special election. Controversy occurred when the council suggested that it would not necessarily commit itself to appointing the two highest vote-getters from the school-wide election. The 21 Society posted a public letter and sent private letters to the four candidates running for the remaining positions. The letters urged the two students who had received the lowest vote counts in the college-wide election to respect the decision of voting students by removing themselves from contention so as to effectuate the will of student voters. One candidate withdrew from the race and the other chose not to attend the meeting where the appointments would be made. Accordingly, the top two vote-getters were appointed by the council. Though the result was consistent with the suggestion of The 21 Society, it is unclear whether the result was actually influenced by the letter because neither of the two candidates who effectively removed themselves from contention offered a public reason for doing so.




The 21 Society has also used its public message boards to encourage philanthropy supporting the University of Virginia. In 2006, the university embarked on a three-billion dollar capital campaign. The 21 Society posted a public letter urging all members of the community and alumni to commit to the campaign.

See also

• Secret societies at the University of Virginia
  Secret Societies at the University of Virginia
  Secret societies have been a part of University of Virginia student life since the first class of students in 1825. While the number of societies peaked during the 75 year period between 1875 and 1950, there are still five societies active that are over 100 years old, and several newer societies...
  
  
• University of Virginia
  University of Virginia
  The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
  
  
• Collegiate secret societies in North America