Secret no more

Secret societies not worthy of 'U' funding

After 97 years of gender discrimination, Michigamua, a selective secret society for male University students, has finally been forced to open its doors to women. Following a long-overdue decision by the University administration, two secret tower societies, Michigamua and Adara, were told the University will not support gender-exclusive organizations. But whether these secret tower societies meet under one heading or two, their role on campus still remains questionable.

Michigamua was created with the help of former University President James Angell in 1902. The secret society bought a house on campus and utilized the limited contemporary knowledge of Native American ritual for ceremonial purposes. For their assistance in building the Michigan Union in the 1930s, Michigamua received the top floor of the Union's tower. In the late 1970s, the secret organization came under harsh criticism for its gender-discrimination, culminating in a 1980 decision to create the separate-but-equal group for women, Adara. After 1980, the Tower Society continued to claim that it stood for leadership on campus. But it wasn't until the University administration threatened to stop funding this year that Michigamua was integrated.

University sponsored secret societies seem outdated for the 1990s. While Michigamua claims to have rid itself of Native American ritual and will be desegregated next year, the existence of such an elitist society under University auspices should be brought under examination. Unlike other University affiliated groups, such as the Michigan Student Assembly and social activist organizations, Michigamua doesn't have much to offer the University.

As an honor society, it's true that Michigamua attracts exceptional students to its ranks. There is nothing wrong with student leaders of various organizations meeting on their own accord to brainstorm ideas. But such a private group should not be affiliated with a public University, let alone be allowed to monopolize such a high-profile venue as the Union's Tower.

Michigamua has shown a remarkable tendency to conservatively stick to tradition. For example, women weren't allowed into the tower's top three floors until 1980. That concession, to create Adara for women while keeping Michigamua for men, came after a long legal struggle. A decade later, infuriated with Michigamua's stereotypical Native American rituals, action was taken by University students to end the honor society's insensitivity. Once again, Michigamua failed to act - until MSA's Minority Affairs Commission filed a charge against them. Today, the same behavior persists.

Clearly, the era of University supported secret societies is coming to an end. Had Michigamua shown an ability to recognize their problems and reform themselves, the University might tolerate the loss of a few floors in the Union. But by now students, faculty and administrators should all be fed up with regulating the elitists in the top of the tower.

04-20-99