News
Do you remember those welcoming students, wearing green shirts and khaki pants, who ushered you into the College president's house during freshmen orientation?
Those were members of the Green Key Society -- an organization that provides various student services to the Dartmouth community on campus.
The role of the Green Key Society has evolved through its 79 years of existence, from a group that hosted visiting athletic teams into a junior service society helping the College and the Upper Valley in various capacities.
While the Society still struggles todevelop a definitive role on campus, the organization has served the College by helping with functions including first-year orientation, Commencement, Horizons Alumni dinners and building dedications.
The Green Key Society originated in 1921 in response to the hospitable welcome that the Dartmouth football team received in 1920 from the Knights of the Hook, the University of Washington's service organization.
The Knights of the Hook received the Dartmouth team at the train station, provided transportation to the players' lodgings, acted as guides and reportedly also introduced the players to Washington-area women.
Former College Vice-President Orton Hicks '21, then a member of the Dartmouth football team, played a key role in forming a similar society at Dartmouth after his return from Seattle.
The 51-member sophomore society was created on May 16, 1921 when two of the College's sophomore service societies merged.Hicks wanted the society to be called the "Hospitality Society," but according to The Dartmouth they chose the name "Green Key" because "it symbolizes Dartmouth in the word 'green' and hospitality in the word 'key.'"
In an editorial printed on the day after the Society's creation, the editors of The Dartmouth described it as a "rather striking innovation" and wished the society the best of success.
The Green Key Society initially had three responsibilities: to entertain guests from other institutions, to serve as a "vigilance committee" for the freshmen and to select men to be ushers and cheerleaders.
Two years later, the Green Key Society's membership was opened to juniors only, and welcoming visiting athletic teams became its only responsibility.
At the faculty's request, 1927 Green Key members started wearing white trousers, green sweaters and green hats with a key emblem, and they helped freshmen become oriented to the campus during their first week at the College.
The Society also started producing a freshman handbook to describe College organizations and activities to incoming students.
In 1929, the first Spring Prom sponsored by the Green Key Society -- a prom that took place annually for 30 years -- played an integral role in the evolution of Green Key Weekend.
The years 1934 through 1936 saw a sharp decline in the quality of the service provided by Green Key -- the prestige of the Society seems to have been favored over its primary responsibility of providing service.
As the College's athletic program grew larger, the unwieldy Society became incapable of handling its duties.
In 1936, however, its structure changed -- only 40 members were selected, all major activities were represented and the scholastic achievements necessary for admission to the Green Key Society were raised.
During World War II, Green Key suspended its normal functions for two years and served as a student government body at that time.
As sports teams grew and the Dartmouth College Athletic Council took over Green Key's role of hosting visiting teams, the Society struggled to redefine itself.
Alexander McCormick, Assistant Dean of the College and Green Key adviser from 1987 to 1988, said the Society needed to change its focus.
"The Society needs to do some soul-searching about its role and purpose," he said.
