Aleph Samach
Encyclopedia
The Aleph Samach is a junior honor society at Cornell University
, founded in 1893 on four pillars: leadership, loyalty, service, and honor. Unlike most collegiate secret societies, which have primarily senior membership, The Aleph Samach is composed mostly of juniors. While senior members played an advisory role within the society, Aleph Samach's primary goal is "to promote the greater good of the Cornell community by connecting junior leaders, cultivating their leadership skills and developing their commitment to campus service."
Like many societies at Cornell, it sought to recognize those men of distinct character who were emerging leaders on campus. The society remained strong in its early decades and was an influential organization on campus. Along with some of the other class societies, most notably Quill and Dagger and Sphinx Head, it promoted campus-wide agendas; some of the more notable results being the creation of what would become Slope Day
. By 1896, the New York Times listed Aleph Samach as the junior class society at Cornell, alongside the Chancery (senior law), Sphinx Head
(senior), Quill and Dagger
(senior), and Theta Nu Epsilon (sophomore) societies. The turn of the century saw Aleph Samach integretated into the senior honorary societies system of campus-wide governance. Aleph Samach was a stepping stone to Sphinx Head and Quill and Dagger. The sophomore society, Theta Nu Epsilon, was a debauched institution. This led one Cornell fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi
, to bar membership in Theta Nu Epsilon. Aleph Samach, Sphinx Head, and Quill and Dagger, however, emerged in the first decade of the 20th century as the lead institutions of Cornell undergraduate governance. By 1917, the sophomore class was without an honorary society following the collapse of Theta Nu Epsilon’s successor, Dunstan. And the senior honorary societies, formerly the apex of Cornell student governance, had been dispossessed of their oligarchy by the Student Council. But Aleph Samach was still the uncontested honorary society of the junior class. After the creation of a unified Student Council following the First World War, the honorary societies nonetheless remained an active force. Aleph Samach joined with the Council, Sphinx Head and Quill and Dagger during the Fall Term of 1920 to petition the Cornell Board of Trustees to elevate the popular Acting President to the position of president until such time as the University chose a new head. In 1939, Aleph Samach was listed as a junior class co-honorary society with Cornell's Red Key Society.
" and "Samach" are letters of the Hebrew language. Most of the rituals of The Aleph Samach are secret. A rare exception is the symbol of the society, the owl. While scarce information of the society's traditions have become public, it is known that The Aleph Samach has a strong history of service to the Cornell community. Unfortunately, at some point in the society's history "the secret meaning of what the letters Aleph Samach stood for, the password, and the secret handshake had all been lost." One detail that has been recounted is that the title of the presiding member of Aleph Samah is Rabbi.
, Sphinx Head
and Quill and Dagger
in an effort to suppress the growing influence of the following “social clubs” or drinking societies at Cornell: Majura, Beth l’Amed, Kappa Beta Phi, Bench and Board, Gemel Kharm, Yonan, Mermaid, Krug and Tafel, and the Climax. The three honorary societies and the Sun would not allow any member of the drinking societies to be tapped into their organizations. During the fall of 1913, Quill and Dagger
took the largest hit in membership, as many members of the Class of 1914 were members of the drinking societies.
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, founded in 1893 on four pillars: leadership, loyalty, service, and honor. Unlike most collegiate secret societies, which have primarily senior membership, The Aleph Samach is composed mostly of juniors. While senior members played an advisory role within the society, Aleph Samach's primary goal is "to promote the greater good of the Cornell community by connecting junior leaders, cultivating their leadership skills and developing their commitment to campus service."
History
The Aleph Samach (sometimes spelled Aleph Samech) was founded in 1893 at Cornell University as an honorary society for men of the junior class. Aleph Samach can document its operational status as late as AY 1964-1965 and AY 1978-79 and AY 1980-81.Like many societies at Cornell, it sought to recognize those men of distinct character who were emerging leaders on campus. The society remained strong in its early decades and was an influential organization on campus. Along with some of the other class societies, most notably Quill and Dagger and Sphinx Head, it promoted campus-wide agendas; some of the more notable results being the creation of what would become Slope Day
Slope Day
Slope Day is an annual day of celebration held at Cornell University during the last day of regular undergraduate classes. It usually falls on the first Friday of May and the official site of Slope Day is the Libe Slope, on the university campus. Though Slope Day has gone through many phases, in...
. By 1896, the New York Times listed Aleph Samach as the junior class society at Cornell, alongside the Chancery (senior law), Sphinx Head
Sphinx Head
The Sphinx Head Society is the oldest senior honor society at Cornell University. Sphinx Head recognizes Cornell senior men and women who have demonstrated respectable strength of character on top of a dedication to leadership and service at Cornell University...
(senior), Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
(senior), and Theta Nu Epsilon (sophomore) societies. The turn of the century saw Aleph Samach integretated into the senior honorary societies system of campus-wide governance. Aleph Samach was a stepping stone to Sphinx Head and Quill and Dagger. The sophomore society, Theta Nu Epsilon, was a debauched institution. This led one Cornell fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
, to bar membership in Theta Nu Epsilon. Aleph Samach, Sphinx Head, and Quill and Dagger, however, emerged in the first decade of the 20th century as the lead institutions of Cornell undergraduate governance. By 1917, the sophomore class was without an honorary society following the collapse of Theta Nu Epsilon’s successor, Dunstan. And the senior honorary societies, formerly the apex of Cornell student governance, had been dispossessed of their oligarchy by the Student Council. But Aleph Samach was still the uncontested honorary society of the junior class. After the creation of a unified Student Council following the First World War, the honorary societies nonetheless remained an active force. Aleph Samach joined with the Council, Sphinx Head and Quill and Dagger during the Fall Term of 1920 to petition the Cornell Board of Trustees to elevate the popular Acting President to the position of president until such time as the University chose a new head. In 1939, Aleph Samach was listed as a junior class co-honorary society with Cornell's Red Key Society.
Symbols and Traditions
"AlephAleph
* Aleph or Alef is the first letter of the Semitic abjads descended from Proto-Canaanite, Arabic alphabet, Phoenician alphabet, Hebrew alphabet, Syriac alphabet-People:*Aleph , an Italo disco artist and alias of Dave Rodgers...
" and "Samach" are letters of the Hebrew language. Most of the rituals of The Aleph Samach are secret. A rare exception is the symbol of the society, the owl. While scarce information of the society's traditions have become public, it is known that The Aleph Samach has a strong history of service to the Cornell community. Unfortunately, at some point in the society's history "the secret meaning of what the letters Aleph Samach stood for, the password, and the secret handshake had all been lost." One detail that has been recounted is that the title of the presiding member of Aleph Samah is Rabbi.
Membership
Members are tapped for membership in Aleph Samach in the spring of their sophomore year or fall of their junior year. Selection is based on participation in extra-curricular activities. Aleph Samach was an all-make institution. Cornell had a separate but equal honorary society for junior women, Raven and Serpent. During the “Club War” of 1913-1914, Aleph Samach allied itself with The Cornell Daily SunDaily Sun
Daily Sun is the biggest daily newspaper in South Africa. With over 400,000 sales in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Northwest provinces, the national expansion of the paper to KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and the Eastern Cape will add to the existing circulation.Daily Sun targets readers in and...
, Sphinx Head
Sphinx Head
The Sphinx Head Society is the oldest senior honor society at Cornell University. Sphinx Head recognizes Cornell senior men and women who have demonstrated respectable strength of character on top of a dedication to leadership and service at Cornell University...
and Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
in an effort to suppress the growing influence of the following “social clubs” or drinking societies at Cornell: Majura, Beth l’Amed, Kappa Beta Phi, Bench and Board, Gemel Kharm, Yonan, Mermaid, Krug and Tafel, and the Climax. The three honorary societies and the Sun would not allow any member of the drinking societies to be tapped into their organizations. During the fall of 1913, Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
took the largest hit in membership, as many members of the Class of 1914 were members of the drinking societies.
Notable Aleph Samach members
- Willard StraightWillard StraightWillard Dickerman Straight was an American investment banker, publisher, reporter and diplomat.-Biography:...
- Samuel R. Berger,
- E. B. WhiteE. B. WhiteElwyn Brooks White , usually known as E. B. White, was an American writer. A long-time contributor to The New Yorker magazine, he also wrote many famous books for both adults and children, such as the popular Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, and co-authored a widely used writing guide, The...
, - Gib CoolGib CoolWilliam Cameron "Gib" Cool was an All-American football player. Cool played center for the Big Red of Cornell University from 1913-1915 and was selected as an All-American after his senior year in 1915...
- John L. SeniorJohn L. SeniorJohn Lawson Senior was a sports administrator and the founder of Slope Day at Cornell University.Senior graduated from Cornell University in 1901 and was a member of the Sphinx Head Society. Senior organized the first "Spring Day," the predecessor to the modern Slope Day, in March 1901 to meet an...
- Henry Livingston FrenchHenry Livingston FrenchHarry Livingston French was an American architect of the Beaux Arts style.-Biography:Harry Livingston French was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, the son of Samuel Livingston French and his wife, Harriet Seville Turner...
.