Dartmouth College. Green Key Society
Biography
Begun in 1921, the Green Key Society started as an organization within the sophomore class, resulting from the merger of two sophomore secret societies that served no real function. The Society primarily looked to provide hospitality to representatives of other colleges and universities when they visited Hanover, specifically members of opposing athletics teams. In its early years, it also served to enforce freshman rules and elect the head cheer leader and head usher, though their enforcement role was dropped a few years after the founding.
The major accomplishment of the Green Key Society in its first decade was the establishment of the Green Key Spring Prom, a spring dance that had been unsuccessfully managed by other groups in years prior. The event eventually became the modern Green Key Weekend. Other significant contributions of the Society to the College included service during freshman orientation and commencement, administration of a student loan fund, visitations to students in Dick’s House, and improvement of student-faculty relations.
The Green Key Society is now a junior honorary service organization at Dartmouth College. Some members are elected from the student body at large, and others receive nominations through campus organizations. Members continue to perform service and leadership functions within the College, and serve as ambassadors to the wider community.