On Aug. 22, a ‘welcome back to campus’ banner made by Princeps was taken from the front of Upchurch University Center. The dean of student engagement at Longwood University, Cheryl Steele, saw the banner hanging from the third-floor balcony of the building and needed to take it down, as it was not approved to be hung from the balcony.
Princeps is one of three secret societies at Longwood University that encourages students to become citizen leaders on and off campus. One recent Princeps and CHI graduate said the group was formed in 1992 with the intention to “recognize leaders who may or may not be more visible on campus.”
The three secret societies on campus are Cahoots, CHI and Princeps. Each of these organizations has a specific mission. They incorporate their unique messages into banners, droppings, and events they put on for students. Droppings are themed souvenirs from the organizations that include symbols for the respective groups. Across campus, these banners and droppings are considered to be good luck to find and are highly coveted items by many students.
As Steele went to take down the banner, it got stuck on the building. She and Paula Ellison, administrative assistant in Upchurch University Center, called facilities to safely take the banner down the rest of the way. But, when facilities arrived, the banner was missing.
Steele reached out to several organizations on campus, such as Peer Mentors, in order to locate the missing banner so it could still be shown to the rest of the students, but the banner has not been returned.
According to Steele, who is also the faculty adviser for Princeps, students have been harassing members of Princeps, taking more droppings than they should, and disrespecting the tags on banners for events that indicate who can take them and when. She urges students to respect the wishes of the secret societies on campus.
In regards to a problem with students and alumni taking too many droppings for themselves, CHI and Princeps Alum No. 1 said, “I think the intention is always for all kinds of people to find droppings, and then sometimes people go hunting and try to pick up all of them. But that’s not what it’s about.”
Alum No. 1 and another recent CHI and Princeps alum suggested if someone already has a few droppings, leave some behind for more people to find them or give them to someone you know who does not have any. Alum No. 1 said, “Especially for new students, if they find that, it can include them in the tradition versus if a bunch of upperclassmen take them.”
Alum No. 2 said people frequently go to him asking how many droppings is too many, “If you’re questioning it, that’s where the line is drawn.”
Alum No. 2 also said there is a fine line with what members of the secret societies can do when they know people who are taking too many because they cannot tell them to stop without revealing themselves.
“There are individuals in these organizations that their privacy is always in danger because of technology nowadays: locations, people’s Snap Maps, things like that. … You have to be on your guard at all times. … It’s nerve wracking,” said Alum No. 2.
Steele also has a concern for members’ safety while leaving these souvenirs. According to her, a few nights before the hanging of the banner, people were chasing members of Princeps on campus.
When members of Princeps go to campus, they dress up in themed costumes. While effectively disguising the individuals, the costumes also bring excessive attention to the group. As such, students tend to follow, chase, and harass members of the organization in an attempt to have fun with them.
Steele has suggested the reason students are respecting the secret societies less is due to a disconnection caused by COVID-19, but Alum No. 1 and 2 believe it is because there are no official rules governing how to act with things regarding Cahoots, CHI, and Princeps.
In regards to respecting the members, Alum No. 2 also said, “What we ask, I think, is that people just respect anybody and everybody to where you’re not stalking them, because we’ve had that happen and it’s extremely infuriating.”
Instead of trying to figure out who is in these secret societies, Alum No. 1 and 2 encourage students to congratulate others who are being recognized by them and spread the spirit of the organizations to everyone on campus.
Alum No. 1 said, “Everybody is Princeps. Everybody is CHI. Everybody is Cahoots. When you’re walking to class, when you support a friend, when you hold the door open for somebody, when you are giving back to your community, when you’re in your clubs and organizations, when you’re tutoring your friends, anything you’re doing, you’re a part of it.”
Steele asks if students know where the missing banner is to turn it into Upchurch University Center. “Nobody’s in trouble. They wouldn’t have known, especially if it was a new student,” said Steele. She confirmed with Princeps the people who took the banner would get to keep the banner after the rest of the students are able to enjoy it.
*Alum No. 1 and 2 wish to be anonymous due to their previous affiliations with CHI and Princeps
