Sphinx Head

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The original emblem of the Sphinx Head Society.[1][2]

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.[3] In 1929 The New York Times held that election into Sphinx Head and similar societies constituted "the highest non-scholastic honor within reach of undergraduates."[4]

Founding

Sphinx Head was founded on October 11, 1890 by a group of ten men from the senior class.[5][6] The Society was founded in order to "create and maintain a stronger feeling" for Cornell University and to promote "a closer and stronger friendship among members of the Senior class."[5] The New York Times referred to Sphinx Head as "a secret senior society of the nature of Skull and Bones," a senior honor society at Yale University of which Andrew Dickson White, Cornell University's Co-founder and first President, was a member.[7] White encouraged the formation of a secret society system on the Cornell campus.[8]

Membership

Sphinx Head, Class of 1899[1]

Each year, Sphinx Head taps fewer than forty men and women of the senior class for membership.[5] Since the Society's founding, membership has been "reserved for the most respected" members of the senior class.[9] The names of newly tapped Sphinx Heads were published in The New York Times through the 1930s, but are now published exclusively in The Cornell Daily Sun.[10][11][12]

Sphinx Head awards honorary membership to Cornell administrators, faculty, staff, and alumni for their "significant personal and/or professional accomplishment, outstanding leadership, distinguished service to the university and interest in and commitment to undergraduate student life and development."[3] Notable honorary members of Sphinx Head include Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata, Atlantic Philanthropies founder Chuck Feeney, and Cornell University President David Skorton, among others.

At Cornell

Historic Sphinx Head Tomb

Sphinx Head has "retained an aura of mystery throughout its history on campus", holding some "closely guarded secrets and traditions."[13]

Although membership in Sphinx Head is public, the proceedings of the Society remain concealed. Since founding the Society, Sphinx Head members have been responsible for starting many long-standing Cornell University traditions such as the annual Dragon Day celebration, the use of "The Big Red" to describe Cornell athletics, as well as Spring Fest, the precursor to the current Slope Day celebration.[9][14][15]

Members of Sphinx Head have held many prominent positions within Cornell University serving as presidents, provosts, deans, directors of athletics, Cornell Council members, trustees and chairpersons of the board of trustees. More than one-third of the presidents of the Cornell University Alumni Association have been members and twenty percent of the chairpersons of the Cornell University Board of Trustees have been affiliated with the Society.[16][17] Names of alumni can be found on the Cornell campus on Bartels Hall, Samuel C. Johnson School of Business Management, Robert Kane Track, Jansen Noyes Community Center, Jerome H. Holland International Living Center, Robert Purcell Community Center, Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives, Willard Straight Hall and Upson Hall.

After Cornell

Many Sphinx Heads have attained great success and distinction in their post-collegiate careers:

Notable alumni

1890–1899

1900–1909

1910–1919

1920–1929

1930–1939

1940–1949

1950–1959

1960–1969

Samuel Bodman, the 11th United States Secretary of Energy

1970–1979

  • Jon P. Anderson[125] (1971): Winner of the 1973 Boston Marathon[126] and 1981 Honolulu Marathon;[127] Member of the 1972 US Olympic track and field team.
  • D. Craig Brush (1972): President of the Florida Everblades.[128]
  • Michael G. French (1976): First Team All-American lacrosse player; Inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1991.
  • Christopher J. Kane (1978): First Team All-American lacrosse player; Inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1994.
  • Ed Marinaro (1972): Runner-up for the 1971 Heisman trophy;[129] Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991; Actor most known for his portrayal of Officer Joe Coffey in Hill Street Blues; Selected as one of the 100 Most Notable Cornellians
  • William G. Marino (1976): First Team All-American lacrosse player; Inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1996.[citation needed]
  • Charles "Chip" G. McClure (1975): Chairman and CEO of ArvinMeritor; Member of the President's Advisory group for the US Chamber of Commerce.[130]
  • John M. Paxton, Jr. (1973): United States Marine Corps General Officer; Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force; Previously J-3, Director for Operations for The Joint Chiefs of Staff.[131]

1980–1989

  • Kevin M. Cook (1984): Inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2000.[citation needed]
  • Darren J. Eliot (1983): Professional hockey goaltender; Member of the 1984 Canadian Olympic Ice Hockey team. [citation needed]
  • John R. Pakutka (1985): Healthcare Management Consultant at The Crescent Group and co-author of Social Insurance: America’s Neglected Heritage and Contested Future (2013) with Yale University's Theodore R. Marmor and Jerry L. Mashaw.
  • Daniel P. Meyer (1986): Executive Director for Intelligence Community Whistleblowing & Source Protection (ICW&SP), former Naval officer and whistleblower during the investigation into the explosion onboard battleship IOWA (BB-61).
  • James Knowles (1987): Head Coach of the Cornell University Men's Football team (2004–2009).
  • Joe Nieuwendyk (1988): 21 year NHL veteran and, 3 time Stanley Cup Winner, 2002 Olympic Gold Medal winner. Now the General Manager of the Dallas Stars of the NHL.
  • Peter Pakeman (1984): Played with the North York Rockets in the Canadian Soccer League (1987); Inducted into Cornell University's Athletic Hall of Fame (2007); First player in Ivy League soccer history to earn first-team honors at three different positions (midfield, back and forward); Selected to play for the East squad in the Annual East-West Senior Soccer Bowl Classic (1983); Selected to the All-New York State team all four years (1980–83); Member of Cornell University's Red Key Society (1981) ; Twice the recipient of the Clive Beckford Memorial Award as Cornell's most outstanding soccer player.
  • Leo J. Reherman (1988): American professional football player (Miami Dolphins); Competed on American Gladiators as "Hawk" (1993–1996); Sports broadcaster for ESPN.
  • Michael C. Schafer (1986): Head Coach of the Cornell University Men's Ice Hockey team (1995–Present).

1990–1999

2000-Present

References

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