The Trident Society is an undergraduate secret society at Duke University. Rumors abound that the Trident Society inherited the mission of The Order of the Red Friars and The Order of the White Duchy (the female version of the Friars). The Society seeks to give back to Duke University.
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History
The origins of the group are shrouded in mystery. Frederick Wilson Neu claims to have been a member in 1934, whereas others believe the group came about in the wake of the dissolution of the Order of the Red Friars and Order of the White Duchy.
Only recently has it come to light that "TS" stands for "Trident Society." This society keeps strict silence about its membership and mission, except for two instances when its existence came to be known. The first involved a November 2007 edition of the Rival Magazine which explained the group's philosophy. According to a "cryptic letter sealed with wax," the society is "rooted in ideals that stretch back to the university's founding." The letter continued:
"Our founders recognized that similar institutions existed at other top universities (Skull and Bones at Yale, The Sevens at UVA, Quill and Dagger at Cornell) and saw a void to fill at Duke."As such, on-campus members are not typically public about their membership in the Society. They "do not join to gain fame" or recognition. Members of the society are or were Rhodes Scholars, Truman Scholars, commencement speakers, players for Coach Krzyzweski, Phi Beta Kappas, A.B. & B.N. Duke Scholars, and leaders of the most influential groups on campus. The secrecy around this group drove Samantha Lachman to investigate the society in 2013.[29] Her subsequent article, "Trasked with Secrecy," revealed many of the secrets of the group. She discovered the names of several prominent members, that the red roses & white carnations sometimes found at the base of the James B. Duke statue on West Campus are their calling card, and even that they have uninhibited access to the Duke University Chapel for their Initiation Rites.[30]
Activities
The Trident Society annually writes and frames a letter of recognition to faculty and staff at the University who exceptionally impact students' lives. Previous award recipients include: Professor Nicholas Carnes, Sanford School of Public Policy, Clarybel Peguero, former Director of the Duke Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.
Evidence on Campus
Signs of the Trident Society pop up routinely on Duke's campus. Before a 2015 restoration of the Duke University Chapel, their mark was to be found on a plaque of the school.