The Tradition of Scarlet Key at Boston University
The Scarlet Key Honor Society was founded in 1938 by 17 students as an activities honor society. According to the 1939 yearbook The Hub, entry into the Honor Society was awarded to students who were “dedicated to the promotion and coordination of an all-University consciousness through student activities.” Since its inception, the society has grown to thousands of members and recruits around 100 students from each senior class.
The Society’s signature scarlet color is represented in its flower (a scarlet carnation) and its jewel (a ruby). The society’s motto, Ad Astra per Aspera (“Through hardships to the stars”), exemplifies the dedication of its members to philanthropy and community building, all while receiving exceptional grades.
Throughout its history, the club has honored both the educational and extracurricular efforts of BU’s students. Mirroring the University’s own commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Scarlet Key has long offered membership to students of all backgrounds, often including more women than men.
The Vietnam War, which brought high political tensions and student unrest to BU’s campus, led to the disbandment of the Scarlet Key in 1972. When the Society was eventually revived in 1979, now led by the BU Alumni Association, several changes had been instituted.
Commemoration in The Key was less formal in the early days of the Society, with current members simply tapping inductees on the shoulder to then hand them an invitation. As the member base grew, this process became more difficult to execute. Inductees now receive an email rather than an envelope, and the tradition is replicated today with the tapping of the sword on students’ shoulders. This ceremonial rite of passage formerly took place in the Fisk House at 146 Commonwealth Ave, but increasing membership rates have since moved the event to the Metcalf Ballroom.
To be considered for the group, students must be nominated by current BU faculty and administrators and cannot nominate themselves. The selection committee (led by the BU Alumni Association) includes representatives from the Office of the Provost, Student Activities, Athletics, and the Community Service Center. Student applications are evaluated in five areas: leadership, commitment, representation, tradition, and academics. A final score is then calculated to determine admission status.
Every year, the chosen students are “tapped in” during the fall semester and later solidify their status as members during a May ceremony. After signing their names in the same leather-bound book that generations of students have signed before, they receive a gold lapel pin and certificate, making their membership official.
Non-students also have a chance to be included in the acclaim as Boston University awards Honorary Scarlet Keys to its outstanding alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees.
While the process of becoming a member may seem lengthy and selective, former Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore maintains that the club is not meant to exclude students. Rather, to acknowledge those who have improved BU’s community through hard work and extraordinary spirit.