Among the worn brick pathways, white columns and freshly seeded Lawn, the wandering eye notices perfectly stenciled white symbols adorning walls and sidewalks.
More everlasting than the signs painted on Beta Bridge, the symbols shroud the University with an aura of mystery and tradition.
University students can't walk to class in the morning without seeing the IMP, Z or Seven Society symbols. In fact, the signs may even affect the way a student walks to class in the morning. One myth follows that a female student who steps on the Z painted on the steps of the bridge between Ruffner and Newcomb Halls will become pregnant before she graduates. WhileBoard of Visitors secretary Sandy Gilliam and director of alumni programs Wayne Cozartlaughed at this myth, some women still walk around the large Z.
"I heard that if you walk across [the Z], a girl is supposed to get pregnant and a guy is supposed to fail his first exam," first-year College student Caroline Clark said, just after walking up the steps of the bridge to the right of the white Z.
Clark, however, doesn't always go out of her way to avoid the Z.
"If I am with someone who reminds me, then I won't walk over it," Clark said. "Otherwise, I just keep walking whether it is on the Z or beside it."
While this tale may seem preposterous, Cozart, who has been at the University since 1979, says there may be something behind the concept of society members stepping on their own society's symbol.
An anonymous fourth-year student, "Sara," a member of the IMP Society, said there is a lot of folklore about their insignia on the sidewalks.
While Sara would not speak clearly about stepping on her own symbol, she said she pays no attention to the Z painted on the pedestrian bridge.
Highly publicized through the painted symbols around Grounds, it is no wonder that the Sevens, Imps and Zs are the most renowned secret societies.
Of these societies, however, only the Sevens are truly secret, said Gilliam, who was a member of the class of 1955 and returned to the University in 1975.
A member of the Seven Society isn't revealed until death, when a wreath of black magnolias in the shape of a seven appears at the member's funeral. At the time of the funeral, the chapel bell is tolled in increments of seven over a period of seven minutes, and then the Good Ole song is played.
"It is unmistakable," Gilliam said. "It is impressive because any tolling of any bell I think is impressive -- and to hear it so many times."
One myth among University students is that the Seven Society formed when eight men were supposed to meet to play cards and only seven showed up. While little is known of how the society formed, there are suggestions as to why it was created.
In "Historical Sketch of the University of Virginia," Editor R. Chambliss Light, Jr. presents one version of the society's founding. In his explanation, President Alderman became unhappy with the rambunctious members of the "Hot Feet Society" in 1905 and suggested the creation of a more positive society.
Since then, the Sevens have been major financial contributors to the University -- which essentially has been the only confirmation of their existence.
Letters from the society are not personally signed, but the signature consists of six astronomical symbols and one unidentifiable symbol. Gilliam said the Sevens usually present letters announcing gifts at basketball games, football games, opening convocation, fall convocation, graduation and sometimes on no occasion at all.
"I have watched the Seven Society symbol being repainted on the porch of alumni hall by First Year Council members who received a letter and were asked to do that," Cozart said.
While the significance of the Seven Society insignia is a secret, the meaning behind the IMPS and Zs is less mystifying.
The name IMP stands for "Incarnate Memories Prevail," and Z, which is Zeta in Greek, means "he lives."
The IMPs and Zs were once known as ring societies, Gilliam said.
Sara wears a gold ring on her right ring finger with a symbol of the society engraved in the center. The symbol is an old, wizard-like man with pointed ears, wearing a pointed hat inscribed with the letters IMP.
While the Zs stopped wearing their rings publicly about 20 years ago, the IMPS continue to wear them, Gilliam said.
The IMPS also can be distinguished on occasions when they dress out of sorts.
"They can be seen marching around carrying pitchforks and wearing horns," Gilliam said.
The Zs, on the other hand, are more discrete
"In my time, if you were in the presence of a Z and you said a word with the letter Z in it, they were supposed to get up and leave the room," Gilliam said.
The IMPS and Zs are closely related in terms of their membership. They draw members from the leaders of the student body, which has resulted in a rivalry between the two groups.
Cozart said that the IMPS are known for prankish behavior and try to reveal or embarrass members of the Zs.
Smiling and putting her hands behind her head, Sara said, "[The Zs] definitely pale in comparison as far as the rivalry goes."
Though the Sevens, IMPS and Zs are allowed to leave their mark on University property, secret societies at the University aren't limited to these three groups. The Purple Shadows will affirm their existence by appearing at gatherings wearing purple caps and hoods.
"[They] look like purple KKK members," Gilliam said.
The Honor Committee usually has a formal dinner when old members step down, Gilliam said. Five to six or as many as eight to ten Purple Shadows will come in and wordlessly hand a letter to whomever they want to honor.
"I have seen a purple quill, a framed certificate or simply a letter," Gilliam said. "One time, years ago, we had a big meeting in Cabell Hall. We were trying to do things with fraternities and sororities and they came in and handed us a letter and asked for it to be read aloud. It gets very quiet because here are these mysterious figures."
The Purple Shadows are composed of students and people closely associated with the University. The members' identities and the number of members are secret but the members revealed the purpose of the society.
In a letter dated April 5, 1963, the Purple Shadows said their purposes are to work for the betterment of the University and to safeguard tradition. To do this, they work out of the public eye, sponsoring projects or giving special recognition.
The P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society also serves to recognize service or achievement among members of the University. They will give 10 decorated pumpkins to certain people each Halloween. Although they used to give a rotten pumpkin to people they didn't like, it's believed they have discontinued this custom.
On a different note, some secret societies exist simply for social purposes.
The Rotunda Burning Society commemorates the burning of the Rotunda, which occurred Nov. 4, 1895. Each year, on the anniversary of the fire, they burn an effigy of the Rotunda on the Rotunda steps, said Cozart, an honorary member of the society.
Eli Banana and T.I.L.K.A., two drinking societies, draw membership from the fraternity system, Cozart said.
The Elis formed in 1878 and the T.I.L.K.A.s were founded in 1889 as a more dignified rival.
Membership in each of the two has been strictly male except for a few women tapped into the T.I.L.K.A.s from the first co-ed class.
A new society, Thursdays, formed in the mid 1970s and became a comparable society within the sorority system.
Many groups come and go, and the last few years have witnessed the emergence of several new societies such as the Genesis, 21 and Lantern Societies
Although knowing the details about each society would be fascinating, the secrecy and tradition would be lost.
"My group will last longer the more I adhere to certain standards," Sara said. "And I think all of the secret societies contribute to the school by keeping the history of the University alive. It is also another level of student self-governance and contribution"
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