The distinctive Seminole patchwork jackets worn by members of the University of Miami's Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor bestowed by the university

The Iron Arrow Honor Society is an honor society at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida for students, faculty, staff and alumni. It is the highest honor that can be bestowed by the university.[1]

Founded at the University of Miami in 1926, the society admits about thirty members annually, including undergraduate, School of Law and Miller School of Medicine students, alumni, and University of Miami faculty, staff, and administrators. Membership requires unanimous votes of the membership. Criteria include scholarship, leadership, character, humility, and love of alma mater.

History

The society was founded in 1926 as the "Highest Honor Attained by Men." In 1937, Nu Kappa Tau, a separate sister organization at the university, was founded as "The Highest Honor Attained by Women." In 1966, Nu Kappa Tau became affiliated with the national honor society Mortar Board, "leaving Iron Arrow to carry the tradition alone."[2][3]

In 1976, the federal government notified the University of Miami that it was providing significant assistance to Iron Arrow in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The university responded by having Iron Arrow move its tapping ceremony off campus and negotiated with it to accept women members. Iron Arrow, in turn, sued the federal government seeking the right to continue on campus as a male-only organization.

In 1982, university president Edward T. Foote II wrote Iron Arrow stating that regardless of the court case's outcome, Iron Arrow would not be allowed back on campus as a male-only organization. This rendered the court case moot before it was scheduled to be heard in 1983 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Iron Arrow Honor Soc. v. Heckler (464 U.S. 67).[4]

In 1985, breaking with over fifty years of tradition, the society's all-male membership voted to admit women and Iron Arrow was allowed back on campus.

Iron Arrow Honor Society has been the subject of two books, Iron Arrow: A History (published in 1976) and Iron Arrow: A History, Seventy-Five Years (published in 2001).

Controversies

In July 2020, Iron Arrow faced criticism from some in the University of Miami community and some Native Americans for "cultural appropriation," though the Iron Arrow Honor Society is an officially sanctioned clan of the Miccosukee tribe of Florida.[5]

Prominent members

Dante Fascell
Gloria Estefan
Alumni Notability
Bowman Foster Ashe former president of the University of Miami
Xavier Cortada artist
Gloria Estefan Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter[6]
Dante Fascell former U.S. member of Congress
Michael Johns health care executive and former White House presidential speechwriter
Dexter Lehtinen former U.S. attorney for Southern District of Florida
R. Fred Lewis former chief justice, Supreme Court of Florida
Russell Maryland former professional football player, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Oakland Raiders
Jackie Nespral WTVJ and NBC News anchor
Alex Penelas former mayor, Miami-Dade County[7]
Jon Secada Grammy Award-winning musician
Donna Shalala former president of the University of Miami, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Clinton Foundation president
José Szapocznik clinical psychologist
Lauryn Williams 2004 Olympics silver medalist in women's 100-metres

Notes

  1. ↑ "Arrow Heads," Miami magazine, Fall 2000
  2. ↑ Chapman, Cheryl (Fall 2000). "Arrow Heads". Miami Magazine (alumni publication). Archived from the original on 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  3. ↑ Femmer, Randolph (1976). Iron Arrow: A History. Thad Kock Jr (Illust) (1st ed.). Coral Gables, Florida: Iron Arrow Honor Society - University of Miami. p. 174.
  4. ↑ "Iron Arrow Honor Society v. Heckler, 464 U.S. 67 (1983)". FindLaw.
  5. ↑ "Native American students call for changes within Iron Arrow," The Miami Hurricane, July 27, 2020, retrieved July 27, 2020
  6. ↑ Estefan Tapped into Iron Arrow Archived 2014-06-09 at the Wayback Machine News Releases. University of Miami. April 22, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014
  7. ↑ E.Veritas. For the Faculty and Staff of the University of Miami. University of Miami. March 4, 2004. Retrieved November 28, 2014
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