The Pennsylvania Upsilon Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, or ODK as it is commonly referred to, was established in 1927 and is still a presence on campus today. New members are inducted by a "tapping" ceremony on the steps of Old West. Potential New Members are chosen according to their meeting the criteria of the "Five Phases of College Life" which ODK stands for. These five phases are as follows: scholarship, athletic prowess, social leadership, publications, and forensic and other non-athletic activities. Each of these phases is split into categories within themselves and a point system is implemented. Points of different amounts are given for different things. Playing a sport is worth fewer points than being the captain of that sport and being the football captain is worth fewer points than having a high GPA. In this way highest scholarship was stressed much more than athletics, though athletics were taken into account. Once all of a nominee's points were tallied, it was decided whether he or she had enough points for induction. Once inducted, members met twice a month (on the 2nd and 4th week of each). The meeting place was a rotating one in which fraternity houses were often used as well as the Molly Pitcher Hotel and Dr. Norcross' home. Service and social events were sponsored and organized throughout the year. ODK is now a co-ed group but did not become so until years later. In 1934 ODK was an all-male society.
 

Class of 1934     Chronicles Dickinson College

Dickinson 1934 is a project of Prof. Osborne's History 204 Class, Fall Semester 2000.