Following more than a week of hushed discussion on campus about alleged actions of the secret society Truth, Unity, Brotherhood (T.U.B.), Head of School Raynard Kington sent an email to the community about a “report of concerning behavior” and reminded students that “we do not tolerate actions that are threatening or pose a risk of harm to the health, safety, or wellbeing of self or others.”
The Phillipian repeatedly requested interviews with Kington, Susan Esty, Dean of Students and Residential Life, and Merrilee Mardon, Deputy Head of School, at the beginning of the week. All requests for interviews were declined. Tracy Sweet, Chief Communications Officer, then emailed a response to the questions from The Phillipian on May 23. Kington soon after sent out statements with similar language to students, families, and campus adults.
“Upon receiving a report of concerning behavior the week of May 12, the deans and other campus adults took immediate steps to support our students and gather information. They learned that the behavior alleged may have involved an unsanctioned student group,” wrote Sweet. [See below for a full statement.]
Andover has a long history of secret societies, and, for over a century, the administration has grappled with how to regulate or ban their presence on campus, according to previous The Phillipian reporting. Current anti-hazing rules in the Blue Book have evolved since the 1944-1945 school year document entitled “Faculty Rules Concerning Secret Societies.”
Former Head of School Claude Fuess wrote in the document, “The accidental death of a boy in 1933, following an initiation, brought about a rule forbidding any initiatory ceremonies outside of the house itself, and banning all the physical torture which had previously been one of the methods of welcoming a new member.”
Since their decline in the mid-20th century, two secret societies have reappeared: T.U.B. and Madame Sarah Abbot Society (M.S.A.S.). In 2012, Andover officially prohibited all secret societies, with the Blue Book currently stating “Participating in a secret society, club, or other exclusive entity is prohibited.”
The most recent visible stunt of a secret society was in April 2023, when the American Flag was replaced by a T.U.B. flag. This prompted an email to the community from Esty on April 4, condemning T.U.B.
Official Statement by Susan Esty, Dean of Students and Residential Life
“T.U.B. has had a history not only of exclusivity but also of hearkening back with nostalgia to a time when Phillips Academy was almost entirely white and male and socioeconomically privileged. The group’s messaging has created an environment in which community members have felt unwelcome, intimidated, threatened, and at times even harmed,” said Esty in her email to the community from April 4, 2023.
“Our highest priority at Phillips Academy is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every student. While we cannot discuss the details of student conduct matters, please know that whenever we receive a report of behavior inconsistent with our community standards, we respond immediately.
Upon receiving a report of concerning behavior the week of May 12, the deans and other campus adults took immediate steps to support our students and gather information. They learned that the behavior alleged may have involved an unsanctioned student group.
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Such groups have been banned on campus for decades. About eight years ago, Andover explicitly restated that ban when a prank signaled their ongoing existence. Dr. Esty issued another reminder of the ban in spring 2023, saying in a letter to the campus community that these groups promote values that are inconsistent with the Academy’s values. “….we will listen to students of all identities and beliefs, but we will not tolerate behavior that harms people or that creates a community where all of us cannot live in our dignity,” she wrote.
As always, our primary concern is for the safety of our students, which is why The Blue Book states that we do not tolerate actions that threaten or pose a risk of harm to the health, safety, or wellbeing of self or others.
We also trust that students look out for one another. Any student who is aware of activity regarding secret societies, clubs, or exclusive groups should bring that information to the attention of a dean. They may also use Ethics Point, which has the option to report anonymously.”
