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The Iron Cross: A society servicing the university The wind blew up off Lake Mendota, pushing Richard Hollen’s jacket tight against his back and lifting his collar into his face as he hiked up Bascom Hill. He straightened his jacket and hunched his shoulders, letting the wind pass over him and continued his trek toward the square. For the second time, he briefly considered turning around. Finals loomed in the near future and he had quite a bit of ground to cover to catch up. He only lingered a moment though and then quickly pushed finals out of his mind for the last time. Right now, all he wanted was a relaxing evening with some friends. The wind gusted again, this time hitting him fully in the side of the face and throwing his hair wildly to the side. He scowled and tried to walk faster. Quickening his pace, he trotted down the other side of Bascom and strode toward the parade grounds. He thought again about the letter he had received from his old friend “Ducky” Bigelow, who had transferred to Yale from Wisconsin the previous semester. Something in the letter had caught his imagination and refused to go away. Ducky had written that, at 8 p.m. on a Wednesday, he had been visiting a friend at his apartment. Suddenly, there had been a sharp knock at the door, which his friend then answered. Two men in dark suits were standing outside, one holding a small, black briefcase. The other had clapped his friend roughly on the shoulder and said, “Skull and Bones: Do you accept?” His friend was thrown off guard, but he quickly pulled himself together and accepted the offer. He was then handed a small scroll and the two men left. Ducky had departed soon after, seeing that his friend wished to be alone. The experience had stuck with him though, enough that he had included a vivid description of it in his letter to Richard. Richard knew of the secret societies at Yale, but this was the first time he had ever heard a firsthand account. The thought of an elite society, carrying out its work behind the scenes of everyday life on the campus, excited him, vaguely reminding him of a story he had read once in an adventure magazine. Of course, there would have to be some purpose behind such an organization. He began to think about how grand it would be if Wisconsin had an organization like that. Reaching the square, he turned into a brightly lit tavern, his head buzzing with ideas. He saw two friends enjoying a drink at a far table and, shouting a hello, went to join them. The Iron Cross, ancient symbol of the Teutonic Knights, became the title, as well as symbol, of UW-Madison’s very own elite honors society in the early 1900s. The conception of and initial push for Iron Cross was credited to Richard “Dick” Hollen by Willard Stephenson (Iron Cross 1907), and Willard believed that it had occurred sometime in 1902. In any event, the Iron Cross was already an established presence by the time Willard became a member. The society based itself on the idea of working for the good of the university, without thought of recognition or reward. Its credo—“Strength without ostentation”— encapsulated the society’s beliefs and values. Iron Cross members were originally taken on the faith or recommendation of a friend or university alumnus and election into the Iron Cross was based upon three years of actual campus performance. Every year, the Iron Cross shield would be chained to the pillars before Bascom Hall, the names of that year’s inductees etched into it. “That was how we found out who was elected,” said Ted Crabb (Iron Cross 1953), “You would walk by the front of Bascom and see your name on the plaque or someone else would see it and come and tell you.” Iron Cross inductees have the distinction of being the best of each class, those students who stand out among their peers both academically and through public service. The Iron Cross shields can be seen today on the walls outside the Rathskeller. “The shields are an ongoing tribute to the society that helped found and continues to support the Union,” commented Jeff Kunz (Iron Cross 1971), alumni chair of the Memorial Union Building Association (MUBA). “We need these leaders again to help our University and its students by rebuilding Union South and renovating the Memorial Union.” Though relatively anonymous, it can be assumed that the Iron Cross carried out a great many tasks and services for the university and university presidents. As Willard Stephenson wrote in a letter to Porter Butts in the 1960s, “When he (President Van Hise) wanted something done, he had Professor Sharp come to me. An Iron Cross meeting would result.” After discussion, members would be selected to perform the required task and it would be carried out. Willard tells about how Iron Cross members were a driving force in cleaning up Big Ten football recruiting in the early part of the 20th century and how the Iron Cross organized the dunking in Lake Mendota of an entire platoon of University regiment after they had been insubordinate to a 2nd lieutenant. By far, the most visible Iron Cross achievement on campus has been the founding of the Wisconsin Union in 1907. At the request of President Van Hise to save the failing YMCA on Langdon Street, the Iron Cross established the Wisconsin Men’s Union, thus saving the YMCA from financial ruin. Once established, the Wisconsin Men’s Union used the main floor of the YMCA as a general place for students to gather. They installed club rooms, meeting rooms, newspapers, billiard and card tables and a cigar stand. Iron Cross members also persuaded some of the popular men on campus to rent rooms upstairs, solidifying the Union’s place in the collective student mind of the university. In 1916, the YMCA board, having been opposed to tcigars and billiard tables from the beginning and finally on solid financial footing, gave the Wisconsin Men’s Union the boot, prompting them to seek a new home. In 1928, through the hard work and selfless generosity of thousands of individuals, including many Iron Cross members, the brand new Wisconsin Union opened its doors, thus giving the entire university a place to call home. —Forest Taylor 10 F A L L 2 0 0 7
Celebrating 100 Years T H E H E A R T A N D S O U L O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F W I S C O N S I N Show your support of the Wisconsin Union and help us secure our place as the “heart and soul” of UW–Madison for the next 100 years. Your support will make a difference to the thousands of students, faculty, staff, annual and lifetime members, and community residents who enjoy this institution. Simply visit www.uwfoundation.wisc.edu, click on Wisconsin Union, and designate your gift, or you can mail your check, payable to the UW Foundation – Wisconsin Union to: UW Foundation, US Bank Lock Box, P.O. Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807 Please remember to indicate which fund you are supporting. For additional information on naming opportunities at the Wisconsin Union, contact Glenda Noel-Ney, Director of Development at 608-262-2687, or noelney@wisc.edu. Current priorities for support include the following: Wisconsin Union Building Fund (12904520) Support the historic renovation of Memorial Union and reconstruction of a new, “green” environmentally sustainable south campus union. Wisconsin Union Theater Endowment (1290659) Continue the tradition of bringing world-class performers and inspirational speakers to the University and greater Madison community. Morgridge Center for Public Service (12901311) Advance the Wisconsin Idea by promoting civic engagement, strengthening teaching and learning, and building collaborative partnerships through public service, servicelearning and community-based research. Hoofers Fund (12904606) Make outdoor recreation experiences accessible to everyone, through six different clubs offering fun and exciting activities for beginners to experienced outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
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Page 3 and 4: Los Martires del Compas at World Mu
Page 5 and 6: Students Foster Art Sale Success Wh
Page 7 and 8: Morgridge Center Encourages Entrepr
Page 9: The Union Theater opened October 9,
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Page 15 and 16: Welcome 2007-08 WUD Officers As ano
Page 17 and 18: Peter Antaramian Peter Antaramian:
Page 19 and 20: Dan Erdman Designing the Future of
Page 21 and 22: Faces at the Union “My mother tol
Page 23 and 24: Grapeviner News LORI WOODALL-SCHAUF

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