CORRECTION: A previous version of this article did not state that Larissa Babiak was tapped into QEBH. The Maneater regrets this error.

One of the few times a year the Switzler Hall bell tolls is to signal the arrival of Tap Day, when dozens of MU students in hooded robes gather in Jesse Auditorium, their identities hidden until their hoods are removed on stage, revealing them as members of one of six secret societies.

LSV, Mortar Board, Mystical Seven, Omicron Delta Kappa, QEBH and the Rollins Society uncovered the identities of their new initiates at the 91st annual Tap Day on Friday. Each year, a select group of students are chosen by peers to be inducted into one of the six societies based on achievement in leadership, involvement, academics and service.

Formerly known as “Senior Day,” Tap Day was started by Dr. Albert K. Heckel in the early 20th century. Since then, it has grown to include six societies, each of which works behind the scenes and in secret to better campus and the community. The purpose and operation of each society are known only to their members, with some even keeping the meaning of their acronyms a secret.

In his opening remarks at his first Tap Day as chancellor, Alexander Cartwright spoke of the importance of MU’s secret societies.

“The six honorary societies have played a significant role in our university’s culture for well over a century,” Cartwright said. “They honor academic success, leadership, service and a commitment to Mizzou.”

Being “tapped” into a society is considered an honor, in large part because of the long-standing tradition of the event. For Omicron Delta Kappa tap Mackinlee Rogers, Tap Day runs in the family.

“It’s a tradition, and obviously we love tradition here,” Rogers said. “One of my family members was in a secret society, and it was kind of a tradition my family passed down.”

Some of the societies, including the all-female LSV, reveal the identities of their members after they have performed a year of service, while others, like Mystical Seven, initiate members ahead of their service work.

“I’m really excited for the year to come and what all we’ll be able to do as a community and independently with each other’s support,” Mystical Seven tap Mikaela O’Barr said.

For O’Barr, membership in Mystical Seven is about more than recognizing her achievements.

“I think it’s a family that I needed but didn’t know how to find at Mizzou, and that’s really what I found in the past couple of weeks leading up to Tap Day,” she said.

In her opening statement ahead of the reveal of Mystical Seven’s initiates, speaker Simona Gupta expressed her society’s desire to help MU grow and hold administrators accountable for enacting change.

“Tap Day is a day to reflect on where we are, where we need to be and the students and faculty who can get us there,” she said.

In addition to tapping students, each society also names “honor taps,” faculty and staff members who have made significant contributions to MU. This year, the six societies honor tapped a total of 17 faculty members. QEBH, MU’s oldest society, tapped Assistant Athletic Director for Major Gifts Brad Loos, whose daughter, Rhyan, became the face of Rally for Rhyan, a fundraising effort for pediatric cancer.

Missouri Students Association president Nathan Willett closed the event with remarks on the impact that students honored on Tap Day have on the university.

“Here at Mizzou, just like any other place in this world, there are examples of members of our community that do not live up to our values,” Willett said. “Thankfully, we have beacons of hope that stand up for others and shine light where it is dark.”

The following is a list of those tapped on Friday.

####QEBH
Larissa Babiak
Allison Holmes
Joseph Kimerle
Gretchen Metzger
Matthew Swing
Anne Tenkhoff
Kimberly Woods
Amy Knopps (Honor Tap)
Brad Loos (Honor Tap)
Kevin McDonald (Honor Tap)

####Mystical Seven
Marshall Allen
Ashley Hollis
Emma Lohman
Mikaela O’Barr
Abas Pauti
Alexa St. Julien
Kaelyn Sturgell
Donald Gilliam (Honor Tap)
Jeffery Perkins (Honor Tap)
Tojan Rahhal (Honor Tap)
Christopher Walters (Honor Tap)

####LSV
Randi Anderlik
Casey Edwards
Kayla Myers
Emily Tarby
Tessa Weinberg
Jennifer Brown (Honor Tap)
Robyn Swink (Honor Tap)

####Mortar Board
James Ball
Amanda Blythe
David Emily
Alexander Galvin
Erin Hediger
Marlaina Kaine
Jane Kielhofner
Brittney Marshall
Bryan Mink
Jacey Schank
Faramola Shonekan
Allie Starks
Ellie Stitzer
Nola Tran
Kelsie Wilkins
Amber Cheek (Honor Tap)
Carli Conklin (Honor Tap)
Bret Ulery (Honor Tap)

####Omicron Delta Kappa
Megan Bartolac
Christian Cmehil-Warn
Christopher Dade
Jordyn Eskijian
Ashley Fessler
Alexandra Greenspun
Cassidy Herring
Tyler Hoffmann
Anna Thérèse Jaoudi
Alexander Johar
Cady Lowery
Mercedes Mackay
Bree Minger
Armaan Painter
Abigail Peoples
Delaney Pummill
Rachel Quist
Mackinlee Rogers
Brooke Saharovici
Sarah Senff
Michaela Thomson
Greer Wetherington
Alexis Winter
Jordan Young
Bryan Maurer (Honor Tap)
Bill Turpin (Honor Tap)

####Rollins Society
Sarah Cramer
Alex Howe
Veronica Newton
Oscar Rojas Perez
Sarah Senff
Hallie Thompson
Leslie Touzeau
Tiffanesha Williams
Michelle Teti (Honor Tap)
Na’Tashua Davis (Honor Tap)
Barton Wechsler (Honor Tap)

_Edited by Morgan Smith | mosmith@themaneater.com_