Florida Blue Key

From Gatorpedia

Florida Blue Key (FBK) is the University's oldest leadership honorary. It was founded in 1923 by Major B.C. Riley, then Dean of the General Extension Division at UF as simply "Blue Key." In subsequent years other chapters were founded around the country at other universities, thus creating the National Blue Key organization. Within a few years of this national organizing, the UF chapter was found to not be in good standing with the national organization. While the exact reason is in dispute (the national organization claiming to have dismissed UF's chapter for not following the original ideals of the organization and FBK claiming that they did not agree with constitutional changes that would have given Riley too much power and raised the GPA requirement too high) the UF chapter was no longer associated with the National Blue Key by 1935 and was renamed Florida Blue Key.

More recently, it has been alleged that FBK was involved improperly in SG politics. Supporting documentation was outlined and made public as a result of a lawsuit against FBK by Charles Grapski that resulted from the Spring 1995 Student Government Election.

FBK is also known for running Gator Growl and Homecoming, a growing Tallahassee internship program, and for hosting math and debating tournaments for high school students.

Officers

President - Jennifer Cohen
Vice President Of Alumni Affairs - Sam Warfield
Vice President Of Membership - Sarah Criser
Treasurer - Stephen Liverpool
Assistant Treasurer - Margo Lyon
Secretary - Joey Katz

List of Florida Blue Key presidents

Events

Gator Growl

Billed as the largest student-run pep rally in the world, this popular event is the finale of Homecoming Week.

Homecoming

Homecoming consists of several events put on by members of the student body. These include Talent Night, Awards Night, and the Homecoming Parade.

Speech and Debate Tournament

The Speech and Debate Tournament is a FBK-run event for high school debate teams from all across the nation.

Math Tournament

Florida Blue Key Weekends

Controversies

Florida Blue Key is no stranger to controversy, rumor, and conspiracy theories.

Split with the National Blue Key Organization

Sometime between 1932 and 1935 FBK and Blue Key became separate organizations after the National organization revoked their charter. FBK claims they left the organization.

Office Space

Florida Blue Key is the only private organization which does not answer to SG or the UF Administration which has office space on the 3rd floor of the Reitz Union. In fact, they have two offices, one for Gator Growl and one for FBK. Also, their office space was not affected during the shuffling of student organizations and the Center for Student Activities and Involvement offices in late spring/summer 2008.

Student Government Involvement

Florida Blue Key and its members are directly and indirectly involved in Student Government and Student Government Elections.

Modern Patronage System

Grapski Case

Charles Grapski sued FBK in 1995 for slander. John McGovern , whom ran against Grapski for student body president, and other Blue Key members had posted falsified police records claiming Grapski was a pedophile during the spring student government elections. FBK was found guilty of conspiracy to defame and defamation of character. Although they were liable for $250,000 in damages, the parties settled for $85,000. McGovern was ordered to pay about $80,000 and continues sending Grapski cheques to this day.

Gator Growl

In 1999, senior Jennifer Cardon filed suit against FBK after the back cover of a printed program for Gator Growl contained the words, "Let's not forget ... I've never had sex with Jen Cardon," implying she was promiscuous. The suit was eventually dismissed, although in the wake of the scandal UF relinquished any creative connection with Homecoming to FBK.

In recent years, University of Florida student government has partially subsidized the cost of FBK events like Gator Growl. In 2005, a $340,000 bailout plan was vetoed by university officials, the reasons for which was never made public. At the time, it was rumored that influential FBK alumni had called student government leaders to lobby for the extra funding. FBK eventually received about $195,000 for the event.

Membership

To become a Key, you must fill out an application. Then you sign up for an interview. The interview is usually conducted by one executive board member, one other student Key, the faculty adviser, and two or three other alumni. After the interview, the tapping committee rates assigns each applicant points based on involvement with the university. Each applicant is then rated as "not recommended," "recommended," or "highly recommended" based on the number of points each applicant has. After the interviews there is an FBK social where the applicants come and meet the members and try to impress them all. After the social, all active FBK members vote on whether to accept an applicant into membership.