First members inducted into historical Phi Beta Kappa honor society

New members of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society were inducted on April 17 (photo courtesy of George Mason University President Ángel Cabrera).

After years of work to bring a chapter to George Mason University, the Phi Beta Kappa honor society held its first induction ceremony on April 17, accepting 125 students, four alumni and 139 charter faculty members.

“It was a wonderful ceremony, combining the installation of our chapter and the induction of the first cohort of students,” said Marion Deshmukh, president of the Omicron Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, in an email.

Mason was approved for a chapter in August 2012 after several applications from over three decades.

Qualifications for being invited to the honor society include being in the top ten percent of one’s graduating class and having taken at least 90 credits in the arts, social sciences, humanities and sciences.

“I am both honored and humbled to be included in this prestigious institution,” said Lisa Cotts, inductee,  in an email, “honored to be acknowledged for my academic success, and humbled to be included with so many talented humanitarians.”

The ceremony, which took place in Dewberry hall, was attended by current members of Phi Beta Kappa, representatives and officers of the Phi Beta Kappa national office and representatives from other universities.

“Being inducted into the society is a singular honor,” Deshmukh said in an email.

Founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest collegiate honor society in the country. To qualify for a chapter, a college must have 10 percent of its faculty be members of Phi Beta Kappa. A college is approved for a chapter after extensive reports and three years of close surveillance by the society. This surveillance proved to be detrimental to Mason’s 2005 application for a chapter. After Mason controversially cancelled an event featuring Fahrenheit 9/11 filmmaker Michael Moore, Phi Beta Kappa rejected the application, citing “concerns about academic freedom,” according to a Washington Post article.

“It’s a great day for all of us,” said Dr. James Trefil, vice president of the Omicron of Virginia Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa,  during his address to the inductees.