Burning Spear Society

Burning Spear is a secret society of students and alumni at Florida State University, founded in 1993. Though not much is publicly available on the dealings of the organization, with exception to internal information shown in a leaked manual published in 2013, members often cite the provision of political, professional and financial support of FSU community leaders and efforts that strengthen the university's public standing. Its student membership consists of leaders from various factions of campus, included but not limited to: The Student Government Association (SGA),[1] Seminole Student Boosters, Student Foundation, and the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils.[2] In its 30-year history, Burning Spear has become one of the more secretive and influential collegiate secret societies on American campuses.

Burning Spear Society
Members of the Burning Spear Society bang the Spirit Drum
Formation1993
TypeSecret society
HeadquartersTallahassee, Florida
Location
  • United States
Websiteburningspear.org

History

Burning Spear was founded on July 14, 1993 by three students.[3] Perhaps the most notable of its three founders is famed civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, who has been involved in some of the most notable cases of the 21st century. By August 1993, sixteen students joined together to charter this new organization, and within one year's time seven additional students would be initiated into membership. The original intention of the group was to promote the Heisman campaign for Charlie Ward, which was successful. This newfound influence led to expansion of Burning Spears' goals.

Events
Derrick Brooks

Burning Spear serves as the host of the Clock & Seal annual homecoming banquet at FSU. Former keynote speakers of Clock & Seal include:[4]

Burning Spear also sponsors the Seminole Spirit Drum, which beats nonstop outside of Doak Campbell Stadium for 72 hours prior to a football game against a major rival.

The organization is also responsible for the Guardian of the Flame Awards, recognizing faculty member excellence annually.[6][7]

Most recently the society has coordinated with FSU Head Football Coach Jimbo Fisher's Kidz 1st Fund.[8]

Controversies
Charlie Crist

Burning Spear has claimed existence for only twenty-six years, but there are dissenting opinions that say the society has operated in one form or another for a much longer time.[1] Their control of campus and state politics has been compared to The Machine at the University of Alabama and the Skull and Bones society of Yale University.

There are a large number of Burning Spear alumni from Florida State now in the legislature and the organization is also said to control a political action committee that gives campaign contributions to candidates that attended Florida State.

Multiple Student Government Association Political Party leaders have also openly claimed affiliation, including several elected Student Body Presidents.[9][10]

Leaked Organizational Manual

A leaked manual titled[2] "Spear Night Ceremony: Procedures for Conducting Spear Night.", appearing to have been updated as of 2013, which confirms that the Burning Spear Society has "multiple members currently serving public office" and "alumni involved on every level of state government." Additionally, the manual outlines the internal practices of the Society, and their dedication to secrecy, quoting in part;[11]

"What is said here today, or in any other Burning Spear meeting is 100% secret. This is not open to interpretation. Burning Spear is 100% secret. Breaking this vow of secrecy will result in your immediate removal and a potential lawsuit. Your friends, family, roommates, brothers/sisters and girl/boyfriends will not know when you are at a Burning Spear meeting. If they find out and we find out that they know, you will be removed, immediately and without question."

The manual also goes on to reference to Tenets of the Society, including "You will never ever speak against a fellow member of Burning Spear in public. Doing so will result in immediate removal. We command loyalty to a fault.", and "Burning Spear is not a democracy. _____________ is the President and that means with few exceptions, what (she/he) says, goes. The Student President reports directly to the corporate Board of Directors, specifically the Chairman. _____________ is the Chairman of the Board of Directors"[12]

References
  1. Bailey, Jay (February 14, 2010). "A new 'government'?". FSView. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  2. "Florida State University Burning Spear Night Manual | Spear". 2017-01-28. Archived from the original on 2017-01-28. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  3. http://www.fsunews.com/story/news/2017/02/27/lets-take-look-burning-spear-florida-state-secret-society/98488520/
  4. "Clock & Seal". Burning Spear - Florida State University. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  5. White, Tiffany (November 1, 2009). "Spirit in the 'Spear'". FSView. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  6. "Guardian of the Flame Faculty Award". Burning Spear. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  7. "Faculty News". Florida State University. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  8. "JOIN THE FIGHT". Kidz 1st Fund. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  9. "Burning Spear's political influence spans more than two decades". FSView & Florida Flambeau. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  10. "Amplify Party officially sworn into office". FSView & Florida Flambeau. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  11. Kostidakis, Perry. "Let's take a look at Burning Spear, Florida State's secret society". FSView & Florida Flambeau. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  12. Names were redacted in the original published manual
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