Seventy-six students were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the national academic honor society, during a ceremony at the Spingold Theater last Saturday.The inductees included 68 seniors and eight juniors. They were selected on the quality of their academic records, the breadth of their course selection and the opinions of faculty about their character and scholarly performances.

A crowd of parents, friends and relatives filled the floor and front balcony of the theater. Inductees dressed in black caps and gowns sat in a block of reserved seating at the center of the audience.

Prof. Andreas Teuber (PHIL), president of the Brandeis chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, hosted the ceremony.

Dressed in the orange gown worn by all of the order's officers, Teuber welcomed the crowd and then introduced Dean of Arts and Science Adam Jaffe.

Prof. John Schrecker (HIST) followed Jaffe's remarks with a history of Phi Beta Kappa.

Schrecker traced the development of the society from its founding in 1776 as a secret fraternity at William and Mary College to its current configuration as a national, co-ed academic fraternity. Only 10 percent of American colleges and universities host Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and less than one percent of all college students are admitted into the order.

Gerald Holton, a physics professor at Harvard, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. Holton discussed Albert Einstein's lasting influence on popular culture. Outlining Einstein's biography and the mix of ideas and religions that shaped his character, Holton called Einstein a "world citizen" who "was indeed at home in the world."

Holton attributed part of Einstein's effect on popular culture to his charisma. He said charismatic individuals often attract followers because of their belief that they have a better "understanding of the universe." Holton said Phi Beta Kappa inductees should value their own adamant supporters.

"Your whole life cycle will depend on those who believe in you," he said.

The ceremony was followed by refreshments served in the Spingold lobby.

Gary Rubin '05 called his new membership in the order "quite an honor."

"It is the No. 1 undergraduate award," he said. "To that degree, I guess my hard work paid off."

Another inductee, Deborah Hamer '05, said she enjoyed the "community spirit" of the fraternity.

"It is sort of a group award in addition to being an individual honor," she said.



Editors' Note: Eight members of the class of 2005 were elected to Phi Beta Kappa in their junior year.