FIRST YEAR STUDENT ISSUE

A Message from the President of the
Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon

Dear First-Year Student:

On behalf of the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, I congratulate you on your admission to dental school and welcome you to the profession of dentistry. You are entering one of the most highly respected professions in the United States.

Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the national dental honor society, was established by Dean G.V. Black at Northwestern University School of Dentistry in 1914, During its 82 year history, OKU has become the Phi Beta Kappa of dentistry, with over 55 chapters located in dental schools throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

The purpose of OKU is to recognize and promote scholarship and character in the profession of dentistry. Annually, each chapter elects no more than 12 percent of its school’s graduating class to membership. Selection is based not only on scholarship, but also on demonstrated exemplary traits of character and potential qualities of future professional growth and attainments.

Savor your success in being accepted into dental school and proceed with the knowledge that you follow in the footsteps of some of the finest people in the world who not only are excellent dental practitioners, but also caring and productive members of society.

The faculty members of OKU at your school are very interested in each and every one of you, professionally and personally. We encourage you to participate fully in your curriculum and seek additional opportunities for patient care and research. Seek excellence within yourself. Your optimal performance is that which is the best you can do. OKU recognizes that successful dentists are generally well rounded individuals. Be supportive of your families while they are helping you obtain your dental education and pursue your outside interests while you are in school.

Whether or not you are selected for OKU four years from now, we want each of you to participate in your studies fully and with the understanding that you and your patients will ultimately reap the rewards.

Best wishes for a successful and enjoyable life in dentistry.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Siegel
President, Supreme Chapter
Omicron Kappa Upsilon

 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

On June 26, 1913 a resolution regarding the establishment of an honor society was presented to the faculty of Northwestern University Dental School by three dental students in the class of 1914.

Dr. G. V. Black, Dean of the Northwestern University Dental School at that time, was impressed with the resolution and appointed a committee consisting of Dr. Charles R. E. Koch, Dr. H. A. Potts, and Dr. Arthur D. Black to counsel with the students. A form letter was prepared and sent to deans of 51 dental schools of the United States and Canada. The general response was very good, with many deans concerned about a Greek letter name and proper insignia. Dr. Arthur D. Black contacted Mr. John C. Burg, Secretary to President Harris (President of Northwestern University), and requested his assistance. Mr. Burg secured from Dr. C.R.E. Koch a statement outlining the ideals of the dental profession. Rather than a long, detailed report, Mr. Burg received a simple, basic statement relative to the ideals of modern dentistry. It was "the conservation of teeth and health". Using the basic words, conservation, teeth, and health, he contacted Dr. John A. Scott, Professor of Greek at Northwestern University, and asked for the Greek term which expressed these three words. The Greek counterparts were SOTERIA for conservation, ODOUS for teeth and HYGEIA for health. Using the information supplied by Dr. Scott he selected the initials of the last two Greek words, Omicron and Upsilon, primarily because they were both appropriate and euphonious. He selected Kappa as the beginning initial of the Greek word for AND (Kai). Thus, he developed the name Omicron Kappa Upsilon – Teeth and Health.

The key was designed with all three Greek Letters, Omicron, Kappa, and Upsilon, housed within the prominent letter SIGMA which is the initial letter of Soteria for conservation. The design and insignia were approved by the Northwestern University dental faculty on April 8, 1915. The society was officially incorporated by the State of Illinois on March 15, 1916. The original certificate of incorporation was signed by Thomas L. Gilmer, Arthur D. Black, H.A. Potts, Fred W. Gethro and Charles R. E. Koch.

During the interval of a year and a half, eight component chapters were developed. The Charter of Alpha Chapter (Northwestern University) is dated 1915, while the University of Pittsburgh, Washington University, University of Oregon, Creighton University, University of Southern California, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State University, and Vanderbilt University all have charters dated 1916. Seventeen chapters were added during the 20’s, eight more in the 30’s, six in the 40’s, seven in the 50’s, five in the 60’s, thirteen in the 70’s, and one in the 80’s.

The development of an active Supreme Chapter was delayed by the death of Dr. Koch, who had served as secretary of the temporary organization, and by the distraction of World War I. However, in 1921, during the meeting of the Teacher Association in Indianapolis, representatives of component chapters were called together by Dr. Arthur D. Black who acted as temporary chairman. Annual meetings of the Supreme Chapter have been held since that time and the transactions properly recorded. The first president, who was elected in 1916, was Dr. Thomas L. Gilmer. However, meetings were not held again until 1921, at which time Dr. Arthur Black was elected and served a two-year term. Since that time, many men have served as president of the Supreme Chapter, each serving from one to several years. The longest tenure of office was held by Dr. H.E. Friesell who served from 1923-33. At the present time the Supreme Chapter officers serve only one-year terms, except for the Secretary-Treasurer and Editor who occupy offices for a three-year period.

The constitution and bylaws were adapted in 1921. In the development of this document both the constitutions of Phi Beta Kappa and Order of the Coif had been examined carefully by the committee. The society functioned under this constitution until 1926 at which time revisions were undertaken. Additional changes were made again in 1929. The third revision was presented and adopted in 1937. Again, changes were made in 1950 and 1955. In 1958, the Supreme Chapter approved the activity of printing and distributing to all members of the historical data. This booklet was prepared by Dr. Harold Lantz in 1968.

Amendments were made to the constitution in 1963, and finally in 1965, the executive committee recommended a moratorium on amendments until 1967. During that time a special committee, chaired by Dr. Robert Sausen, was charged with the task of a major study of the document which was approved and has served since that time as the Supreme Chapter Constitution and Bylaws. The new document required, among many other changes, each component chapter to develop satisfactory bylaws and to submit them to executive committee for approval. Prior to that time many component chapters had functioned without bylaws. Dr. Sausen’s committee also developed a special model for component chapters to use in the development of their documents.

During the March 1966 Supreme Chapter meeting, Dr. W. Robert Biddington, President of the Supreme Chapter, requested that the provisions in the Bylaws for the publication of a bulletin, be activated. At this time an Editor pro tempore was appointed and the Bulletin was born. The first issue was distributed in October, 1966.

From its inception in 1914, Omicron Kappa Upsilon has striven "to encourage and develop a spirit of emulation among students in dentistry and to recognize in an appropriate manner those who shall distinguish themselves by a high grade of scholarship". Alumni members are elected from each graduating class, the number limited to 12% of the roster of the class.

 Bulletin Front Page | OKU Home Page

Editor: Richard H. Carr, Jr., D.D.S.
Designer: Dee Bogetti

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