Blue Key On January 29, 1926, a student organization known as the Vigilantes formally became a chapter of the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. S. Power "Pi" Warren E.M. 1913, was the first advisor, and continued in this position for many years. The February 2, 1926, Oredigger reported the early goals of Blue Key: This fraternity was "designed to promote activities in college" and to "provide a booster spirit in the spirit life." Blue Key was expanding rapidly throughout the country with the "idea of securing, as far as possible, all existing booster organizations together under the same name." The purpose was to enable the different chapters to exchange ideas on stunts for rallies and football games and to "foster an inter-collegiate relationship." The emphasis was on the part "athletics assume in fostering a collegiate spirit." As of 1926, in all the schools where it was functioning, Blue Key was handling a wider and more general problem. It was "recognized as the greatest coordinating and correlating element in student affairs…acting as a faithful watchdog, co-operating with every organization and committee, pulling all groups together…" With this idea in mind, Blue Key has worked to become a very important part of student life at Mines. Since its beginning in 1926, the vigilante chapter of Blue Key at Mines has undergone some changes. Although Blue Key is still interested in promoting and boosting sports activities on campus, the activities now spread over a variety of areas. It’s a service organization, composed of juniors and seniors, which encourages efforts to coordinate campus programs for the good of all. Among other things, Blue Key attempts to foster scholarship, leadership service, communications, and ethics among the student body. Involvement with the community, administration, and students in a continuing program of service and public relations continues to make Blue Key a valuable asset to Mines. The major part Blue Key plays in tradition is in the maintenance of the ‘M’, the pride and glory of the whole Mines community. Through a trust fund set up in Blue Key’s name, they repair broken or burnt out lightbulbs, sockets, or loose wires. Honorary Blue Key member Sam Del Rio told how students used to go up and guard the ‘M’ all night before a home football game against the opponent’s nasty plans to destroy it. Blue Key today is not viewed as an elitist group, as it sometimes was in the past. Members are close-knit, but also involved in many other activities. This brings the fraternity a sense of being in touch with the whole campus, and the mingling of viewpoints allows them to be more effective in coordinating campus activities. Mines Magazine February 1982