66 Social Clubs BOXed In Beta Omega Chi members share how their iconic orange hats became a symbol of brotherhood and faith. BROTHERHOOD ON DISPLAY Holding up the BOX symbol, pledges and members pose for a picture. The donned their orange hats and jerseys as a commitment to the club. Photo by Abigail Callicoat HATS OFF A group of BOX pledges stand together in front of a brick wall showcasing their backward orange hats. The custom hats have been a key tradition for BOX ever since the clubs switch from green hats years ago. Photo by Abigail Callicoat One of the brighest sights on campus was the orange backwards baseball caps of men’s social club Beta Omega Chi (BOX). These hats held more history than one might expect. Senior Trevor Schwiethale spoke about the history behind the iconic hats, quelling the rumors of how the tradition started. “When BOX started, they had green hats that they made pledges wear during club week,” Schweithale said. “Afterward, they were worn as part of the full BOX attire, alongside the jersey. One year, the green hats were out of stock, and the only thing they could find were these bright orange hats, so these hats were used for club week instead, and it stuck.” What started as a green hat eventually became the beloved neon orange one. For BOX members, the hats meant more than just fashion. “The orange BOX hats have come to be not only a symbol of unification and a rite of passage but a constant reminder of what it means to be built on Christ for BOX members,” Schwiethale said. BOX had been on the rise for many years and had become one of the larger men’s social clubs. Vice President of BOX, junior Tyler Schumacher, spoke about the growth of the club and its future plans. “We were excited to see the club continue to grow and thrive as we had just reached our 20th anniversary,” Schumacher said. “I think we, as a club, were heading in a very exciting direction. I was excited at the possibility of returning to Harding 20 years from now and still seeing Harding men wearing bright orange backward caps.” The hats became quite the recognizable item, and members wore the hats every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, helping BOX members recognize one of their own from afar. “We wore the hats as a way to not only signify that we were in BOX but also to stand out in a sea of people,” senior Clay Smith said. Smith explained that the hats allowed for a sense of camaraderie because the members made them together during Club Week. “Investing in those around us was an important step in being built by Christ, and finding more ways to do that was always incredible,” Smith said Written by Max Thweatt
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