The nameless senior society better known to generations of University students as Michigamua was back in the news this week. Longtime Hillel executive director Michael Brooks acknowledged publicly that he is an advisor, or "Honorary Angell," for the group. Brooks's forthrightness comes after a series of reforms this year that has left the group far less divisive than it once was. For the organization formerly known as Michigamua to gain full legitimacy on campus, however, it will need to commit to greater transparency, even at the cost of appearing to compromise the group's stated commitment to "humble service."

The organization formerly known as Michigamua generated controversy for decades due to its appropriation of Native American imagery and symbols in its rituals. Following sustained protest, the organization has sought to reform itself and its image, while the University administration has distanced itself from the group. Reforms this year included releasing the names of most members of the past two classes, as well the decision to retire the name "Michigamua" - hopefully the last vestige of the group's racially insensitive past.

But the group's remaining commitment to secrecy hurts its effort to rebuild legitimacy on a campus long skeptical of an elite and seemingly racist senior society in its midst. Though Brooks has come forward with his membership in the group, other honorary members affiliated with the University have not followed. The group's activities, whatever they are, remain a mystery to most students and local media.

Members of the group have argued that the organization exists to serve the University community, and that its members prefer not to seek credit for their work. That may indeed be the case, but the aura of secrecy that remains works against any notion of humility, instead drawing further attention to its activities and membership.

By choosing to reform an organization with a difficult past, the group's members have taken on an onerous task, and the burden is on them to gain trust on campus. Becoming more transparent is the swiftest means for the organization to show that it is nothing more than a well-meaning, if somewhat elite, service group. Other honorary Angells can come forward. The group can seek to go through the Student Organization and Recognition process. Its members can make the group's activities clear. Chances are, the society's membership and its inner workings will be of little interest once the mystery is gone.