Hats off to the Fortnightly Club - one of the oldest female societal groups associated with Mizzou.

Haven't heard of them? Maybe you didn't make it to the "75 years of fashion" parade in '68. Or you weren't invited to the gala this year because you aren't married to a professor. Maybe you haven't had time to buy their cookbook, either.

Nevertheless, it's good for us to know about the historically rich and successful groups that help foster Mizzou community, right? Well, the group was originally formed for two reasons - because wives of MU faculty had nothing better to do and because Jesse Hall had burned down (thanks to our ingenious engineers) that January and these lovely ladies decided to take a stand and rebuild a sense of "university family."

Now, more than a century later, the club still helps us all feel like one big happy family by doing things like hold exclusive spring luncheons* and share antiques with one another.

Yes, the Fortnightly crew has been around since 1892 - and among its wild and campus-shattering effects on Columbia, it continues to thrive. It even has a website, run by a self-acclaimed "Web Mistress."

Make sure you stop a member on their way home to the Tiger Hotel and give them hearty "thanks."

*must be at least 95 years of age to attend, must show ID