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The Machine, the former Alpha Rho chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon at the University of Alabama, is a coalition of Panhellenic sororities and IFC fraternities which formed a secret society with some degree of influence over campus and Alabama state politics. The group, which has operated in varying degrees of secrecy since 1914 (though its roots run deeper into the 19th century), is credited with selecting and ensuring the election of candidates for Student Government Association, Homecoming Queen, and other influential on-campus and off-campus offices, including the Student Government Association Senate. It was evidently first publicly noted as "a political machine" in 1928 by Alabama's campus newspaper, ''The Crimson White''.〔http://www.welcometothemachine.info/media.php?ID=7〕 Then in a 1945 article in the newspaper, it was referred to as "the machine",〔http://www.welcometothemachine.info/media.php?ID=8〕 and the name has stuck ever since. It plays a role in the politics of the student community, and it is argued by others that it plays a real role in the political careers of numerous politicians in the state. ==History== The Alpha Rho Chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon was founded at the University of Alabama in 1888. The Alpha Rho Chapter was illegitimately founded; it was a chapter formed without formal permission of the society. In 1902, it contacted the governing authority of the society, the Alpha Chapter at Wesleyan University, and was accepted as a legitimate chapter. It was subsequently accepted by the administration and university community, and in 1905, the chapter hosted its first annual promenade, which was a successful public event.〔T.N.E. Dance, ''The Crimson White'', March 7, 1905〕 In 1909, on February 14, The Alpha Rho Chapter created a new society, this one for members of the senior class, called The Skulls.〔1910 University of Alabama ''Corolla'', pg. 272〕 The Skulls replaced the Theta Nu Epsilon chapter. Both the earlier and later organizations were publicly recognized by the university, and appeared each year in the university yearbook. The Skulls was considered a legitimate student group until 1922. The organization officially ceased to exist at that time. ''Esquire'' devoted its April 1992 cover story to an exposé of The Machine. Recently, in 2013, The New York Times released an article about this organization as it slowly began to be uncovered by people throughout the States. They Believe that it could possibly have been responsible for the results of several presidential elections, most predominantly the 2000 election where George W. Bush won by only 537 votes in Florida, The deciding state. It is believed that The Machine had a heavy hand in this outcome and has only been uncovered within the last two years. 〔Esquire, April 1992〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Machine (social group)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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