Malleteers

No matter where you go on campus, you can hear the outrageous and strange stories ranging from Nerf Gun Wars, to Zombie Tag, to hurling a vending machine into Palmer Lake, even if you don’t know where they come from. They come from the University’s honors program, The Mallet Assembly, or “Malleteers” as they’re known. It may seem strange that these stories come from the honors program, but even a program with a rich history has changed the course of history for the University, these honor students try to have fun with what they do.

The Mallet Assembly was founded in 1961 by Dr. John Blackburn to house a multitude of open-minded individuals of all races during segregation. This led to Cleo Thomas, a 70’s Malleteer, to become the first African-American SGA President. Then, later during the Vietnam War, Malleteers participated in anti-war protests. Then, in 1996, after the SGA was disband, a Malleteer named Lee Pruit reestablished SGA and served as the Constitutional Convention Chairman.

Though many Malleteers can be found in the SGA as committee chairmen, senators, executives, VP’s and more, they are also involved in many different campus activities, including the yearbook and Crimson White. They even had a hand in forming UA’s Libertarian Party Organization [1].

Of course every large organization has its competition. For the Mallet Assembly this comes in the form of the mysterious covert group known only as “The Machine”. The two groups seem to be opposite in every way. While the Mallet Assembly is open, loud and seen as open minded, The Machine is secretive and has been connected to many racist incidents on campus. The rivalry is most prominently seen during the SGA Presidential elections when, usually, a Malleteer goes head to head against a Machine member.

Through out the years, the Mallet Assembly has been housed in several different places. It all started in Mallet Hall where they stayed until they angered the University and were relocated to Byrd Hall. Then in the 80’s after another string of behavioral problems, the group was moved again, this time to Palmer Hall, where they reside currently.

Another unique characteristic is the Mallet Assembly’s level of freedom. While most dorms have many UA written rules and UA pointed RA’s, the Mallet Assembly deals with house matters with the program. To do this, a handful of Assembly leaders are chosen by the Mallet community. They have a “... detailed by flexible constitution...”[1].

While they seem so different from everyone else in College, after college, Malleteers go to become doctors, lawyers, and engineers like the rest of us. Some have found jobs in NASA and one former Mallateer, Mark Childress, went on to write a book called, “Crazy in Alabama”.

Works Cited
[1]Mallet Assembly Sept. 14, 2009