Sphinx Senior Society

This article is about the University of Pennsylvania society. For the Dartmouth College society, see Sphinx (senior society).
Sphinx Senior Society
Founded1900; 124 years ago (1900)
University of Pennsylvania
TypeHonor Society
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisSeniors
ScopeLocal
PillarsAchievement, Leadership, Commitment, and Character
SymbolSphinx skull
Chapters1
Members30 active
NicknameSphinges
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
Websitewww.sphinxseniorsociety.com

The Sphinx Senior Society is one of the oldest senior honor societies[a] at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The organization, founded in 1900, is self-perpetuating and consists of a maximum of 30 members selected annually. Its members are a diverse and varied, coming from all areas of achievement, community, activities, and backgrounds. Each member is chosen because of the singular achievements of his or her committed leadership to the university, community, and public.

The Sphinx Senior Society, Inc. is a recognized nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status.

History

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The Sphinx Senior Society was formed in 1899 by graduating members of the Class of 1900 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[4][5] Its purpose was to promote the university's customs, ideals, and traditions.[6] It was the first senior honor society at the university, created to recognize top student leaders who made significant contributions to the campus community.[4]

Members advised the university's administration, proctored exams, oversaw campus elections, provided freshman orientation, and were referees for the annual freshman-sophomore class contests.[6] The society inducted its first Black member in 1952 and women in 1971.[6][7][5]

Symbols and traditions

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Active members are called Sphines.[4] Its officers are called the Chief (president), Pharisee (treasurer), and Scribe (secretary).[4] As Sphinx brings together the leaders o Its four tenets or pillars are achievement, leadership, commitment, and character.[4] Originally, its members wore a black and gold cap with the Sphinx skull on Tuesdays.[6]

Membership

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The Sphinx Senior Society is self-perpetuating and consists of a maximum of thirty members who are selected or tapped annually; each member selects their replacement.[4][5]

The undergraduate society consists of 30 members, with 23 being inducted each spring and 7 being inducted each fall. Members, officially called "Sphinges," represent student leaders who have served the university community in some form or manner and are selected based on their character, involvement, leadership, and vision. This membership perpetuates through a "tapping" process every spring, during which current members personally nominate deserving juniors to attend a smoker. This informal smoker provides an opportunity for the taps to pick up an application as well as for the current members to meet and screen nominees before starting the selection process. This process is repeated each fall to tap, select, and induct an additional 7 seniors as members of the given class.

Governance

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The Sphinx Senior Society Board of Governors guides, plans and coordinates all activities of the Society, especially expanding alumni outreach and supporting the undergraduate membership. The 17-member Board consists of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, President-Emeritus, and Chief, Pharisee, or Scribe Emeritus from the most recent graduating Sphinx class, as well as eight alumni Members-at-Large elected by the entire Sphinx alumni membership. These alumni members cover as wide a range of Penn alumni classes as possible. The three officers from the current class of the undergraduate membership also serve on the Board in an ex officio capacity.

Notable members

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Notes

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  1. ^ The university's oldest digitized alumni catalog,[1] as well as membership books in the University Archives, has shown the first graduating class of Sphinx Senior Society and of Friars Senior Society to be 1900 and 1899 respectively. The first mention of a senior society at the university can also be found in the 1900 edition of The Record,[2] the yearbook of the College. Though not mentioning Sphinx directly, the members notated as a senior society members were the members of the founding class of Sphinx. Due to previously lost records and the past competitive nature between the groups, the title of oldest senior society at the university has been debated by members from both organizations and has even led to inaccurate references.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Compiled by W.J. Maxwell (1917). General alumni catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania. p. 1336.
  2. ^ University of Pennsylvania (1900). The Record (PDF). Class of 1900. p. 377.
  3. ^ Tamblin C. Smith; et al. (1948). Pennsylvania Pictures, January 1948 Vol. IV, No. 3. Franklin Society Publication. p. 3.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "About 1". Sphinx Senior Society. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  5. ^ a b c "Male Honor Society At Penn Planning To Admit Women" (PDF). The New York Times. 1971-02-07. p. 47. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  6. ^ a b c d "History". Sphinx Senior Society. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  7. ^ a b c Glatsky, Genevieve (September 22, 2016). "Inside Senior Societies". 34th Street. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
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