The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies
Di-Phi debate in the New West building
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| Abbreviation | Di-Phi |
|---|---|
| Motto |
Ad Virtutem, Libertatem, Scientiamque |
| Formation | June 3, 1795 |
| Type | Debate and Literary Society |
| Headquarters | Dialectic Chambers and Philanthropic Chambers |
| Location | |
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Joint Senate President
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Michael Johnston Fall 2016 |
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Main organ
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Joint Senate |
| Website | http://diphi.web.unc.edu/ |
Ad Virtutem, Libertatem, Scientiamque
The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies, commonly known as Di Phi, are the original collegiate debating societies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and together comprise the oldest student organization at the University.
The Dialectic Society (originally known as the Debating Society) was established in 1795, making Di-Phi the oldest student organization at any public university in the United States. They adopted the motto "Virtus et Scientia." The members stated as their goals: "...to promote useful Knowledge..." and "...to cultivate a lasting Friendship with each other..." It is significant that the first order of business for the Debating Society was an order for the purchase of books. Indeed, as the University had no library, the Debating Society's collection became the primary resource for the University, later becoming the core of the school's library.
One month after the founding of the Debating Society, the Philanthropic Society (originally known as the Concord Society) split off due to strict rules and political disagreements. It took a new motto, "Virtus, Libertas, et Scientia", with the addition of the word Libertas lending some insight into the reasons for splitting. In 1796 the two societies adopted the Greek equivalents of their names, becoming the Dialectic Society and the Philanthropic Society, known as the Di and the Phi for short. Due to the common use of the shortened form, "Philanthropic" is properly pronounced with a long "i" in the first syllable.
In the early days of the University, students were required to join one of the two societies, and the rivalry between the two was extremely bitter. Society members would ride out on horses to greet incoming students, attempting to recruit them and dissuade them from joining the other society. According to legend, this rivalry eventually led to dueling. The university administration eventually intervened and changed the societies' official rules, making membership based upon geography with the Phi members coming from the eastern part of the state and the Di members from the western part (see below for a detailed description of this arrangement). Now together in a Joint Senate, the societies still maintain the rivalry in a more congenial way.
Shortly after the societies split, they each took a color. The Dialectic Society took a light blue, today known as Carolina blue, while members of the Philanthropic Society took white. Following a football game against the University of Virginia, in which UVA students displayed orange and blue pennants, the Societies' colors were adopted as the University's official colors.
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Wikipedia