FOUNDING

Mere months after the arrival of UNC Chapel Hill's first student Hinton James, the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies were founded on June 3rd, 1795. Back then it was simply known as a Debating Club, imbued with the express purpose of promoting "useful knowledge... and... to cultivate a lasting friendship with each other... which shall not be forgotten when we meet in the serious business of life". Being the first (and oldest) student organization on campus, this debating club was essential for cultivating interpersonal relationships amongst the student body outside of classes. With the motto Virtus et Scientia, the debating club served as an avenue for students to pursue and cultivate knowledge outside of regular coursework. Using the pursuit of Virtue and knowledge as a guide, rules and regulations were created to govern UNC's students, starting the tradition of student self-governance. 

SCHISM 

Not even a month after the debating society's founding, a rival faction formed that dubbed themselves the Concord Society. Like any organization plagued by petty politics among young adults, this factionalism is unsurprising. The Concord Society's motto was Virtus, Libertas, et Scientia or Virtue, Liberty, and Knowledge. The inclusion of "Liberty" within the motto is suggestive of dissent amongst these "sons of patriots" regarding the zealous rule enforcement of the debating club. Eventually, the debating and concord societies would rename themselves to their Greek equivalents: the dialectic and philanthropic societies respectively. Ironically, this trend of dialectic loyalty to rules and regulations versus philanthropic aversion to excessive regulations is a general attitude that remains prevalent amongst these societies even today. Another timeless aspect of the relationship between these societies is their constant competition. In particular, competition for new members was incredibly fierce. Each society rode out to promising students arriving in the Chapel Hill area, enjoining them to join their respective organizations. Reportedly, duels were even fought between society members. Observing how fierce competition was getting between these societies, University trustees formalized a dividing line in 1850 that has remained for membership until fairly recently. The rule was this: students east of Orange County were Phi's while those west of Orange County were Di's. Students from Orange County or outside of the state were lucky enough to be able to choose which society to join. The first business transaction of the societies was a proposal for purchasing books, laying the framework for the establishment of their own personal library. For more on the history of our library, makes sure to visit the page on the Arcane Phi Library! The library itself became yet another outlet for competition between these societies, with each trying to find more volumes than the other. Due to their fierce competitive spirit, by 1895 there were an impressive ten thousand volumes in each of the Society libraries! 

COLORS

The Dialectic Society decided to start putting light blue ribbons on the diplomas of graduating Senators amongst their rank in the nineteenth century. University President and Historian Kemp Battle theorized that the light blue color came from local agricultural contests where blue ribbons symbolized excellence. As with all things, the Phi's had to follow suit with their competitive streak and selected white ribbons for their graduates, symbolizing truth and virtue. Eventually, these evolved into the Societies colors and were later adopted by the university to become the University colors! This is yet another example of how Diphi was fundamental to the development of the most prominent public university in the entire nation! 

ACQUISITIONS

Starting in the 1820s, societies began acquiring portraits of prominent alumni and those that reflected their ideals. Unfortunately, the archaism of these ideals becomes ever more apparent over time as the prejudices of various societal alumni become clearer in the modern day. The Phi's collection began with Johnston Blakey, Joseph Caldwell, and Benjamin Franklin which the Di's answered with portraits of William R. Davie, William Hooper, and Archibald Murphey. This competitive portrait acquisition gave notable artists like Charles Willson Peale, Thomas Sully, Eastman Johnson, and William Garl Browne an excuse to exercise their talents. Eventually, the Di's and Phi's cultivated the largest privately-owned portrait collections in the state! These portraits made it clear that success emanated from these societies' hallowed halls as a long line of governors, senators, cabinet officials, jurists, poets, and scientists were portrayed. In modern times, these portraits have also become a source of grief as they root a progressing society strictly within the past prejudices and atrocities committed by alumni who are glamourized in their chambers. Thus, the debate remains for modern Diphi senators: how does one display these portraits without inadvertently glorifying the prejudiced beliefs and actions of alumni such as Zebulon Vance, a noted Confederate officer during the American Civil War? 

DEBATE

In general, the societies functioned as a supplement to a student's studies and literary knowledge through oration, declamation, debate, and the writing of original compositions presented to society members. Each of the societies would meet twice a week to discuss relevant and timeless issues. For instance, the first-ever resolution, debated on June 3rd, 1795, was "Is the study of ancient authors useful?" (Personally, I think the answer is a self-evident "yes" but alas). These Societies used to have quite an influence on campus affairs, with one of their first efforts being an expansion of the University curriculum. New departments and courses were added to accommodate an increasingly diverse student body. In 1845 the societies called for a law department, in 1855 for American history, in 1856 for music, in 1879 for a medical department, in 1884 for journalism, in 1890 for a chair of pharmacy, in 1892 for a study of social science, and in 1895 for a chair of education. The societies also continued to grow until nearly every member of UNC-Chapel Hill was a member of one society or the other. Due to this and the fact that each society regulated student conduct, the Dialectic, and Philanthropic Society became the de-facto student government of the university. Between 1885 and 1895, the board of Trustees even made it a requirement for a student to join one society or the other while at university. In 1876, each society created its own honor code and thus founded UNC's own honor code system. At this moment, the societies were at the peak of their influence. It could only go downhill from here... 

DOWNFALL

The development of various fraternities and athletic organizations by the end of the 19th century resulted in a large exodus of students from the societies. Since the students who left the societies now didn't have an honor court to regulate them, the societies were forced to hand over their role as student government to the University Council in 1901; they would eventually become the "Student Government" known today. The changing interests of students coupled with exponential growth in student organizations weakened Society's grip on university life. Eventually, their Friday and Saturday night debates faded away as well as inter-Society contests. Management of intercollegiate debates and orations was eventually given to the Debating Union and the English department's speech division. After the First World War, the Societies reorganized themselves by a State Legislature model, becoming the Philanthropic Assembly and Dialectic Senate. Due to the Second World War sending many young men to the draft, the societies' membership further dwindled until its continuity was barely maintained. This low membership forced the societies to convene as one "Joint Senate" in 1959, founding the societies as maintained today. The early 1970s proved to be formative years for the Joint Senate as dedicated members made express efforts to restore the Societies' halls, their portrait collections, and their cemetery plots. Studies of Society archives also allowed them to revive various societal traditions in the modern day. Nowadays, while certainly not being the center of student life at the University it used to be, the Joint Senate's members continue being influential members of the University who exert their influence wherever they go.