42 NOV | DEC 2013 THE GAZETTE Philo Ph oreverBY CAREN LISSNER As it enters its third century, America’s oldest continuously existing college literary society still has a role to fi ll on campus, in keeping with its unoffi cial motto: “Raise hell with your brain.”

Photography by Greg Benson THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE NOV | DEC 2013 43

THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE NOV | DEC 2013 45 three Society members published the fi rst the meetings. Other members were un- was in relative decline. That circumstance English language translation in 1858. enthusiastic, according to a history of was not reversed until the 1950s or ’60s. The society also spun off numerous Philo written for its sesquicentennial, but There was the conscious decision by the groups that took on lives of their own. Ludwig won out. That’s still how cabinet president and provost of the University Philos started a forerunner of The Daily members dress today. Ludwig also made to move liberal arts to the center of the Pennsylvanian, founded the case that Philo should have a regular academic enterprise. Two presidents did and Penn Players, and later helped estab- home, and he ultimately got his way there, this: Gaylord Harnwell [Hon’53, who served lish the comparative-literature and too, when the society fi nally returned to from 1953 to 1970] and Martin Meyerson American-civilization programs at Penn. College Hall in 1967. [Hon’70, in offi ce from 1970 to 1981]. The A Philo history published to mark the Ludwig also actively encouraged the University later combined all of its liber- society’s 100th anniversary in 1913 (avail- involvement of alumni as “senior mem- al-arts programs into the School of Arts able for free download from Google Play, bers,” and set a powerful example with his and Sciences, which dates only from 1975. by the way) provides a reminder of its cen- own behavior, continuing to give three- From 1953 to 1975, Philo made a tremen- tral role in the University’s development hour tours of the halls to new members dous comeback.” in those days. A list of “Philomatheans until the years before his death in 2002. Lloyd says that as he wrote the Philo his- Among the Offi cers of the University” con- tory, he came to a conclusion: “The 20th stitutes a Who’s Who of Penn movers and century history of Philo has followed the shakers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries—including provosts C1862 M1864, C1862 G1865 Hon1911, and Josiah H. Penniman C1890 Gr1895, plus faculty stalwarts Felix Schelling C1881 and Cornelius Weygandt C1892 Gr1901 (English); Edward Potts Cheyney C1883 W1884 (history), who delivered an address on the society’s fi rst century included in the volume and would go on to author a history of the University published in 1940 for Penn’s bicentennial; and Lightner Witmer C1888 (psychology), who would coin the term “clinical psychology” and establish the fi rst psychological clinic in the US at Penn in 1896, to name just a few. Major players in Philo’s 20th century survival and Nevertheless, the group’s fortunes fl uctu- resurgence included the philosopher ated during its second century, even before C’48, who helped keep the society alive during its college literary societies fell out of fashion. lowest point in the 1940s (and returned to speak in 1981 on implications of God’s “death”), and the late Charles Fine Ludwig C’53 L’56 (right), who championed its traditions, advocated for its return to College In 1927, University overcrowding forced Hall, and continued to give tours of the halls to new members almost until his death in 2002. Philo to temporarily vacate its College Hall space for smaller quarters in Houston Hall. Whether in the halls or out, the group’s arc of the fortune of the College at Penn. Between the loss of its home base and the most ardent members always found ways In the years when the College was over- advent of the Great Depression, member- to follow its original mission, which was shadowed by the Wharton School, the ship declined. Then the group was ejected “increasing the learning of the members retreated to its low- from Houston Hall during World War II, and the academic prestige of the University.” est levels. In the 1950s and 1960s, as the when the US Navy’s offi cer-training pro- Mark Frazier Lloyd, the director of the College began to rebound, so too did the gram moved in. According to Philo lore, a University Archives and Records Center, Philomathean Society. Historically, at handful of interested parties met in stu- was asked this year by the society to least, the Philomathean Society has been dents’ apartments to keep the society alive. write a history of Philo on the occasion about the prestige of the humanities.” But after the war ended, returning veterans of its bicentennial; he says that current The society continued its upswing in joined and helped revive it. events weren’t the only determinants of the 1980s and 1990s, when biweekly When moderator Charles Fine Ludwig the group’s popularity. Philo suff ered meetings on the fourth fl oor of College C’53 L’56 joined in 1951, he made it his most, he says, when the University al- Hall lasted until the wee hours of the mission to restore many of the old tradi- lowed the liberal arts to take a backseat morning. The group organized campus- tions that had fallen by the wayside. to Penn’s professional schools—particu- wide debates, activities, “Keats and Insisting that Philo had been most suc- larly Wharton and engineering. Beats” poetry readings, and publications, cessful when following its traditions, he “As those schools took the lead, the for- even when the group found itself out of pushed for cabinet members to resume tunes of Philo dipped,” Lloyd says. “At the the halls again during the mid-1990s

wearing black robes while presiding over time of Philo’s centennial of 1913, Philo while College Hall was renovated. UNIVERSITYCHARLES FINE LUDWIG: AND RECORDS CENTER ARCHIVES

46 NOV | DEC 2013 THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE Elliott Witney C’97 CGS’99, says that he Today’s Philos have the task of launching the society into its third century. Photographed on October 10, 2013—arms pointing to the future, a common Philo group photo pose over the years—are (back row) Emmett felt the need for Philo to reach out to the Wynn C’15, first censor; MD Mangini C’14, moderator; Sarah Albala C’15, annual oration director; (front row) University community during his time as Jeremy Berman C’14; Nora Castle C’14, recorder; Daniel Colson C’16, scriba; and Kristen Kelly C’16, librarian. moderator in 1995. “It was seen as very closed off and elitist,” he says. “As modera- writing program, Hoff man—who died Members come up to a lectern to deliver tor, my campaign was all about opening up earlier this year at age 89—had brought dozens of committee reports. the organization to the broader community, many poets to the Philo halls. Some of the reports focus on the group’s not to lower the bar of intellectualism but Today, Philo organizes dozens of events activities and projects, such as the Art to increase the fl ow of people at events.” and stays true to what has been its unof- Gallery Committee and the Committee on Witney created the PLAY Committee, fi cial motto since at least the early Philomel (the literary magazine). When which stood for Philos Living and 1900s: “Raise hell with your brain.” the reports are given, members make mo- Advocating Youth. “We played outside, Whether it was the Rosetta Stone trans- tions, off er amendments, and debate is- we played tag, climbed trees,” he recalls. lation or bringing renowned experts to sues and policies. But some committee “The committee structure was so snooty campus as the annual orators, the group reports are thrown in to mitigate the se- that we needed to fi nd a way to gain ex- has worked to improve the intellectual riousness of the meetings, such as the posure. We had a reading of William environment and increase the prestige Very Very Very Very Funny Joke Committee Henry Harrison’s entire inaugural address of Penn. So what should Philo do in the and the “Committee of the Infinite outside. We held a puppet show, delivered future, and how can it steel itself against Regression Committee which is a com- at the Children’s Hospital. We had a team changing times and changing priorities? mittee of the Infinite Regression of writers, puppeteers, and papier-mâché Committee which is a committee of the balloons. It was really beautiful, Philos Philo at 200 Infi nite Regression Committee.” The and non-Philos collaborating. It chopped meetings are exercises in both learning barriers between people who knew about Philo’s main structure, as in the past, comes and elocution, a way to sharpen one’s Philo and people who didn’t know.” from its meetings, held every other Friday mind and wit. While committee reports Some projects in the 1990s were of the some time after 8 p.m. (described on the and associated discussions take up the more traditional academic sort. For ex- website as 8:25 Philo Standard Time), when bulk of each meeting, there is an intel- ample, the society published an anthol- the scriba announces, “All rise for the en- lectual event toward the end, by tradition: ogy of poetry in 1996 in honor of Daniel trance of the moderator.” The scriba, fi rst the literary exercise, given by a member Hoff man, the poet and Felix Schelling censor, second censor, and moderator enter on a topic ranging from James Joyce to Emeritus Professor of English, who had the room in black robes. Roberts’ Rules of “psychosexual art.” Two members may retired in 1993. As head of the creative- Order are employed during their meetings. ask a question following the exercise.

THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE NOV | DEC 2013 47 The last meeting of the spring 2013 se- member who returns to the University before. The orator my year was Marcel mester ran until 5:30 a.m., according to often, says that in the present day, Philo Ophuls [the documentary fi lmmaker and moderator H. Barlow Holley C’14, a hu- seems to be keeping to its mission well. former actor]. That was a kick. And the meet- manistic philosophy major. It included “As Penn has gotten, I don’t want to say ings were a great place to be on a Friday fi nal committee reports, a visit from the more intellectual, but as it’s had a wider set night. If you were obsessed with some ob- from Columbia, dis- of students from all over the world, there’s scure Greek playwright and you read all cussion of the upcoming bicentennial been more interest in Philo’s literary ac- their stuff and someone else in the general activities, a literary exercise on “quad- tivities than ever before,” he says. “When University community might say, ‘Why?’ a science” (the study of groups of four), and I’m back on campus I see this. You can see Philo would say, ‘That’s interesting; I see the elections of new offi cers. that the meetings are always packed; there’s why you’re doing that.’ I don’t think there’s Applicants for membership in the soci- great interest in it. I think there’s a real anything else like it in the University.” ety must sit for an interview with four or demand as part of the undergraduate expe- “Philo does not have universal appeal, but fi ve members, give a three-to-six-minute rience to be invested in a literary discussion at the same time we still open our arms to presentation, and submit a piece showing that isn’t off ered everywhere.” everyone and try to make the best eff ort critical thinking or creative value. Those possible to include the University commu- who don’t gain admission can apply every Proposed: A Literary nity at large,” Holley says. “In many ways, semester until the last semester of their it’s not necessary for Philo to be what it was senior year. But those who aren’t mem- Society is Not an in the 19th century, when it was the only bers can still be active, as almost all ac- Anachronism real student group. So many groups sprang tivities are open to the community at out from Philo because Philo was the only large, including the biweekly meetings. Philo has served, throughout the years, thing they had from which to spring. It’s no While some activities take place outside to fi ll in the blanks at the University, to longer necessary that Philo be the only thing of College Hall or in other parts of the create groups and publications where at Penn; merely that Philo be actively en- campus, the group makes full use of its none existed before. But at the same gaged. I would be happy to see Philo, during halls, art gallery, and library to host af- time, members say, Philo has fi lled in the bicentennial, refl ect on its past and real- ternoon teas with professors and the like. the blanks in students’ own lives. ize that the times that the society was the During a one-week period toward the end “I think it was a home for people like me most prosperous were the times when it of the spring 2013 semester, the group who were not comfortable with fraternities, both reveled in social conviviality with its conducted the following events: a lecture and the women [who] were not comfortable members, and at the same time pursued its at by annual oration with sororities,” says Hilary Putnam C’48. A intellectual mission to the fullest.” speaker , the prominent noted philosopher and Harvard professor evolutionary biologist and vocal atheist emeritus who is now 87 years old, Putnam Home Sweet Home [“Gazetteer,” May|June]; two days later, a is said to be among the Philo members who gathering known as a “Solistimum” (ap- kept the society alive during the 1940s. “Even Several members say there have always parently derived from the Latin word for back then,” Putnam recalls, “literary types been rumors that Philo could be exiled “most perfect”) at the halls, during which were kind of a minority. We tended to fi nd from its halls again. That would be a Philos and guests were invited to mingle each other. I wanted to be a poet. I think I shame, they add, because Philo works among “music, friends and food”; the next met everyone who wanted to be a writer.” best, and best serves the University, when day, an afternoon tea with Penn history Some of the fi rst fraternities and so- it has a steady home. professor (and civil-liberties crusader) rorities rose to prominence as outgrowths “It’s sort of like Mask and Wig having its Alan Kors; the regular Friday biweekly of literary societies, focusing on philo- own building downtown,” Marmon says. meeting featuring a literary exercise about sophical rather than literary pursuits. “Having a physical facility of your own the legalities of cannibalism (“sating your Greek organizations became stronger by gives an organization a stronger base to craving to know if and when you can eat opening chapters at other universities, work with.” someone”); a discussion about alternatives while literary societies remained inde- On a summer Saturday, Holley gave a to Richard Dawkins’ arguments, with three pendent from college to college. Today, brief tour of the halls, a series of rooms panelists; and fi nally an art-gallery recep- Greek life focuses on socializing and char- that are both austere and stately, befi t- tion for a avant-garde cou- ity, not so much learning, and that’s why— ting a 200-year-old organization. He ture designer who specializes in hats. some say—groups like Philo are essential. pointed out the library (the easternmost In the two weeks after that, the group “It’s sort of a refuge where people can room), the art gallery, the meeting room held wine classes (for those 21 and over), talk about what they want to talk about with its wooden pews, and the offi ce, another afternoon tea with a professor, a without the pressure of grades and com- which used to be Zelo’s headquarters. “Keats and Beats” reading in which people petition,” says Harold Goldner C’77, now Philo’s offi cers often morph into walking read the poems of Baudelaire and their an employment attorney in Pennsylvania. authorities on the group’s history and policies, own, and an installment in the “Lindback “We had regular exhibits in the art gallery, and Holley fi ts the pattern. When asked what Lecture series” by art-history professor three to four a year. I remember one show was the oldest item on display, he quickly Larry Silver on “Bruegel’s biblical kings.” was by a [Temple University] Tyler Art cites a framed program for Commencement Stephen Marmon C’71 WG’81, a senior School student and she had never shown exercises dated July 30, 1788.

48 NOV | DEC 2013 THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE Above: “I remember being able to think, ‘It’s eight o’clock on a Thursday night; my homework is done. Above the pews in the meeting room, I’m going to the halls and see what’s going on there,’” recalls one Philo alumnus—that is, senior member— Holley points out framed treaties with of the lure of the society’s home base. other college literary societies, including the Philolexian Society at Columbia and new activities,” she says. “Being in the halls tion skills and give an ironic spin to some the at Georgetown. for meetings on Friday nights, attending of the traditions. “We used to say during (There is no treaty with Whig-Cliosophic afternoon teas, or just going into the halls the admissions process, ‘He gets it,’ or ‘She at Princeton, however, who are “our sworn during the middle of the day and running gets Philo,’” says Baker. “I think that really enemies,” Holley explains, deadpan.) into other Philos and sitting down for these means the person understands and re- Adam Korengold C’94 cites warm mem- random and fascinating conversations, spects the traditions but doesn’t take it so ories of being in the halls. He says he brings were all highlights of my Penn experience.” seriously that they’re boring or pedantic the Philo ethos—encouragement of aca- Philo also became a second home for about it.” demic pursuits, no matter how obscure—to Peter Baker C’90 G’90, now a - Several alumni say that not everyone his two young children, recently taking based attorney—even if his fi rst impres- has to “get” Philo—but Philo has to keep them to an exhibit at the National Gallery sion of the organization, as a sophomore providing a nerve center from which of Art in Washington on the Ballet Russes transfer student from Macalester College students can initiate, teach, and learn, dance company. (a small liberal-arts school in St. Paul, just as it has for 200 years. “I remember being able to think, ‘It’s Minnesota) was a bit mixed. Steve Marmon, who is currently fi nishing eight on a Thursday night; my homework “It was Student Activities Day,” he re- up a nonfi ction book about American po- is done. I’m going to the halls and see calls, “and the Philo table was staff ed with litical sex scandals, muses on Philo’s main what’s going on there,’” Korengold says. Rich Garella [C’07] and Maria Markovich objective as it heads into its third century. “Inevitably there’s going to be someone [C’89], both wearing black gowns. They “I think the most important thing it can up there, and we’ll listen to music or talk had the Philo fl ag draped on the table, do is continue, essentially,” he says. “These about something. I don’t think you ap- and a skull. I thought, ‘This looks too are the things that provide a continuing preciate the ability to do that when you’re bizarre to pass up.’” link that makes a great university. Not in the moment.” Soon, he was at a meeting. “Someone simply that there are faculty and students Bethann Miller Nativ C’01 GEd’05 started asked me to stop smoking,” he says. “I and buildings. It’s that there are organiza- Penn in engineering, became a philosophy asked if I should put my cigarette out, and tions and traditions. I think Philo is, for major, and eventually matriculated at the the fi rst censor said, ‘No, that isn’t the students, the greatest of those traditions. Graduate School of Education. She says that point.’ They debated whether to ask me to It is the fi rst student organization on cam- Philo made her feel supported when she stop smoking for fi ve minutes. By the time pus. It’s the quintessential student orga- pursued a liberal-arts career, ultimately they arrived at an answer, my cigarette nization—and I think it will survive as long teaching in an elementary school and run- was long out. I decided that they were ei- as the University is there.”◆ ning a tutoring company in Florida. ther the biggest group of assholes I’d ever Caren Lissner C’93 is a novelist and editor-in-chief of “I really think the beauty of Philo, as a met, or they’re really funny and absurd.” The Hudson Reporter. In July there was a successful primarily undergraduate organization, is Dry wit seems to come to the fore dur- Kickstarter campaign to raise money toward that each new group of Philos can take the ing many Philo proceedings, a pre-req- financing a movie based on her novel, Carrie Pilby best of the past and create new programs, uisite meant to challenge students’ locu- (carriepilbythemovie.com).

THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE NOV | DEC 2013 49