Student leaders bond in Sphinx

Members of the University's Sphinx Senior Society are currently engaged in some pretty serious research. But their work isn't done in a laboratory -- it's all about history. Sphinx, one of four co-ed senior honor societies, is trying to discover from University Archives whether its organization was founded in 1898 or 1899, and its findings will determine whether this year's or next year's members will enjoy festivities honoring the group's 100-year anniversary. But no matter what the researchers conclude, Sphinx members emphasized that their group exists for much more concrete purposes than scheduling parties. Sphinx began as a secret club, then emerged as a forum for promising fourth-year student leaders, College senior Tal Golomb explained. Golomb, who is the chief -- or president of the society -- noted that Sphinx was comprised mainly of the "big men" on campus until the 1960s, when they admitted the first woman for her leadership of the Penn Band. Now the group is much more diverse. Its members represent a variety of student organizations from performing arts groups to community service clubs. This variety is exactly why Sphinx members enjoy being part of the society. "It gives you a chance to get to know other student leaders," said Wharton senior and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist Steve Schorr, who serves as chairperson of the Student Activities Council. "And to know what's going on with other organizations," added Senior Class President Andy Kline, also a Wharton senior. Sphinx members gather weekly to support each other's activities by attending fellow members' sports events and performances. "It's nice to have an informal time to interact and hang out with each other," Golomb said. Other members agreed, noting that Sphinx fosters friendships that will last well past graduation. The society also holds trips, brunches and banquets throughout the year where Sphinx alumni wine and dine with current undergraduate members. But beyond serving as a social outlet for undergrads and alumni, the society is an important networking tool. Sphinx will shortly be traveling to the Penn Club in New York City, where members will have a chance to meet and talk informally with graduates now successful in the professional world. Soon after, current Sphinx members will select next year's members from the extracurricular elite of the junior class. This year's seniors will admit 23 juniors, who will then select seven more seniors to join the society in September. This year's members were chosen for their contributions to groups such as the Undergraduate Assembly, Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health, Off the Beat, UTV13 and the BiCultural InterGreek Council. Looking back on their last four years of college, members had some advice for undergraduates eager to affect Penn in positive ways. "Focus on a small number of groups rather than trying to do everything and not being dedicated to all of them," advised College senior and FLASH educator Laura Korin. And Newman Council President Christine Albanese, also a College senior, suggested that students "have a vision" of what they want to accomplish for themselves and the groups in which they participate.