The Philanthropic Assembly proudly continues the rebellious tradition of Society father David Gillespie, who led the organization to break away from the Debating Society just twenty-nine days after its foundation. The Phis follow the ideal of libertas (hinting at a long-standing point of disagreement between the two Societies) in addition to the old Di values of virtus and scientia. Phi Speaker Alex Rhinehalt currently leads the Phis in the continual search for self-betterment. Find a list of current active Philanthropic Senators below. The Philanthropic Constitution may be viewed here.
Hanna Tischer, Senator
Senior | Mathematics and Chemistry
Joined: December 3rd, 2018
“I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul”
–William Ernest Henley
Hanna Berg, Senator
Senior | Public Policy
Joined: February 11th, 2019
“Giving up is an important part of cooking”
-Anna Fiore
Cordelia Gilligan, Ambassador
Senior | Political Science and History
Joined: February 18th, 2019
“One of the poets, whose name I cannot recall, has a passage, which I am unable at the moment to remember, in one of his works, which for the time being has slipped my mind, which hits off admirably this age-old situation.”
-P. G. Wodehouse, The Long Hole
Jia Chun Xie, Senator
Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Joined: March 25th, 2019
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
-Dylan Thomas
Chloe Lindberg, Senator
Senior | Biology and Chemistry
Joined: April 8th, 2019
“Let us endeavor to live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
-Mark Twain
Holly Lockhead, Senator
Senior | Religious Studies
Joined: April 15th, 2019
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
-Audre Lorde
Andrew Shaw, Senator
Senior | Political Science and Communications
Joined: September 30, 2019
“He was alone. He was desperately lonely.”
-Thomas Wolfe
Allison Carpenter, Senator
Senior | Business Administration and Contemporary European Studies
Joined: October 28, 2019
“I believe that the presidential term should be limited.”
-Vladimir Putin
Caroline Pharr, Senator
Senior | Environmental Studies and Public Policy
Joined: March 2nd, 2020
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
-Helen Keller
Angus Ewington, Senator
Junior | Philosophy and Mathematics
Joined: August 9th, 2020
“The officer of the watch tilts one end of the plank. Gusev slides down it, flies off head first, does a somersault in the air and – in he splashes! Foam envelopes him, and he seems swathed in lace for a second, but the second passes and he vanishes beneath the waves. He moves swiftly towards the bottom. Will he reach it?”
-“Gusev,” Anton Chekhov
James Crescenzi, Senator
Junior | Political Science, Mathematics, and Music
Joined: November 1st, 2020
Madeline Nielsen, Senator
Junior | Latin and Entrepreneurship
Joined: April 29, 2021
“‘Influencer’ is such a sinister title. It’s got all the menace of ‘royal adviser’ but none of the raw sex appeal.”
– the internet
Ben Wilson, Senator
Sophomore | Political Science
Joined: October 11, 2021
“Only the bourgeoisie buys Horizon whole milk by the half gallon.”
– Matthew Tweden
Marie Thorn, President Pro Tempore
Sophomore | History and PWAD
Joined: November 1, 2021
“I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.”
– Faramir
Gianluca Ciuffreda, Sergeant-at-Arms
Sophomore | Information Science
Joined: November 1, 2021
“There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food.”
– Ron Swanson
Alex Rhinehalt, Phi Speaker
First year | Political Science
Joined: November 15, 2021
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Maddox Addy, Senator
First year | Sociology & Political Science
Joined: February 28th, 2022
“Mere words are neither priceless nor worthless—mind their purpose.”
– Aglaya Lilich