Sphinx (senior society)

Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Infobox fraternity Template:Infobox NRHP The Sphinx is a collegiate senior society for male students at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Founded in 1885, it was the first senior society established at the college. The society is known for the Sphinx Tomb, its Egyptian Revival style building designed by architect William M. Butterfield in 1903. The Sphinx Tomb was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

History

File:SphinxElevation1923.jpg

1923 proposed addition to Sphinx Hall

In 1885, the Sphinx was founded as a senior-class society at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire by fourteen male students of the class of 1886.<ref>Meacham, Scott Meacham and Mehling, Joseph. Dartmouth College: an architectural tour. 2008.</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> It was the first senior society at Dartmouth.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> Initially, the group met at Thornton Hall on Saturday nights.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2" /> Later, the society rented a hall on Main Street along with the campus fraternities.<ref name=":2" /> In 1903, Sphinx became the first senior society on campus to build a hall or tomb for its gatherings.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

File:SphinxSocietyDanceCard1899.jpg

Dance card from a dance hosted by The Sphinx in 1899.

The senior members of the Sphinx select a small number of male students of the junior class during Winter Carnival Weekend in a process known as "tapping."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1" /> Traditionally selecting 24 members per year.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref> The main criteria used to select members is community leadership.<ref name=":0" />

The Sphinx originally published the names of its members in the annual Aegis, but the society has become more secretive in recent years. The identities of the members are now kept secret until the college's spring commencement, when graduating members carry identifying canes.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":8" />

The society is secretive about its purpose or mission, but says that it "supports Dartmouth.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" />

Symbols

Members of Sphinx refer to each other as "frater".<ref name=":3" /> Each pledge class of members is called a "krewe".<ref name=":3" /> Sphinx members carry a cane with a sphinx handle at commencement; this is how the society publicly acknowledges its members.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sphinx Tomb

The Sphinx Tomb was constructed in 1903 on East Wheelock Street.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> It was designed by Manchester architect William M. Butterfield was inspired by the Temple of Dendur.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> Built from reinforced concrete, the windowless Sphinx Tomb was designed to look like an Egyptian tomb.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /> It reflects the Egyptian Revival architectural style popular during the mid-nineteenth century and fits with the society's iconography.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> The tomb's facade has a stairway leading to the entrance, flanked by two columns and topped by a winged disk.<ref name=":6" /> However, this is not the building's main entrance, as the doors lacks a handle.<ref name=":6" />

In addition to providing space for the society's gatherings, the tomb also includes a living room, a library, a billiards room, and a card room.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1923, a significant addition was planned for the Sphinx Tomb; however, the proposed addition was never constructed.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> Instead, a smaller rear addition was designed by campus planner Jens Fredrick Larson and was constructed in 1926.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /> The interior of the Sphinx Tomb destroyed by a fire that started in the building's furnace on April 9, 1931.<ref name=":3" /> The society restored the tomb's interior in 1932, rather than relocating.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" />

The Sphinx Tomb was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 17, 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tomb is owned by the Sphinx Alumni Association and serves as its headquarters.<ref name=":8" />

Misconduct and scandals

The Sphinx attracted negative publicity in 1989 when thefts that took place during a scavenger hunt were traced back to the secret society. On April 27, 1989, sixteen students took part in a scavenger hunt that resulted in the theft of numerous items across the Dartmouth campus, including paintings, photographs, mailboxes, life preservers, and signs. The school estimated the total value of missing items at nearly $12,000.<ref name=":0" /> Dartmouth College demanded that all items be returned undamaged within 24 hours, in which case it would not investigate further. Most items were returned, but as several were still missing, an investigation was launched, which revealed that the Sphinx was responsible for the scavenger hunt. Dartmouth revoked recognition of the Sphinx for one year, fined the organization $3,000 plus the cost of damages to the stolen items, and punished the sixteen members involved with probation or suspension.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2003, two unidentified males broke into the Sphinx Tomb by forcing open its side door and several interior doors.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref> This incident was unusual because the break-in was successful; attempts are made to enter the Sphinx tomb at least once a year.<ref name=":4" />

See also

• Dartmouth College student groups
• List of collegiate secret societies
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Grafton County, New Hampshire