On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, Franklin & Marshall’s 19th Diplomatic Congress held its weekly meeting. The meeting began at 7:32 p.m.
A Presidential Visit
As the first of two guest speakers, Franklin & Marshall President Andrew Rich took the podium. DipCon President Ibrahim Bin Amjad, ‘27, encouraged the room to ask questions, keeping them respectful, graceful and kind. President Rich began by discussing what the college has in the works. He told the room of F&M’s efforts to create more on-campus jobs, especially for international students who might face trouble in today’s off-campus job market.
The Dining Dilemma
President Rich also addressed the complaints, from students and parents alike, regarding the food options on campus. In the week leading up to the meeting, Sodexo had been deeply involved with campus dining. Rich announced that he had spoken to the Sodexo CEO and flown in the Senior Vice President. He expressed his frustration, agreeing that the quality and safety of the food offered to students had been unacceptable. He stated that, if things do not improve, other measures will be taken.
A Pressing Question
Once President Rich opened up for questions, students were quick to bring up Lloyd Smucker’s campus visit. Rich felt that he should provide context. He is a political scientist himself, having served as a political science professor at the City College of New York. His work has always surrounded the development of young people into leaders. It was his belief that any politician, including Congressman Lloyd Smucker, should be allowed to visit F&M. “That’s where I start and end,” he said. President Rich had heard that Ken Mehlman,Trustee and Board Vice Chair, was interested in having Congressman Lloyd Smucker on campus. Initially, according to Rich, he was hesitant, believing that there weren’t enough people on campus. When he was informed that Smucker would have the football team as an audience and that an F&M student had interned for Smucker, he approved the visit. Most of the attendees were football players. President Rich acknowledged that the event wasn’t necessarily open, but expressed that it wasn’t closed either. He saw the event as an opportunity for Rep. Smucker to learn about the people he represents.
To begin, SAFC Representative James Castor, ‘29, informed President Rich that, according to members of the football team, all questions to Rep. Smucker were pre-screened. Attendees of the talk were not allowed to ask political questions. Only questions regarding football or leadership were permitted. President Rich explained that he was completely unaware of this fact. To his knowledge, there were no constraints set on the event. He informed the Congress that he would look into it. Another student noted that members of other teams were rumored to be in attendance, namely members of the wrestling team. President Rich agreed, explaining that the intern who gave Smucker’s introduction was on the wrestling team. He was unsure if other wrestlers were present at the talk.
Another question: Why was the event not publicized? If Rep. Smucker himself had not posted the event after the fact, students might not have even known that it happened. There weren’t any posters or posts on Ampersand, which was thought to be a standard rule for all events. Why was that? President Rich clarified that the Office of the President, faculty, and even students are not required to post on Ampersand. “There’s no smoking gun here,” the president reassured students. A large point of contention lay in the fact that, for the past two years, F&M votes had attempted to host Smucker on campus. Rich understood how this could be frustrating.
President Rich suggested that the anger surrounding the visit might be a projection of student’s dislike for the Congressman. DipCon President Ibrahim clarified that, for the most part, the Congress had agreed that Smucker should be allowed to visit. Rather, the issue was that more people did not know that the Congressman had even been there. Rich recognized that the audience seemed unbalanced. “It was a lot of guys,” he said. He understood how that could be striking, and how it was not a good look. However, he encouraged all students to reach out to elected officials and invite them to campus.
Finally, a student voiced concerns that the visit could be electioneering. Smucker arrived on the eve of the midterm elections. Although it was not an official form of electioneering, Smucker’s post could be construed as such. President Rich countered: the nature of the congressman title implies that representatives are always, in some way, acting in order to be reelected. However, Rich reiterated his discomfort at the notion of pre-screened questions.
With that, President Rich said goodnight to the Congress.
All About The Switch
Bob Mikus, the interim Vice President of Student Affairs, stepped up to the podium next. He told the Congress that he had served in the same position at another institution. However, he had no interest in maintaining the position long-term. He prefers to work directly with students. He opened up for questions, pretending that he would be honest if he could not answer them specifically.
First, Mikus outlined the differences in his two positions at F&M. As Vice President of Student Affairs, he would work on aspects outside the classroom. Namely, Mikys would work on the dining issue. He told the Congress that he was working hard in that area. “The big-wigs are working in this one,” he explained. Although he would be taking on some of the former Vice President’s roles, he would not take them all.
In his time as Vice President, Mikus would not be enacting major change. Rather, he noted his intentions to attack the “low-hanging fruit.” For example, he would like to establish stronger assessments in cocurriculum. Mikus would like to change assessments in a way that is done well and fast. He also explained that Drew Stelljes would be on board as an advisor during the transition period, but not necessarily be on campus.
Regular Programming
After a brief recess, DipCon President Ibrahim encouraged students in the room to continue to use their voices. Submit proposals. Interact with issues you care about. “Any conversation that is uncomfortable is probably a conversation worth having, in this case,” he spoke.
Each of the representatives announced upcoming events, which can be found on F&M’s Ampersand.
The meeting concluded at 9:30 p.m.
Sophomore Sarah Henches is the Featrues Editor. Her email is shenches@fandm.edu.