On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Franklin & Marshall’s 18th Diplomatic Congress held its weekly meeting.
A New Era for F&M
One of the most pressing topics of conversation was the discussion of prospective mascots.
DipCon presented that only 20% of submissions are from current students of F&M, while a whopping 50% come from alumni. About 15% of the ideas came from staff, 4% from faculty, and 11% from other groups. Leading submissions include different types of dogs, birds, knights, the infamous DiploBat, and objects like swords and shields. Even Ben and John, the previous mascots, made an appearance on the list.
Congress and Student Body President, Caroline Riegel ‘26, shared that many proposals are currently confidential. However, she hinted at the development of a Spirit Squad at F&M, with a dance team, cheer squad, and pep band. She expressed her commitment to an equitable relationship between the Diplomatic Congress and F&M’s athletic programs, with hopes to see more crossover between the two groups.
Student Rumblings and Recognition
The Congress then broke into groups to discuss DipCon Engagement. One group was asked to write anonymous messages à la the Fizz app to see what the student body is talking about. Parliamentarian, Georgia Scherer ‘27, urged the group to speak not only of subjects that pertained to DipCon, but of anything that might be troubling students. “What’s happening on campus that people are talking about?” she asked. “We want to know what’s affecting people.” Topics ranged from concern for the overworked employees in the Student Center, to heating/plumbing issues in residence houses, to club budget transparency. The casual presentation of the responses, sprinkled with hashtags and internet slang, allowed for ample discussion.
Another group discussed the possibility of the F&Mies, an awards ceremony for groups and individuals in the F&M community. The awards would be announced in January, opening voting to the student body. The selection would be narrowed down to five nominees per category. The prospective date for the ceremony is currently April 16, 2026.
Diplomatic Outreach
External Engagement Officer, Ariel Levine ‘27, explained to the congregation that, due to the federal government shutdown, residents of Pennsylvania relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not receive their monthly payments. The Congress was encouraged to devote even a small portion of its time to various organizations that aim to help those affected. “Spar[ing] one singular hour of your life will help so many people,” Levine emphasized. College Entertainment Committee Representative, Hildy Wicks ‘28, reminded the Congress that Lancaster County social service cuts will also affect citizens. Groups such as Habitat for Humanity, PIAC, Blessings of Hope, and CWS Food Pantry were among the list of places looking for volunteers. Levine prompted students to bring friends with them to help the community during this time of need.
The third group sought to find ways to make volunteer service work more accessible to F&M students. Congress and Student Body Vice President, Kiernan Keller ‘26, suggested that the college find a service that relates to specific groups on campus. For example, youth sports volunteer opportunities would appeal to student athletes, while bicultural/bilingual service would appeal to international students. The group also proposed bus services to bring students to and from volunteer events for convenience.
The congress opened up to representatives from groups on campus to share their upcoming events. Raymond the Amish Comic, as seen on America’s Got Talent, will be performing at Ben’s Underground on November 5, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Amish refreshments will be served as well. ISAB’s Badminton Tournament will be held on November 1 at 2:00 p.m. in the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center. The Alice Drum Women’s Center’s pie event with F&M’s President Andrew Rich will be on November 13.
The meeting concluded with “Deserving Dips,” the weekly tradition in which DipCon members are recognized for their devotion to F&M’s community. Communications Director Anna Purchase ‘27 read aloud last week’s nominees, thanking them for their various contributions to the Congress.
Freshman Sarah Henches ‘29 is a Contributing Writer. Her email is shenches@fandm.edu