{"id":2712,"date":"2014-07-24T15:18:04","date_gmt":"2014-07-24T19:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/?p=2712"},"modified":"2019-05-29T10:08:28","modified_gmt":"2019-05-29T14:08:28","slug":"resolved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/resolved\/","title":{"rendered":"Resolved . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the last several decades, formal forensic debate has led a somewhat checkered history at Williston.\u00a0 Last year a new Political Awareness Club presented several well-attended and well-argued, if informal, debates.\u00a0 And in 2013 members of the AP U.S. History class went all the way to the national We The People finals in Washington.\u00a0 So debate is currently alive and in reasonable health.\u00a0 But it doesn\u2019t compare with what was arguably a golden age of debating, for roughly sixty years beginning around 1860.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A Gamma Sigma debate, ca. 1935. (WIlliam Rittase) (Click all images to enlarge.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were two rival societies: Adelphi (\u201cBrotherhood\u201d), representing students from the Classical side of the curriculum; and Gamma Sigma (from the Greek initials for Socrates’ admonition to \u201cKnow Thyself\u201d), drawing its membership from students in the Scientific program.\u00a0 The elder society, Adelphi, was founded in 1853, and was initially open to all students.\u00a0 But the growth of the Scientific program produced friction.\u00a0 The Classicals arrogated to themselves a tradition that as members of the intellectually superior division of the Seminary, all positions of leadership within Adelphi should devolve to them.\u00a0 Naturally the Scientifics objected.\u00a0 Unable either to achieve compromise or extract an appropriate apology, in 1870 they withdrew from Adelphi and founded their own organization.\u00a0 The rivalry continued unabated for decades, long after the initial slight was forgotten.<\/p>\n

\"Adelphi's<\/a>
Adelphi’s unequivocal motto. (Constitution and By-Laws, 1858)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In March, 1881, an attempt at reconciliation resulted in the creation of the campus newspaper, The Willistonian<\/em>, to be \u201cpublished by the Societies of Williston Seminary.\u201d\u00a0 Good feeling and cooperation lasted for exactly one issue, after which Adelphi published The Willistonian<\/em> on its own.\u00a0 (The newspaper became independent of either society in 1894.)<\/p>\n

Both Adelphi and Gamma Sigma were essential elements in campus culture.\u00a0 Each society held frequent, sometimes weekly debates, which were open to the public and often drew substantial audiences from the town.\u00a0 A typical program included not only debate, but an oration, readings, and music.\u00a0 Both organizations also published magazines\u00a0\u2014 Adelphi\u2019s Oracle<\/em> and Gamma Sigma\u2019s Mirror<\/em> \u2014 offered banquets and entertainments to their members, and maintained well-stocked reading rooms long before it occurred to the administration that the Seminary ought to have a library.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Gamma Sigma team of 1913, dressed to the nines for the joint debate. Thomas F. Kiley ’14, Timothy J. O’Brien ’15, and John M. Lynch ’13.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1886 the F. C. Fraternity sponsored the first of a long tradition of joint debates, for which they donated a cup.\u00a0 With tongue only partially in cheek, the resolution for the evening concerned the superiority of a Scientific education over Classical.\u00a0 These annual contests became so popular that the organizers used the Town Hall or Payson Church to accommodate large crowds.\u00a0 Participants typically wore formal dress, while The Willistonian<\/em> covered the event with the passionate detail usually afforded only to football games.\u00a0\u00a0 Often faculty and community leaders were invited to be judges.<\/p>\n

A sampling of debate topics shows considerable breadth of interest.\u00a0 Occasionally a resolution might appear sophomoric, and the students, then as now, often phrased resolutions with unnecessary complexity — demanding, for example, that the affirmative side argue a negative, as in the first three examples below.\u00a0 In the aggregate, the resolutions represent a cross-section of the hot issues of the day.<\/p>\n

Resolved, \u201cThat the name of John Brown is unworthy of respect.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, March 9, 1860)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the course of the United States, in the War with Mexico, was unjustifiable.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, July 20, 1860)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the odium cast upon the name of Aaron Burr is unjustifiable.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, July 19, 1861)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat slavery has effected more injury to our country, than the ambition of the people to gain posts of influence and honor.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, November 8, 1861)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the Government should consider the Seceded States as Territories.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, July 18, 1862)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the present war will be beneficial to the whole country.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, June 24, 1863)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat contending political parties are beneficial to a Government.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, June 22, 1864)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the right of suffrage ought to be secured to the liberated slaves, immediately, upon the re-admission of the rebellious States.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, June 21, 1865.)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat San Domingo ought to be annexed to the United States.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, March 1, 1871)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The program from the first annual joint debate, 1886. The decision went to Gamma Sigma, who argued the affirmative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThat a Scientific education is preferable to a classical education.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, December 10, 1886)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Utah should become a state.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 2, 1887)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat home rule should be granted to Ireland.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, May 18, 1888)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the annexation of Canada to the United States would be beneficial to both these countries.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 9, 1892)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the World\u2019s Fair should be open on Sunday.\u201d\u00a0 (Gamma Sigma, January 27, 1893.)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat a tariff for revenue only, would be pernicious to the welfare of the United States.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 14, 1894)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Canada should be annexed to the United States.\u201d\u00a0 (Gamma Sigma, February 1, 1895) [Apparently this topic wouldn\u2019t go away quietly.]<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Profit Sharing is for the best interests of Capital and Labor.\u201d\u00a0 (Gamma Sigma, January 31, 1896)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Suffrage should not be granted to women.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 20, 1896)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Willistonian devoted two full pages, including the front, to the joint Women Suffrage debate of 1896. (A copy of the full article may be obtained from the Archives.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThat the Jury System should be abolished.\u201d\u00a0 (Gamma Sigma, January 22, 1897)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the action of the United States government in excluding the Chinese is justifiable.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 26, 1897)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the Negro ought not to have been Enfranchised.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 19, 1898)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the United States should pursue the policy of expansion.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 17, 1899)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat England is justified in her present action in the Transvaal.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, April 13, 1900)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the present License Law of Massachusetts should be superseded by a system which should secure to the public all the profits of the sale of alcoholic drinks above 5 per cent. on the capital invested and should then apply these profits to diminish the temptations to intemperance.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 13, 1901.)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Organized Labor has been a greater menace to the commonwealth than organized capital.\u201d\u00a0 (Gamma Sigma, January 17, 1902)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the Chinese exclusion bill should be re-enacted.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, May 23, 1902)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The joint debate of May 23, 1902. What exactly comprised the “Miracle,” which appears on many programs, is not known.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThat the evils resulting from the working and influence of trusts and monopolies outweigh the benefits.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, June 5, 1903)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the interests of the world would be advanced more by the success of Japan than that of Russia in the present war.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 9, 1904)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat it should be the policy of the United States not to hold territory permanently unless with the purpose that it shall ultimately enjoy statehood.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 17, 1905)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the recommendation of President Roosevelt in his speech of April 14, regarding the limitation of great fortunes, should be adopted.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 7, 1906)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat employers should be liable for any injuries received by their employees arising from their employment.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 18, 1908)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the history of the trades unions for the past ten years, shows a tendency detrimental to the best interests of the people.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, January 26, 1912)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Capital Punishment should be abolished.\u201d\u00a0 (Gamma Sigma, February 2, 1912)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The program from the Gamma Sigma debate of February 2, 1912, with judge’s notes in the distinctive blue pencil of Professor Sydney Nelson Morse.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThat American coastwise ships should be charged toll for passage through the Panama Canal.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, February 14, 1913)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat further restriction of European immigration is desirable.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 14, 1913)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the discrimination against land-owning of the Japanese in California is unjustifiable.\u201d\u00a0 (Adelphi, December 13, 1914)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the Philippine Islands should be given absolute independence.\u201d\u00a0 (Gamma Sigma, February 27, 1914)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat there should be compulsory military training in all secondary schools of the United States.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 9, 1917)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat at the close of the present war, the United States should lend its aid in the establishment of an international police court to enforce peace.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 15, 1918)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the League of Nations is the best preventative for future wars.\u201d\u00a0 (Joint debate, March 14, 1919)<\/p>\n

After the Great War, debate entered a period of gradual decline.\u00a0 Curricular reform had eliminated the divisions between Scientific and Classical, rendering the need for two dedicated societies irrelevant.\u00a0 Ultimately they merged, and enjoyed a reduced existence as Adelphi-Gamma Sigma into the 1960s.\u00a0 But the rise of other, less rigorous entertainments \u2014 movies, the radio, etc. \u2014 diluted interest in debate.\u00a0 Perhaps another golden age lies ahead of us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the last several decades, formal forensic debate has led a somewhat checkered history at Williston.\u00a0 Last year a new Political Awareness Club presented several well-attended and well-argued, if informal, debates.\u00a0 And in 2013 members of the AP U.S. History class went all the way to the national We The People finals in Washington.\u00a0 So … Continue reading Resolved . . .<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[453,25],"tags":[339,338,341,340],"class_list":["post-2712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-student-life","category-williston-seminary","tag-adelphi","tag-debate","tag-forensics","tag-gamma-sigma"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2712"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2735,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712\/revisions\/2735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}