1957-1958

The Faculty

Dean McSloy, Director of Forensics

Evelyn Robinson was the president of Pi Kappa Delta and the chairperson of intramural debate.

Brian Ehle was the intercollegiate debate manger.

Arlene DuMond

Assistant Professor, Speech

B.F.A., M.F.A., Carnegie Institute of Technology

The Yearbook said

Junior and Senior Varsity Debate

Standing: John Martin, Boa Diley, Alice Brown, Diane Gunsul, Barbara Jesseph, Anita Crall, Marca Fellman.

Seated: Shukri Estassi, Marietta Stark, Byron Ehle, Evelyn Robinson, Bruce Campbell

Whitman's varsity debate team downed sixteen northwest colleges to win the sweepstakes award in the State College of Washington Invitational Tournament, the highlight of a successful season.

Gold trophies were won by both the senior men and women's divisions, and the team itself was awarded the traditional trophy for sweepstakes winners, "The Trenching Tool."

Other big events of the year included a trip by Dennis O'Brien and Byron Ehle to the Western States Speech Tournament in Los Angeles where Dennis won a certificate of distinction. Whitman College was also host to the Pacific Forensic League Tournament in the spring.

Students participating in the year's forensic activities, directed by Dean F. McSloy, were: Shukri Estassi, Anita Crall, Marietta Stark, Keener Boyce, Lance Jensen, Diane Gunsul, Mary Alice Brown, John Martin, Robert Dickey, Margo Fellman, Bruce Campbell, Evelyn Robinson, Barbara Jesseph, Dennis O'Brien and Byron Ehle.

The debate group reported that it was a good year activity-wise for the team attended a greater number of tournaments than usual, bringing home several first and second place awards.

Whitman News

A. Whitman’s old library, also known as Reynolds Hall became home to the English department.

B. A $25,000 addition to the SUB provided for a larger post office, an additional meeting room, more bookstore and storage space, and a full basement.

C. Seven new faculty and two visiting professors joined the English, mathematics, political science, sociology, education, economics, and music departments.

D. Wayne Silzel was the student body president.

E. Dr. Chester C. Maxey was the college president.

A. Whitman was hit hard by an outbreak of Asian influenza. In October and November, the infirmary treated 214 cases while extra nurses and student helpers treated an additional 320 cases in special quarters within dorms and fraternity houses.

B. March 13, a fire of undetermined origin gutted the Whitman Theater, causing $40,000 to $50,000 in damage and delaying the opening of “Guys and Dolls” until late May.

C. The Pioneer ran public notices urging students to drive cautiously, along with ads for Viceroy and L & M cigarettes and for bridal sets at Falkenberg’s Jewelers.

D. Co-ed fashions took on an Oriental flavor as the Mandarin or Shanghai dress, with a slim, tapered fit and mandarin collar, became popular evening wear.

Speech Major and Courses

THE MAJOR: Thirteen hours selected from courses in speech; Dramatic Art 47, 48; twelve hours selected from English 25, 26, 35, 36, 39, 40, 75, 76, 79, 80; three hours selected from History 27, 28, 57, 58, 61, 62, 64. Of the total of thirty-six hours, eighteen must be in courses numbered above 50. Advised: As much additional work in dramatic art as time permits.

SPEECH 11, 12. Fundamentals of Speech, 3 hours.

SPEECH 41. Theory and Practice of Discussion, 3 hours.

SPEECH 42. Argumentation and Persuasion, 3 hours.

SPEECH 43, 44. Principles and Practice of Debate, 2hours.

SPEECH 51. Business and Professional Speech, 3 hours.

SPEECH 53. Introduction to Radio and Television, 3 hours.

SPEECH 72. Radio Production and Direction, 3 hours.

SPEECH 78. Oral Interpretation, 3 hours.

SPEECH 80. Voice Science and Phonetics, 3 hours.

SPEECH 81. Introduction to Speech Correction, 3 hours.

SPEECH 82. Problems in Speech Correction, 2 or 3 hours

SPEECH 85, 86. Senior Honors Course, 3 hours.

Intramural Debate

WINNING TEAMS: Delta Delta Delta: Mary Alice Brown, Barbara Jesseph; Phi Delta Theta: Lance Jensen, Keener Boyce.

Winners of the intramural debate tournament this year were Delta Delta Delta and Phi Delta Theta, in the women and men's divisions respectively. The Independent Women and Sigma Chi groups were runners-up.

Barbara Jesseph and Mary Alice Brown, Tri Delta, and Lance Jensen and Keener Boyce, Phi Delta Theta, were the winning team members.

Junior Varsity members were chosen for their outstanding performance from the intramural teams, which were directed by Evelyn Robinson and advised by Dean F. McSloy. In addition to providing opportunities for prospective debaters, the forensic activities offer increasing interest as competition becomes greater among the social groups.

World News

A. Problems between Israel and Egypt occupied international attention. Whitman hosted a debate of the issues featuring senior Shukri Estassi of Cairo and Kamal Mansour, and Israeli Arab and a correspondent for the Israeli press.

B. On the national level, American attention focused on Little Rock, Arkansas, where federal troops were in place to enforce court-ordered integration of Central High School. In retaliation the Little Rock city council ordered the arrest of all officers of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People within the city, saying that the NAACP had not filed a report of confidential records as required by a new city ordinance.

C. “The Rome Treaty established the European Economic Community”, otherwise known as the Common Market.

D. “The Soviet Union launched its first satellite, Sputnik, into space marking the beginning of the Space Age.”

E. President Eisenhower ordered federal troops to integrate schools in Little Rock.

F. A nine year military dictatorship in Venezuela was ousted.

G. “Francois Duvalier was elected President of Haiti which began a 14-year dictatorship and reign of terror.”

H. “The US and USSR successfully launched Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.”

I. “In Montgomery Alabama, six African-American churches and the home of two ministers are bombed”

J. “In Indonesia, some who belong to a Muslim group hostile to President Sukarno, hurl some grenades at him while he is leaving a school. Ten are killed and 48 children injured.”

Team Awards

A. Intramural debate

1. The topic for the tournament, which was planned and administered by Pi Kappa Delta and took place October 21-23 and November 18, was “Resolved: That membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment should be illegal.”

2. In the men’s contest, the Phi Delta Theta team of Lance Jensen and Kenner Boyce on the affirmative took first over the Sigma Chi team of Gary Davis and Bob Nygren.

3. The Delta Delta Delta team of Barbara Jesseph and Mary Alice Brown on the affirmative won the women’s division over the independent team of Margo Fellman and Donna Keeney.

B. Intercollegiate debate

1. The topic was the same as the intramural topic.

2. November 1 and 2, four Whitman teams competed against over 140 other debaters from 16 other Northwest schools at the Pacific Lutheran College Tournament.

a. Estassi tied for first in senior men’s oratory and won third in impromptu speaking.

b. Marietta Stark and Diane Gunsul tied for second in junior women’s debate.

c. Stark also took second in junior women’s oratory.

3. Seven Whitman teams competed at the Washington State College Invitational Tournament, November 22 and 23, against over 90 students from 15 other Northwest Schools in this debate-only tournament.

a. Whitman won the “Trenching Tool” for sweepstakes.

b. Fellman and Brown won the women’s championship division with the only 6-0 record in the tournament.

c. John Martin and Jensen tied with the University of Idaho and Washington State College for first in the men’s championship division with a 5-1 record.

4. November 25-27, Dennis O’Brien and Ehle attended the Western States Speech Tournament at Pepperdine College in Los Angeles.

a. O’Brien was a semi-finalist in oratory and won a certificate of distinction.

b. Ehle and O’Brien were eliminated in the fourth round with a 2-2 record.

5. Three Whitman teams competed in at the University of Idaho in the annual Junior Varsity Tournament, January 17 and 18, against six other schools.

a. O’Brien and Robert Dickey won second place with a 5-1 record.

b. Fellman and Brown had a 4-2 record and won third.

c. Whitman had the highest percentage of wins with a 12-6 overall record.

d. Washington State College won the tournament.

6. March 6-8, six Whitties attend the Tournament of Champions at Linfield, one of the largest tournaments in the U. S., with more than 500 competitors and 45 schools.

a. Whitman’s two debate teams were eliminated after six rounds, as was Whitman’s Lincoln-Douglas debater.

b. No Whitties placed.

7. April 11 and 12, nine Whitties traveled to Pocatello, Idaho, to compete at the Province of the Northwest Speech Tournament at Idaho State College, sponsored by Pi Kappa Delta. Twelve Northwest schools and over 120 students competed.

a. O’Brien and Ehle were quarterfinalist with 18 of 20 points.

b. Bruce Campbell and Dickey had a 2-4 record and 15 points.

c. Fellman and Brown, and Gunsul and Stark had 2-2 records and 14 points per team.

d. O’Brien and Brown were finalists in extemporaneous speaking.

e. Whitman was the largest team at the tournament.

8. April 16-18, Whitman hosted eight schools at the Pacific Forensic League convention and tournament, as Directory of Forensics, Prof. McSloy, was the organization’s president. Whitman entered six students.

a. Ehle and O’Brien won debate with a 5-1 record.

b. O’Brien took first in extemporaneous speaking.

c. Estassi received an honorable mention for third in oratory.

d. Martin was selected as an outstanding discussant and group leader in discussion sequence.

9. Whitman hosted five Washington State College teams in a dual meet on May 10.

a. Ehle and O’Brien won three debates.

b. Fellman and Brown won two rounds.

c. Whitman won first with a combined record of 5-3.

10. About 14 students traveled with the team during the year.