1937-1938
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Whitman
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The
Faculty
John
Ackley John
William Ackley, A.M. Assistant Professor of English, A.B., University of
Redlands; A.M., University of Southern California, Instructor, and Director
of Forensics
Edith
Blackman Merrell Davis, A.B. (Mrs.) Assistant Professor English, A.B. Ripon
College; started in the English department in 1924 (she taught Latin as an
instructor prior to that).
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Team News
VIII. Whitman College in 1937-38
A. Walter Bratton was the acting college president.
B.
John Ackley was the
debate coach.
IX.
Debate at Whitman
A. A very large group of debate students graduated in
1937, so a call went out in the fall of 1937 for new members. Seven seniors
returned to the team: Marion Klobucher,
Margaret Smith, Wear Clark, Eric Hagberg, Merv Butterfield, Ross Reid, and Jed
King.
B. Women debated "Resolved: That the United States should never declare
war without the approval of the majority of the people through popular
referendum."
C. Men debated "Resolved: That the National Labor Relations Board should be empowered to
enforce arbitration of all industrial disputes."

English Faculty Photo
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Speech
Courses within the English Department ENGLISH
1 or 2. Orientation and Discussion, A
writing and speaking course. ENGLISH
15 or 16. Orientation and Discussion, A
public speaking course with a diction emphasis. ENGLISH
17 or 28. Interpretation of the Printed Page. ENGLISH
45 or 46. Oral Interpretation. ENGLISH
47. Argumentation and Debate. ENGLISH
75 or 76. Advanced Public Speaking.
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World News
IX. 1937 saw the graduation of a very large group of debate students so a call went out in the fall of 1937 for new members to join the 7 returning seniors: Marion Klobucher, Margaret Smith, Wear Clark, Eric Hagberg, Merv Butterfield, Ross Reid, and Jed King. (It helped that Wear Clark and Earl Fossum were on the Pioneer staff--publicity was easy!).
X. For 1937-38, the Men debated the question, Resolved: That the National Labor Relations board should be empowered to enforce arbitration of all industrial disputes. (Similar topics were debated in 1946 and again in 1961.
XI. For the Women, the question was Resolved: That the United States should never declare war without the approval of a majority of the people through popular referendum.
XII. Tournament Season:
A. Women’s Triangular Debates--Walla Walla, December 4
B. Men’s Triangular Debates--Pullman, December 11
1. The women placed second with a 4-4 record and WSU won. By the way, the affirmative won three times as often as the negative!
2. The men placed first with 7-1 record. Clark and Hagberg were 4-0 and Reid and Wilson were 3-1
C. Whitman also attended tournaments at Gonzaga, the University of Idaho, Linfield, College of Pacific, the Pacific Forensic League tournament in Reno.
XIII. At the Linfield tournament, the oldest tournament west of the Mississippi and the 2nd largest tournament in the nation (150 teams), Reid and King were undefeated, winning 10 debates. Baker Ferguson and Joe Wilson were finalists in debate. Reid also placed in Extemp and won third in After Dinner Speaking (his topic was “pop”).
XIV. At the PFL tournament in Reno, Reid placed 1st in Extemp, 1st in Debate with Joe Wilson, and 1st in After Dinner Speaking.
XV. In intermural debate, the Kappa team of Renata Thomas and Janet Ferguson won 4 debates to capture the women’s title.
XVI. The independent men’s team of John Snoddy and Ross Kit won 4 debates but on a “technicality,” the Beta team of Jim Hovey and Baker Ferguson received a rematch and beat the independents on a 3-2 decision and were declared the champions.
XVII. Info
A. In 1938, there were about 4 or 5 regular individual events.
B. In 1938, there was only one type of debate, Oxford.
C. In 1937, Whitman celebrated the 100th triangular debate.
Intramural Debaters


Speech Course Details
62 WHITMAN COLLEGE
Department
of English
(See
Major Studies, C, 2, page 58).
Courses
in English offer: (1) Instruction and training in writing and
speaking
English as an arc and in the business of life; (2) experience,
under
guidance, in dramatic art and interpretative reading; (3) opportunity
to gain
some familiarity with and appreciation of English and American
literature.
Courses
I or 2, and 15 or 16, Orientation and Discussion, are required
of all
freshmen, except those who by reason of their proficiency in English
are
advised to substitute an elective course in writing for two hours of
Course
I or 2. Special training, carrying no college credit, is required of
students
who are deficient in English.
Personal
conference courses in writing are available in the junior and
senior
years. Students interested in journalism are referred to page 30,
and to
Course 81-82.
Attention
is given to radio speaking in Course 75-76 and Course 77-78.
Students
participating in intercollegiate forensics receive training in Course
55 or
56 and Course 75-76. All plays are produced under the direct super-
vision
of the instructor in dramatics.
In the
senior year, the English major presents a paper before majors
and
instructors of the department on a subject that he elects in the field
of his
independent reading in Course 93-94. Candidates for honors in
English
are given opportunity for individual reading and study in the junior
and
senior years in Course 93-94.
The
following courses in literature are suggested for students who are
not
English majors: 25-26, 33-34, 39, 40, 63-64, 65, 66, 71, 72.
In
1937-1938 qualified students may secure credit toward the Master
of Arts
degree in the following courses: 57-58, 81-82, 87, 88, 89, 93-94,
98,105-106.
Courses
in Writing
I or 2.
ORIENTATION AND DISCUSSION.—This course includes: (1)
lectures
and assigned reading on living in college, on the significance of
college
studies in the social sciences, in letters and arts, and in the basic
sciences; (2)
instruction and training in
effective communication of
thought
through written discussion of topics related to the lectures and
reading
in which the class is interested. Papers are presented to the class
and
also receive individual conference criticism by the instructor. Required
of all
freshmen. Correlates with Course 15 or 16.
Three
hours, one semester. W. R. Davis,
Jackson, Lovett, Ackley
64 WHITMAN COLLEGB
Courses
in Speech and Dramatic Art
15 or
16. ORIENTATION AND DISCUSSION.—This course aims to train
the
student in effective communication of his thought on topics related to
lectures
and assigned reading (described in Course I or 2), and other
topics
in which the class has interest. Speeches are given before the class
each
week. Attention is given to voice defects and the formation of right
vocal
habits. Individual direction is given as required. Men and women
are
organized into separate groups of not more than sixteen members each.
Required
of all freshmen. Correlates with Course I or 2.
Three
hours, one semester. E.
B. M. Davis, Ackley
17 or
28. INTERPRETATION OF THE PRINTED PAGE.—Not open to students
above
the sophomore year. Minimum registration twelve; maximum regis-
tration
twenty-four.
Two
hours, one semester.
E. B. M. Davis
45 or
46. ORAL INTERPRETATION.—This course aims to develop ability
to read
aloud and to gain through oral interpretation an appreciation of
literature.
Attendon is given to voice training. Open to sophomores.
Two
hours, one semester.
E. B. M. Davis
47. ARGUMENTATION
AND DEBATE.—A study of principles of argumenta-
tive
discourse and readings in current
social, economic, and political
questions.
Constant speaking before the class is used to illustrate the
application
of the principles studied to the discussion of problems in
the
field of reading.
Three
hours, first semester. Ackley
55 or
°>6. PUBLIC SPEAKING.—A study of the elements of effective pub-
lic
speaking with frequent practice in speaking before the class. Standards
of
vocal habits, of delivery, of diction, and of pronunciation are stressed.
Minimum
registration ten; maximum registration twenty.
Two
hours, one semester.
Ackley
57-58.
(Unit) DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION AND PLAY PRODUCTION.—
Instruction
and practice in dramatic interpretation followed by experience
with
problems of play production through public performance of several
plays.
Consideration is given to scene design, stage lighting, costuming,
and
directing.
Two
hours, first semester; three hours, second semester. E. B. M. Davis
75-76.
ADVANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING.—This course includes training in
radio
speaking. Prerequisites: Courses 47, and 55 or 56. Open to qualified
students
with permission of the instructor.
One or
two hours, first and second semesters. Ackley
77-78.
ADVANCED PLAY PRODUCTION.—Prerequisite: Course 57-58. Open
to
qualified students with permission of the instructor.
One or
two hours, first and second semesters.
E. B. M. Davis
Team Awards
D. Competition
1.
Women's triangular debates were held in Pullman on Decomeber 11. The
women place second with a 4-4 record, and
WSU won.
2.
Men's triangular debates were held in Walla Walla on December 4. The
men took 1st with a 4-4 record.
Clark and Hagberg were 4-0, and Reid and
Joe Wilson were 3-1.
3.
At the Pacific Forensic League Tournament in Reno, Reid place first in
extemporaneous speaking, 1st in
after dinner speaking, and 1st in debate
Wilson.
4.
At the Linfield tournament Reid and King were undefeated with a 10-0
record in debate. Baker Ferguson and
Wilson were finalists in debate. Reid
placed in extemporaneous speaking and won
3rd in after dinner speaking.
5.
Whitman also attended tournaments at Gonzaga University, the University
of Idaho, and the College of the Pacific.
E. Intramural debate
1. The Kappa
team of Renata Thomas and Janet Ferguson won the women's
title and
won four debates.
2. The
independent men's team of John Snoddy and Ross Kit won four
debates, but the Beta team of Jim Hovey and
Ferguson received a rematch
on a
technicality, beat the independents on a 3-2 decision, and were
declared
the champions.
F. In 1938, Whitman competed in Oxford debate, four to five
individual events,
and celebrated
the 100th triangular debate.

