1939-1940
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Whitman Varsity Debaters
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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,
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Whitman News
A. Walter A. Bratton was the college president.
B. Earl Dusenberry was the ASWC president.
C. John Ackley was the debate coach.
D. Dick Elles was the team manager.
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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
46. Oral Interpretation. ENGLISH
47. Argumentation and Debate. ENGLISH
56. Public Speaking. ENGLISH
57-58. Dramatic Interpretation ENGLISH
75 or 76. Advanced Public Speaking.
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1940
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 1 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
twenty members each. Required of all freshmen. Correlates with Course 1 or 2.
Three
hours, one semester. E. B.
M. Davis, Ackley
27 or 28. INTERPRETATION OP THE
PRINTED PAGE.—NOT open to students above the sophomore year. Minimum
registration twelve; maximum registration twenty-four.
Two
hours, one semester. E.
B. M. Davis
45. ORAL INTERPRETATION.—This course aims
to develop ability to aloud and to gain through oral interpretation an
appreciation of literature. Attention
is given to voice training. Open to sophomores.
Two
hours, first semester. E.
B. M. Davis
47. ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE.—A study of
principles of argumentative 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. Ack1ey
56. PUBLIC SPEAKING.—A study of the
elements of effective public speaking with frequent practice in speaking before
the class. Standard of vocal habits, of delivery, of diction, and of
pronunciation are stressed. Minimum registration ten; maximum registration
twenty.
Three
hours, second 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.—Thi5 course
includes training in~ debate,
oratory, extempore and radio speaking.
One,
two, or three 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
The John Brining Prizes in Extemporaneous Speaking of
$12.50 each are awarded to the best man and woman speakers in a speaking
contest that is open to all members of the freshman class.
The Delta Gamma Reading Prizes of $25, $15, and $10
are awarded at Commencement to the students who read during the year with
intelligence and appreciation the largest amount of good literature, apart from
their required college work.
The Dovell-Gose Prizes in Oratory of $30 and $20 are
awarded at Commencement to students upon the basis of a contest in
oratory. The contest is open to
sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
The Austin Rice Debate Trophy is awarded to the
champion women’s intramural debate team.
The Hugh Elmer Brown Debate Trophy is awarded to the
champion men’s intramural debate team.
The John Brining Prizes in Freshman Extemporaneous
Speaking—
Susan Louise Hilt, Class of 1942
Edgar Malcolm Adams, Jr., Class of 1942
The Dovell-Gose Prizes in Oratory—
First: William Owen Pugh, Class of 1939
Second: Betty Jean Dykstra, Class of 1941
World News
II.
In the world
B. “Fantasia” introduced stereo sound to the American public.
C.
The Nazis chose the town of
In a close play-off debate, Phi Delts Gene Chaney and Dick Turner broke a tie with Betas Paul Webb and Storrs Clough to win the intramural laurels. The question was the varsity isolation issue. A new silver cup, the Ackley Trophy, was originated this year by the four fraternities in honor of "Coach." It will stand in his office until next season when it will be presented to the intramural winners. In the women's intramural series the final schedules had not been held at press time, but the independent women's team of Nancy Libby and Anne Scheuch ranked at the top at the time.
An honorary for freshmen women, Ye Taike Shoppe members live up to their name. The club was organized as a debating society but has evolved to the point where now it is a strong force in formulating opinion and discussing the problems of the women in general. No longer does the club challenge the freshmen men to debates. Now it devotes its bi-monthly meetings to the study of techniques of speaking. Under the able guidance of Miss Maurine Clow, the women take as the subject matter for their talks, debates, extemporaneous speeches and impromptu talks such material as the Women's Self Government rules and the philosophy of dormitory life. The girls who wear the white sweaters with the green and white gavels, the insignia of the honorary, are chosen each fall through trial by fire or since it is a talkers' honorary, more appropriately speaking. The women trying for the group give impromptu talks on subjects prepared by the judges. The dinner meetings are always planned according to a theme of the month such as St. Patrick's Day or Christmas. Oftentimes guest speakers are asked to discuss world affairs or other fields of knowledge.
Team Awards
III. Debate at Whitman
A. Intramural debate
1. The Phi Delta Theta team of Gene Chaney and Dick Turner broke a tie with Betas Pal Webb and Storrs Clough to win the IM competition on the issue of varsity isolation.
2. A new silver cup, the Ackley Trophy, was originated by the four fraternities in honor of Coach Ackley and was presented to the IM winners.
B. Intercollegiate debate
1.
The highlight of the season was Whitman’s win in
2. Whitman won seven of the eight triangular debates, making Whitman the first name inscribed on the new Frank Fielding Nalder trophy.
3.
At
4.
At the Linfield tournament, four teams placed in semis,
including Betty Lyman and Sue Hilt in women’s junior debate, while Benedict,
5.
During the Pacific Forensics League meet in
baker ferguson, '39, wrote to jim hanson sometime around 2001 that ross reid (ultimately a whitman trustee), perhaps the best ever whittie in forensics, had a friend in forensics, weir clark, whose nickname was doctor. when ross was stuck for a bit of evidence, he would quote "doctor weir clark." whether or not he subsequently consulted his authority to receive ex post facto confirmation of his quotation is unknown, if unlikely.