1954-1955

The Yearbook said With the completion of intramural debate, the Varsity Debate Team commenced its long season with increased interest. Following a practice debate at Seattle Pacific college early in the fall, they attended two meets at Washington State college, and one at Linfield college, participating in debate, extemporary reading, impromptu reading, and interpretative reading. Whitman was ably represented by Ned Lange, Fred Shields, Joan Benefiel, Sue McCarter and Reginald Green of the Senior Varsity Squad, who all returned with good records. A Tri-angular meet was held at Whitman in May, comprised of WSC, Idaho and Whitman. A new establishment this year is Pi Kappa Delta, national Debate honorary, whose charter was granted to Whitman College in April. Under the able coaching of Dean F. McSloy, director of forensics, the Senior Varsity as well as the junior Varsity, comprised of Doris Eckhart, Larry Lutcher, Jim Joy, Othal Lakey, George Flynn, Tim Hill and Pat Gowen, proved exceptionally successful and promising.

The Faculty Dean McSloy, Director of Forensics Reginald Green was the debate manager. Faber DeChaine Instructor in Speech and Dramatics B.A., Univ. of Oregon M.A., Michigan State College

Whitman News

·         The college added 6 new professors to the faculty.

·         In the division of arts and letters, Wayne W. Soper, instructor in philosophy; Dean F McSloy, associate professor of speech; and Rev. F.R. Elliot, lecturer in religion, were added.

·         The division of basic sciences added Dr. Herbert E. Chrestenson, associate professor of mathematics, and Julia Schmitz, lecturer in biology.

·         The Conservatory adds Thomas H. Snook, instructor of music, to its staff.

·         Neil Goff was the student body president.

·         Chester C. Maxey was the college president.

·         Dean McSloy was the debate coach.

·         Reginald Green was the debate manager.

·         The Agnes Healy Anderson Memorial Hall opens its doors to house 150 women. Built in the Georgian style of Lyman and Prentiss Halls, Anderson sits behind Prentiss, on what was the IM field.

·         Major remodeling happened all over campus. The Prentiss Hall kitchen and dining room was remodeled, doubling its size so that it could serve as a dining room for Anderson Hall as well. MacDowell Hall in the music conservatory was redecorated. A new science lab was added to Billings Hall. The inside of the Student Union Building was entirely redecorated, and most of the fraternity houses were renovated.

·         President Eisenhower came to Walla Walla! En route to McNary Dam, the President stayed in the Whitman Hotel. Walla Walla went nuts over the visit! Hundreds of Whitties crowded the curbs of Issacs as the Presidential cavalcade made its way from the airport to downtown.

·         The Pioneer ran ads for Chesterfield cigarettes, C & M cigarettes, and Union Pacific Railroad.

Team Members 1954

Left to right: Tim Hill, Jim Joy, Reg Green, Pat Gowen, Sue McCarter, Fred Shields, Larry Lutcher, Ned Lange

Intramural Debate 1954 For the past few years, intramural debate has been an important part of extra-curricular activities by providing opportunity for prospective debaters. Rivalry among the social organizations has brought about increased interest, and each year it proves to be bigger and better. Dean F. McSloy, director of forensics, and Reginald Green, debate manager, selected Doris Eckhart and Joyce Berney, Delta Gamma, and Nagle Jackson, Beta Them Pi, as the winners of this annual event, speaking on the subject, "Resolved: That the United States should extend diplomatic recognition to the Communist government of China." Additions to the Junior Varsity Squad resulting from outstanding performances in intramural debate numbered six: Ruby Bunch, Doris Eckhart, Margaret Savage, George Flynn, Nagle Jackson and Jim Joy.

Speech Major and Courses THE MAJOR: Thirteen hours selected from courses in speech; Dramatic Art 55, 56; 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 Debate, 3 hours. SPEECH 43. Intercollegiate Debate, 1 hour. 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.

World News

·         The submarine Nautilus sails under atomic power, the first of its kind.

·         Jonas Salk develops a vaccine against polio.

·         Winston Churchill retires as Prime Minister of Great Britain.

· Eight nations formed the South East Asia Treaty Organization or S.E.A.T.O., “a
collective security alliance modeled on N.A.T.O.”

· Senator Joe McCarthy “attempted to investigate the US Army in his Communist witch-hunt” through televised hearings.

· Segregation is ruled to be unconstitutional in the case of Brown v. the Board of
Education.

· Boeing unveils the 707 – the first jet aircraft to be commercially successful.

· “A team from Harvard Medical School successfully completed the first kidney transplant.”

· “First Lady Mamie Eisenhower christened the nation’s first atomic-powered submarine”, the “Nautilus.”

· A meeting of the foreign ministers of the US, the Soviet Union, France and Great
Britain was held in Berlin.

· The Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into a “Communist North
and Non-Communist South.”

· “Dien Bien Phu, a French military outpost in Vietnam falls to
Vietminh army.”

Debate News at Whitman

·         The topic for both intramural and intercollegiate debate was, "Resolved: That the United States should extend diplomatic recognition to the communist government of China."

·         In the intramural competition, Joyce Berney and Doris Eckhart won the women's division for Delta Gamma, and Nagel Jackson, debating alone for Beta Theta Pi won the men's competition. Reg Green was the IM chairman.

·         The Chester C. Maxey award for Intercollegiate Forensics is established.

·         Whitman College receives a charter of Phi Kappa Delta, Forensic National Honorary Society.

·         Note: John Ackley, Intramural Debate Men’s Prize; Austin Rice was the Women’s Prize; Delta Gamma Prize in Forensics was given out; it was for $60.

Team Awards

·         Two Whitman teams attended the Columbia Valley debate tournament at WSU. The teams' combined record was 9 wins and 3 losses, ranking them first in win percentage. Individually, both the men's team of Reg Green and George Flynn and women's team of Ruby Bunch and Doris Eckhart placed second. This triumph came despite the fact that 3 of the 4 debaters were freshman.

·         At the Seattle Pacific tournament, Whitman received 2 second place awards, and 3 third place awards. Stand outs included Pat Gowan, Doris Eckhart, and James Joy.

·         At the Linfield Tournament of Champions, in early March, 10 Whitties competed in a field of 375 competitors from 20 schools. In debate, the teams had 18 wins and 12 losses. Awards included a 1st, two 2nd places, and 3 4th places. Stand outs included Reg Green, Jim Joy and Othal Lakey.

·         The Pacific Coast Forensic League meet in Moscow, Idaho, brought an unofficial 1st place award to Green and Joy.

·         The final tournament of the year was the Northwest Tau Kappa Alpha tournament in Missoula. Reg Green and Larry Lutcher won four rounds to tie for 3rd place, but in number of point awarded they were ranked number 1. Whitman also received a 4th and two 5th places in individual events.

·         In this monumental year, Whitman won four 1st places, four 2nd places, eight 3rd places, five 4th places, three 5th places, and had 3 top-six placings. This were the best results in over six years.

·         Reginald Green was ranked the number one debater in the Northwest.