1955-1956

The Yearbook said Debate The Varsity Debate squad continued to add to its many honors and its good record this year, as Whitman debaters tied for first place in the Idaho Invitational tournament. Varsity debaters also reached the quarter finals in the Western States tournament. In March, the Whitman speakers placed very high in the Linfield forensic tourney. Five hundred students from 45 western colleges and universities took part in the three-day meet, one of the largest debate competitions in the United States. Also in March was the Province of the Northwest Pi Kappa Delta tournament. Debates were also held with Pacific Lutheran college and Washington State college. Events scheduled for most of the debates were: debate, extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking and oratory. The question under debate this year was, Resolved: That employees in non-union industries be guaranteed an annual minimum wage. Winners in the intramural debates sponsored by the Varsity Debate team, were Betty Vaughan and Evelyn Robinson, debating for the Independent Women, and George Pettibone and Ian Turvett, for Delta Tau Delta. These were added to the junior varsity debate squad, along with Jeanie McCallum, Dorothy Ogden, Don Cole and Bill McGilchrist. Under the direction of Dean F. McSloy, director of forensics, and the honorary society, Pi Kappa Delta, the debate squad enjoyed a successful year.

The Faculty Dean McSloy, Director of Forensics First semester debate co-managers were Jo Benefield and Sue McCarter.  Second semester debate co-managers were James Joy and Larry Lutcher. Arlene DuMond Instructor in Speech B.F.A., M.F.A., Carnegie Institute of Technology

Whitman News

· The college added 5 new professors to the faculty

· The college of arts and letters added Miss Arlene De Mond, instructor of dramatic arts; Miss Myrtle Falk, lecturer of Spanish; and Dr. Mary E. Branham, lecturer in English.  

· The physical education department added Leslie R. Leggett and Jack D. Alder to the staff.  

· Ned Lange was the student body president.  

· Chester C. Maxey was the college president.  

·   Students returned in the Fall to a new style of class schedule. Classes were added to the afternoons during the week, and all classes on Saturdays were ended.  

· Fundraising for the new Penrose Memorial Library was under way, and ground breaking began in February.  

· Advertisements in the Pioneer included Chesterfield, Viceroy, and L&M cigarettes, and General Electric.  

Team Members, 1955-1956

Jim Joy, Inset, President

Standing, left to right: Fried Shields, Larry Lutcher, Tim Hill, Ned Lange, Jim Joy

Seated, left to right: Pat Gowen, Doris Eckart, Sue McCarter

Front Row: Left to Right: Byron Ehle, Carol McNew, Jean Loomis, Barbara York, Othal Lakey

Back Row: Betty Vaughan, Evelyn Robinson, Tim Hill, Arne Sutliffe, Jim Joy, Larry Lutcher

The Yearbook Said Pi Kappa Delta Pi Kappa Delta is a national honorary forensic fraternity which was installed on the Whitman campus in the spring of 195 5. This year eleven additional speakers became eligible for membership through competition in intercollegiate debate, extemporaneous speaking, oratory, impromptu speaking, student congress or other events. Women who qualified were Jean Loomis, Carol McNew, Evelyn Robinson, Betty Vaughan and Barbara York. The eligible men were Phil Clark, Donald Cole, Byron Ehle, George Pettibone, Harry Sudiffe and Bert Tucker. Participation in forensics is one of the few ways in which competition with other colleges and universities on an academic basis is possible. Whitman speakers have won two first places, four second places, and one third place in four tournaments; three more remain on the schedule. Vaughan and Robinson tied for first place at the junior Varsity Tournament at the University of Idaho. At the Linfield Tournament Lakey and Joy won first and second respectively in student congress. Ehle won second in one-man debate.

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

Racial issues were beginning to take center stage. The ICC ordered an end to racial segregation on interstate busses and trains.

East Germany is granted sovereignty from the U.S.S.R.

The health of the president was in doubt, as Eisenhower suffered a heart attack, a major illness and operation during the year.

• The Geneva Summit took place.
• “Congress authorizes President Eisenhower to use force to protect Taiwan from China.”
• “Winston Churchill, 80, steps down and Anthony Eden becomes Britain's Prime Minister.”
• Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine is found effective and is used to inoculate children against polio.
• The first McDonalds restaurant opens in Des Plains, Illinois.
• “A four-power Foreign Ministers’ conference in Vienna” agreed on a peace treaty with Austria “designed to insure Austrian neutrality.”
• West Germany became a member of N.A.T.O.
• “Rosa Parks refuses to sit at the back of the bus. Martin Luther King, Jr., leads black boycott of Montgomery, Ala., bus system.”

“The Warsaw Pact was established and signed in response to the NATO treaty.”

Team Awards

A.     The topic of debate for both intramural and intercollegiate competition was "Resolved: That the non-agricultural industries should guarantee to their employers an annual minimum wage."

B.     George Pettibone and Ian Tervet of Delt Tau Delta and Evelyn Robinson and Betty Vaughan of the Independent women won the intramural debate competition.

C.     Intercollegiate debate

1.      At the Columbia Valley Tournament in mid-November, attended by 6 Whitman teams, the team of Larry Lutcher and Bert Tucker tied for second place.

2.      One week later, Bert Tucker showed his versatility, taking 3^rd place in impromptu at the Pacific Lutheran Tournament.

3.      Ten debaters traveled to the University of Idaho invitational for junior varsity competition. Evelyn Robinson and Betty Vaughan placed 1^st, and as a team, the Whitties had the highest win percentage of the tournament.

4.      The Linfield Tournament in March took 7 debaters to McMinnville. Othal Lakey took 1^st place and James Joy took 3^rd place in Student Congress, and Byron Ehle took 2^nd in one-man debate. Betty Vaughan and Evelyn Robinson won 2^nd in JV debate. The Linfield tournament is one of the largest, with a field of 500 competitors from 45 schools.

5.      Six Whitties attended the Pi Kappa Delta Northwest Tournament at Washington State College. Betty Vaughan and Evelyn Robinson tied for 2^nd in the women's division. Larry Lutcher and Bert Tucker tied for 3^rd in their division.

6.      Harry Sutcliffe and Byron Elhe traveled to the Pacific Forensic League tournament, and reached the quarter finals in debate. In individual events, Elhe placed 4^th and 5^th in extemporaneous speaking and after-dinner speaking, respectively.

7.      The triangular tournament concluded Whitman's year in grand style, with Whitman taking 1^st place. The teams of Betty Vaghan and Evelyn Robinson and Harry Sutcliffe and Byron Elhe were both undefeated.

D.     James Joy was the president of Pi Kappa Delta, the forensic fraternity.

E.      In total, 19 students debated over the course of the year.