Modesto Junior College - Buccaneer Yearbook (Modesto, CA)

Page 58 text:

Sigma Phi Officers President Erma Davis Secretary RACHEL HOLST Manager Mary CaseBIER Faculty Advisor Edwin Oscar Smith This honor society for excellence in public speaking and writing has had as its purpose, the furthering of debating and essay writing. The meetings have been social, usually at the home of Doctor Smith. At these meetings informal discussions of the debate topics were given by Mrs. Smith. It was her suggestion that we debate the Russian question — a question that brought ten decisions to Modesto. Members of the Sigma Phi entertained visiting debaters after each debate in their homes and at the college. In co-operation with the Girls ' and Boys ' Congress, the Senior debaters from the county high schools were entertained at an afternoon meeting. Doc Smith presided at the meeting and gave a short talk on The advantage of Junior College Debating. Other speeches were given by Erma Davis, Ted Thompson, and Mary Casebier. The meeting closed with the discussion of next year ' s debate subjects. The Sigma Phi has kept the debaters and essay writers interested in questions of the present day; as a consequence it deserves some credit for the Conference Champions. [54] .-■ -■■ j

Page 57 text:

Press Club Fall Officers Leslie Matthies President Leslie Matthies Rachel Holst Secretary MARY CARTER George McQueen Business Manager LINDSAY ARTHUR Advisor MARY ALINE Polk In order to advance the cause of journalism in the Modesto Junior College on October 26. 19 28. there appeared on the campus a new organization, the Press Club. The constitution, drawn up by Leslie Matthies. names as eligible all students who: 1. Were members of the journalism class of October 26. 1928. 2. Have contributed twenty-five inches of copy to the Collegian in five consecutive issues. 3. Served in other than editorial capacities in connection with the publish- ing of the school paper. Besides monthly meetings and several small social functions, members of the Press Club have taken two important trips since the date of organization. For the first time in the school ' s history Modesto Junior College was represented at the meeting of the California Junior College Press Association in San Mateo. March 9. Five student members and Miss Polk attended the convention. Later in the spring about twenty motored to San Francisco where they visited the plant of the Chronicle and of the Commercial Art and Engraving Company. Charter members are: Ellen Annear. Dwight Babcock. Mary Carter, Cath- erine Croker. Gregory Herlihy. Rachel Hoist, Svea Knapp, Leslie Matthies, George McQueen, Fred Whitney, and Miss Polk. [53] ' :y M

Page 59 text:

( •tnfcn-ni.-c Champion Debaters Erma Dacrs RuJn-l Hnlsi Mildred Bro I ed Thompson Osiai . ' milh ks John Pearce Eaiie Smilh i Conference Champion Debaters By virtue of their wins over Santa Rosa, San Mateo. Sacramento, and College of the Pacific, the Modesto debaters have earned the title of northern conference champions. Challenges sent to Bakersfield and Long Beach, central and southern champions, were not accepted. We have had some excellent teams this year to represent this college. Erma Davis and Ted Thompson just could not lose. They took unanimous decisions against Santa Rosa. San Mateo and the University of California Freshmen. Besides this they coached the negative team to win against C. O. P. Mildred Brooks and Earle Smith won by a 2-1 decision from Santa Rosa but lost 3-0 to C. O. P. Rachel Hoist and Earle Smith took a 3-0 decision from San Mateo. The San Mateans didn ' t have a chance when these two started in. Rachel Hoist and John Pearce speaking on the negative side of the Indian question defeated C. O. P. by a 2-1 decision. Individually the debaters are all different. Rachel is very informal, speaking naturally, quietly, and dir ectly to the audience. John is an oratorical speaker, very convincing with all his gestures. Earle has an invincible smile and a better speaking voice than ex-President Coolidge. Mildred has a formal, very forceful delivery, and she takes care that each point is carefully stressed. Erma and Ted are extemporaneous speakers, full of humor and vitality. They believe a debate is something for the audience to enjoy and they try to make it so. Doctor Smith, debate coach, deserves much credit for the record made by the debaters. The debaters gave finished speeches only after Doc had molded them into shape. [55] M