Trinity College - Trinilogue Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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The Athenaeum The Athenaeum Society, the oldest living organization at Trinity College, has just completed its most successful year since its revival in 1928. It was founded as a literary and debating society in 1824, one year after the establishment of Wash- ington College on the hill overlooking the city of Hartford, at the site of the present State Capitol. For many years the society was the focal point of interest for stu- dents enthused by the problems of that day. Old records of the society, now in the custody of the college library, reveal that questions discussed in those days in- cluded ones like these: Will the railroad win out over the canal? Is democracy superior to monarchy? Should tariffs be used by the United States? Unlike the students of recent years, collegians of that day found greatest interest in the discussion of important, impersonal problems 5 lines then were more sharply drawn than now, debaters infused each argument with enthusiasm, and, while personal arguments were not lacking, questions resulted in answers and not wiseeracks . Gradually the organization built up a library that was large for the time and which was later given to the College for the nucleus of the College library 5 every book was well thumbed, for no member was worthy who could not discourse at random from the texts of at least a sco1'e of books. On the eve of the Civil War, and somewhat parallel to the division in the nation, the student body was split into two groups, one composed of the supporters of the ancient and venerable Athenaeum Society, the other consisting of the upstart Parthenon, formed in 1855 by a disgruntled faction in the Athenaeum. This division immediately ended the discussion of outside affairs, both the Athenaeum and the Parthenon being devoted from then on to peevish attacks upon each other. The Athenaeum died in 1870, while the Parthenon lingered on until 1900. In 1928 the Athenaeum was revived by an enter- prising group of students, and under the guidance of these men and their successors the society emerged stronger and fresher from several crises, until today the or- ganization holds an enviable position on the campus. Indeed, interest on the part of the student body, as well as of the members of the Athenaeum Society, seems to have followed the trend in the nation by entering a new and-it is hoped-lasting phase in progress toward an active participation in current affairs, economic, social, and political. Within the Athenaeum this movement has been shown in large part by the growing enthusiasm of the members in the varied program of this, the college's only active organization devoted pri- marily to discussion and debate. The society has never emphasized mere argu- mentativeness, but has preferred to aid its members in the intelligent discussion of today's problems, not merely to take sides, but to understand these problems and solve them by careful consideration of all points. Following the success of a radio debate between Wesleyan University and the Athenaeum in April, 1933 on the subject, Resolved: That Democracy is an Out- worn Form of Government, in which the Trinity debaters, upholding the negative, won the Athenaeum's fourth victory in as many debates, a similar debate was held in April of this year, also with Wesleyan. As a supplement to the society's activities in debating and discussion, a library of printed sources of information on current happenings-books, pamphlets, maga- zines, and newspapers-has been started in the society's rooms in Northam Towers. The library and the society's rooms have furnished a means of coordinating its activities for the greater benefit of individual members and of the college as a whole. After considering the results of the year's efforts, the Athenaeum Society and its members look forward to the coming years as promising greater things for the or- ganization. 144

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Back Row-FRANKEI., VVILSON, MAX'NARD, BURDETT, VVINANS, LITTELL, H. DAVIS, FANNING, OOILVY Second H0111-ITOEI-ILING, SCOTT, LANE, MILLER, PATTON, .I. DAVIS, GABLER, DUNNE, S I 1 . I III-IMAIx Front lfmz---SIRROWER GAY, MCCOOK TIAIUNG BAYLEY LAU, ROBERTS MOCORNICK Ii 1 I 1 7 1 l ONEI' The Trinity Tripod Established 1904 Reorganized 1930 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR JOIIN S. MOCOOR ROBERT J. LAU REPORTORIAL BOARD JAMES V. DAVIS THOMAS H. FANNING ROBERT T. DUNNI-I JOHN L. NIAYNARD PAUL E. BURnE'I I' L. BARTON WILSON, III RAYMOND S. PATTON, JR. W. FRAZIER SCOTT EDITORIAL BOARD ILOBERT M. RONEY C. BROOKS ROBERTS TVIALCOLM V. LANE ADOLPH A. HOEHLING, III JAMES R. MILLER JAMES FRANKEL HAIIRINCITON LI'F'l'ELL PHILIP J. SPELMAN TIARRY J. DAVIS BUSINESS MANAGER STEXVART M. OGILVY ADVERTISING MANAGER CIRCULATION MANAGER JAMES DE G. WINANS CHARLES L. GABLER 143

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,CA .. B!l61Glf0IlI'IiURD, SAIICIENT, DONOIIUE, RULNICK, J. DAVIS, SARCIA, STEIN 1 7'II7llllJ0'lU-JJ. DAVIS, HOWARD, DUMONT, SENF, SENFTLEBEN, WARD, FLYNN The Athenaeum FIIIAIDPIRIKZK M. SENF ...... . President JDONALD A. JDUMONT I'IAliRY .I. JDAVIS . MILTON M. RULNICK DONALD G. I-IURD . PAUL W. ADAMS JOHN W. BAUER JOIIN P. BU'r'rERLY JAMES V. DAVIS JAMES F. DONOIIUE CLI'lMIGN'I' E. JDUNBAR, JR. DENIS F. FARNELL 'IJIIOMAS J. I'IAGAR'I'Y IRJCX J. I'IONVAH.D JAMES HENDERSON, JR. .I Ol'lN F. NIARTENS MEMBERS 145 . Vice Preszdent . Secretary . . Treasurer .Manager of Debate GILBERT J. MARTINO JOHN S. MCCOOK VVILLIAM A. Roos, III JOSEPH SARCIA IQEELER SARGENT HERBER'F H. R. SENFTLEBEN BARCLAY SHAW FRANK P. SMITH LOUIS STEIN ARTHUR B. WARD WVILLIAM H. WARNER