Philodemic Society
Encyclopedia
The Philodemic Society is a student debating organization at Georgetown University
. It was founded in 1830 by Father James Ryder, S.J., in whose honor an award is given every Spring at the Merrick Debate. The Philodemic is among the oldest such societies in the United States and is the oldest secular student organization at Georgetown. The society's motto, 'Eloquentiam Libertati Devinctam' reminds its members that they are pursuing Eloquence in Defense of Liberty. After a period of inactivity beginning in 1970, the society was restored by students in 1989.
Debates are held weekly on Thursdays at 8pm in the Philodemic Room in Healy Hall
.
Though the modern Philodemic does not engage in inter-collegiate competitions, it does participate in the Winchester Cup, an annual competition with the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society
of the University of Virginia
, and the Columbia Cup, a debate with the Enosinian Society of The George Washington University. Additionally, the Philodemic maintains an intercollegiate friendship with the Demosthenian Literary Society
of The University of Georgia
in Athens
, Georgia
.
Additionally, each undergraduate on the Induction List is assigned a mentor from within the Society to familiarize him or her with the traditions, practices and rules of the Philodemic Society and assist in the preparation of the induction keynote. Once the non-member undergraduate gives a keynote address to the Society, the lady or gentleman is inducted into the Society and gains full membership.
The Philodemic room is quite literally divided in two - with the negation and affirmation sitting on opposite sides of the room. The president calls on speakers, alternating speakers between those speaking on behalf of the affirmation and those speaking on the side of the negation. Floor speeches are relatively short - under three minutes - and are meant to be an unprepared address that anyone attending is allowed to give. Little or no preparation is intended for these speeches as members and non-members alike are encouraged to use these opportunities to hone their speech giving skills and quick thinking abilities by giving on the fly, pertinent and sometimes, dramatic speeches. Preference is given to Society members in order of Seniority. At the President's discretion, he or she may call for a non-members speaking time during which the President will only call on non-member undergraduate speakers. This is usually when non-member undergraduates attain their three or four speeches. After several rounds of floor speeches that last for about one hour, the keynoters are invited back to give their closing remarks. Once they are finished, the President divides the room, and the keynoters physically count the people that are standing on their side of the room. Abstentions stand in the middle between to the two sides. Once the vote for the night has been announced, the President officially closes the debate. Then, one of two things will happen. If there are new members that have finished their keynote, non-members and guests of the Society are asked to leave the room while the members of the Society perform the Induction Ceremony, welcoming the new member into the ranks of the Philodemic. If there are no new members to be inducted at the close of the debate, the Society makes their weekly trip to Martin's Tavern, a long standing Philodemic tradition.
Every Thursday, after the debate, the Society journeys to Martin's Tavern on Wisconsin Avenue to continue the discussion, meet new people and enjoy one another's company. Some of the best times and most memorable moments occur in the warm and friendly atmosphere of Martin's Tavern. This is a staple of Philodemic life and all undergraduate non-members and guests of the Society are encouraged to attend.
Unlike the weekly debates in which there are two keynoters that are selected based on seniority, the four Merrick keynoters are selected by the Society during a competitive spring season of debate. At the conclusion of spring Merrick debates, the Society votes on the best speakers of the night and the speakers who get the most votes are awarded Merrick points based on how many votes they received. The members with the top four most points at the end of the season become the four members that give keynotes at the Merrick Debate. Being selected to keynote the Merrick Debate is among the most impressive achievements one can attain within the Society.
The actual debate is judged by guest judges. These judges have ranged from politicians, to civil rights leaders to famous journalists to members of faith. At the conclusion of the debate, the judges chose the keynoter they believe best demonstrated "Eloquence in Defense of Liberty" and award him or her the Father James Ryder, S.R. Medal, named after the founder of the Society. This is considered a particularly prestigious honor as this medal, to date, is the only decoration a Georgetown student may wear during graduation that is not awarded at graduation. Altogether, the Merrick Debate represents the finest example of what the Philodemic is as a debate society and it is an event well worth attending.
. The Society hopes that by digitizing the library, it will make the extensive and rich history of not only the Society but also of Georgetown University more available to current members, alumni, students and researchers. Additionally, digitizing the records will allow for reproductions that the Society will be able to store in the new Philodemic Library.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. It was founded in 1830 by Father James Ryder, S.J., in whose honor an award is given every Spring at the Merrick Debate. The Philodemic is among the oldest such societies in the United States and is the oldest secular student organization at Georgetown. The society's motto, 'Eloquentiam Libertati Devinctam' reminds its members that they are pursuing Eloquence in Defense of Liberty. After a period of inactivity beginning in 1970, the society was restored by students in 1989.
Debates are held weekly on Thursdays at 8pm in the Philodemic Room in Healy Hall
Healy Hall
Healy Hall is the historic flagship building at the main campus of Georgetown University. The building was listed on DC Inventory of Historic Sites in 1964, on the National Register of Historic Places on May 25, 1971, and as a National Historic Landmark on December 23, 1987.-History:The building...
.
Though the modern Philodemic does not engage in inter-collegiate competitions, it does participate in the Winchester Cup, an annual competition with the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society
Jefferson Literary and Debating Society
The Jefferson Literary and Debating Society is a debating and literary society at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest organization at The University and one of the oldest continuously existing debating societies in North America....
of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, and the Columbia Cup, a debate with the Enosinian Society of The George Washington University. Additionally, the Philodemic maintains an intercollegiate friendship with the Demosthenian Literary Society
Demosthenian Literary Society
The Demosthenian Literary Society is a debating society at The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1803 by the first graduating class of the University's Franklin College. The society was founded on February 19, 1803 and the anniversary is celebrated now with the Society's...
of The University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Membership
In order to become a member of the Philodemic Society, a Georgetown undergraduate student must give three impromptu floor speeches over the course of one semester. The President of the Society must call on you if you are a non-member undergraduate. Alternatively, an undergraduate may give four speeches over the course of two or more semesters. Again, the undergraduate must be called on by the President. Once the required number of speeches has been achieved, the non-member undergraduate is placed on the Induction List that is maintained by the Membership Secretary of the Society. Once a month, the Society convenes for a Business Meeting and it is at this meeting that members debate and vote on which undergraduates on the Induction List will be invited to give a keynote address to the Society at a weekly debate.Additionally, each undergraduate on the Induction List is assigned a mentor from within the Society to familiarize him or her with the traditions, practices and rules of the Philodemic Society and assist in the preparation of the induction keynote. Once the non-member undergraduate gives a keynote address to the Society, the lady or gentleman is inducted into the Society and gains full membership.
Structure and Format
The Philodemic Society prides itself on maintaining a unique structure of debate that allows for a dynamic and interactive experience for all who attend. Two keynote speeches are given at the start of each debate, one speaker on the affirmation and the other in the negation of a resolution that had been previously selected by the Society at a Business Meeting. The number of keynotes may be doubled for the purposes of inducting new members into the Society. Much of the fall semester contains debates with four keynotes as many new members are inducted into the Society during this part of the year. The keynoters give prepared speeches for the purposes of laying the groundwork for the Debate and outlining the most relevant and pertinent arguments that are meant to be expounded upon by the Society at large during the following floor debate. Once the keynoters have finished making their remarks, the president reads the house rules, and opens the floor to the Debate.The Philodemic room is quite literally divided in two - with the negation and affirmation sitting on opposite sides of the room. The president calls on speakers, alternating speakers between those speaking on behalf of the affirmation and those speaking on the side of the negation. Floor speeches are relatively short - under three minutes - and are meant to be an unprepared address that anyone attending is allowed to give. Little or no preparation is intended for these speeches as members and non-members alike are encouraged to use these opportunities to hone their speech giving skills and quick thinking abilities by giving on the fly, pertinent and sometimes, dramatic speeches. Preference is given to Society members in order of Seniority. At the President's discretion, he or she may call for a non-members speaking time during which the President will only call on non-member undergraduate speakers. This is usually when non-member undergraduates attain their three or four speeches. After several rounds of floor speeches that last for about one hour, the keynoters are invited back to give their closing remarks. Once they are finished, the President divides the room, and the keynoters physically count the people that are standing on their side of the room. Abstentions stand in the middle between to the two sides. Once the vote for the night has been announced, the President officially closes the debate. Then, one of two things will happen. If there are new members that have finished their keynote, non-members and guests of the Society are asked to leave the room while the members of the Society perform the Induction Ceremony, welcoming the new member into the ranks of the Philodemic. If there are no new members to be inducted at the close of the debate, the Society makes their weekly trip to Martin's Tavern, a long standing Philodemic tradition.
A Society
Despite the fact that the established structure of the Debate ends with the closing keynote speeches, the discussion is far from over. In many ways, the Philodemic distinguishes itself itself from other debate groups across America in that the Society strives to extend the conversation outside the Philodemic Room, encouraging its members to keep the debate alive in their daily lives and never forget to act and speak with the motto of the society, "Eloquence in Defense of Liberty', in mind.Every Thursday, after the debate, the Society journeys to Martin's Tavern on Wisconsin Avenue to continue the discussion, meet new people and enjoy one another's company. Some of the best times and most memorable moments occur in the warm and friendly atmosphere of Martin's Tavern. This is a staple of Philodemic life and all undergraduate non-members and guests of the Society are encouraged to attend.
Martin's Tavern
Arguably one of the longest standing traditions and most beloved activity by members of the Society, the weekly visit to Martin's Tavern after Thursday Debates is a must for anyone who attends a Philodemic Debate. New members, returning members and guests are all welcomed to join the Society at Martin's. Martin's is a wonderful venue for continued discussion, open debate, meeting new people and enjoying one another's company in a friendly and historic tavern.Attire
The Philodemic Society maintains a formal dress code for all their debates. Proper attire for weekly debates is termed "Western Business Attire" by the Society, carrying on a tradition of dressing well and looking your best that has been handed down since the inception of the Society in 1830. For men, this means a minimum of a sports jacket or blazer, a button down shirt and tie, dress pants and shoes. If you do not have a jacket, a shirt and tie is permissible. Sneakers are not encouraged and are considered inappropriate. For women, this generally means a formal outfit consisting of a dress, skirt, or pants suit. While there is more variety in what women may wear, dressing appropriately for the venue should be kept in mind. If you are dressed in an obviously inappropriate manner, the President has the right to pass over you in favor of someone who is properly attired, regardless of your seniority within the Society.Annual Debates
The Hamilton Homecoming Debate
Every year, early in the fall semester, the Philodemic holds the annual Hamilton Homecoming Debate that invites alumni of the Society to return back to campus and relive theirs days as undergraduates in the Society. The event is cherished by members both graduated and undergraduate as it gives them a chance to reconnect with old friends and see how the Society has progressed as an organization since leaving campus. It also represents an important opportunity for members of the Society to network with and learn from graduated peers that offer their invaluable insights, opinions and experience of life after college.The Dean Gordon Debate
The Dean Gordon Debate stands out among debates as one night were the members of the Society collectively agree to forgo the normal rules of formality, poise and decency usually expected at Debates. Held in April each year, this debate reveals a side of the Philodemic usually seen only outside the austerity of the Philodemic Room. Instead of the usual serious resolution, the member of the Society decide on a resolution that is aimed at fostering a downright silly debate of witty remarks, ironic stories and hilarious banter made up of nonsense puns and whimsical comments. The goal is to get the most laughs as humanly possible. Members will constantly attempt to outdo each other all in the hopes to impress the audience with his or her clever speech and slick wordplay. It is an altogether lighthearted and humorous affair that is staple of life in the Philodemic.The Richard T. Merrick Debate
Inaugurated in 1874, the Merrick Debate is the Society’s most prestigious event of the year. The resolution is itself debated by the Society at length months beforehand to ensure that the debate is both relevant to the world today, and has deep roots in the western philosophical tradition on which the Society was founded. The Merrick Debate is the crowning end of the Philodemic season and is held every year in April. The Society had held 136 Merrick Debates since the debate's inception.Unlike the weekly debates in which there are two keynoters that are selected based on seniority, the four Merrick keynoters are selected by the Society during a competitive spring season of debate. At the conclusion of spring Merrick debates, the Society votes on the best speakers of the night and the speakers who get the most votes are awarded Merrick points based on how many votes they received. The members with the top four most points at the end of the season become the four members that give keynotes at the Merrick Debate. Being selected to keynote the Merrick Debate is among the most impressive achievements one can attain within the Society.
The actual debate is judged by guest judges. These judges have ranged from politicians, to civil rights leaders to famous journalists to members of faith. At the conclusion of the debate, the judges chose the keynoter they believe best demonstrated "Eloquence in Defense of Liberty" and award him or her the Father James Ryder, S.R. Medal, named after the founder of the Society. This is considered a particularly prestigious honor as this medal, to date, is the only decoration a Georgetown student may wear during graduation that is not awarded at graduation. Altogether, the Merrick Debate represents the finest example of what the Philodemic is as a debate society and it is an event well worth attending.
Library Digitalization
With the advent of the digital age, the Society seeks to digitize the 181 years worth of Philodemic archives and records that currently are kept in the Special Collections Office of Lauinger LibraryLauinger Library
The Joseph Mark Lauinger Library is the main library of Georgetown University and the center of a seven-library system that includes 2.8 million volumes. It holds 1.7 million volumes on six floors and has accommodations for individual and group study on all levels.Opened on April 6, 1970, the...
. The Society hopes that by digitizing the library, it will make the extensive and rich history of not only the Society but also of Georgetown University more available to current members, alumni, students and researchers. Additionally, digitizing the records will allow for reproductions that the Society will be able to store in the new Philodemic Library.
The Philodemic Library
The Society is proud that after many years of negotiations with the university, the Philodemic Library is now up and running. The Society's Library was once a prized collection of works that helped Society member enrich themselves on a variety of topics. Before the Society disbanded in 1970, new inductees into the Society used to donate a volume to the library as part of their entry into the Society. This practice has been revived along with the revival of the Library.President's Meals
A more recent practice in the history of the Philodemic, the Society uses its funds to hold weekly or monthly meals that welcomes all members and non-members to attend. The meals serve as a way for members of the Philodemic, so called "Philodemicians', to get to know each other and facilitate advanced discussion about the weekly resolution. Members and non-members alike enjoy both President's Dinners and President's Brunches.Georgetown's Historic Debate Groups
The Philodemic Society today stands alone as Georgetown's only debate society but through the last two centuries, the Society supported a number of other debate groups at Georgetown, fostering a spirited sense of competition and friendly rivalry between the groups during the Society's heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Philonomosian Debating Society
Founded in 1839 as Georgetown's second debate Society, the Philonomosian Debating Society became the second largest debating society around 1912-1913 when demand for membership in both the Philonomosian and Philodemic Societies could not accommodate both lower and upper classmen. After this point in time, both Societies became exclusively upperclassmen and membership was capped at 40, a limit that called for the creation of the Philonomosian Society in the first place. This Society held its own special cup called the Philonomosian cup and debated regularly like the Philodemic until it was disbanded in 1935.White Debating Society
In 1912 the White Debating Society was founded in honor of Supreme Court Justice Edward White, a former Philodemician. This society functioned as one of the junior debate societies on campus whose purpose was to train underclassmen that would be recruited by the more senior societies on campus. The strength of this society lay in its concentration of extemporaneous speaking.Gaston Debating Society
The Gaston Debating Society was founded in 1913 as Georgetown's second junior debate society for underclassmen. The motto of this society was, "advancing ourselves in love of knowledge and truth, and to make progress in eloquence". The motto bears a close resemblance to the current motto of the Philodemic Society.Current Officer Corps Fall 2011
- President Nicholas Iacono (COL'12)
- Vice President Alex Henderson (COL'12)
- Treasurer Jacob Arber (SFS'14)
- Corresponding Secretary Ji Hyuk John Lim (SFS'13)
- Membership Secretary Richard Rinaldi (MSB'12)
- Librarian Emma Green (COL'12)
- Amanuensis Peter Prindiville (SFS'14)
- Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Manchester (MSB'12)
Notable Philodemicians
- Edward Douglass WhiteEdward Douglass WhiteEdward Douglass White, Jr. , American politician and jurist, was a United States senator, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the ninth Chief Justice of the United States. He was best known for formulating the Rule of Reason standard of antitrust law. He also sided with the...
(Class of 1863), 9th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court - Condé Montrose NastCondé Montrose NastCondé Montrose Nast was the founder of Condé Nast Publications, a leading American magazine publisher known for publications such as Vanity Fair, Vogue and The New Yorker.-Background:...
(Class of 1894), noted magazine publisher - Antonin ScaliaAntonin ScaliaAntonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
(Class of 1957), Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court - Robert Shrum (Class of 1965), noted political consultant
- Francis Keating (Class of 1966), 25th Governor of Oklahoma
Honorary Philodemicians
Starting in 1831, the members of the Philodemic Society began electing honorary members and the electee would have to confirm his desire to become a member. "At that time and for years afterward it was considered a mark of especial distinction to be elected an honorary member of the society and some of the foremost men in public life at the national capital were so honored." Honorary members include:- Orestes BrownsonOrestes BrownsonOrestes Augustus Brownson was a New England intellectual and activist, preacher, labor organizer, and noted Catholic convert and writer...
, noted Catholic intellectual and activist - George Washington Parke CustisGeorge Washington Parke CustisGeorge Washington Parke Custis , the step-grandson of United States President George Washington, was a nineteenth-century American writer, orator, and agricultural reformer.-Family:...
, adopted son of George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and noted author, orator and agricultural reformer - William GastonWilliam GastonWilliam J. Gaston was a jurist and United States Representative from North Carolina. Gaston was born in New Bern, North Carolina, the son of Dr. Alexander Gaston and Margaret Gaston. He entered Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., at the age of thirteen, becoming its first student...
, former United States Representative from North Carolina and Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court - Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, 18th President of the United States and General-in-Chief of the Army of the United States - John HughesJohn Hughes (archbishop)John Joseph Hughes , was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the fourth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, serving between 1842 and his death in 1864....
, fourth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New YorkRoman Catholic Archdiocese of New YorkThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes... - Andrew JacksonAndrew JacksonAndrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, 7th President of the United States - Robert E. LeeRobert E. LeeRobert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
, General-in-Chief of the Army of the "Confederate States", perfidious traitor to the Union and war criminal against the United States. - Enoch Louis LoweEnoch Louis LoweEnoch Louis Lowe served as the 29th Governor of the state of Maryland in the United States from 1851 to 1854.-Early life:...
, 29th Governor of Maryland - Robert McClellandRobert McClelland (American politician)Robert McClelland was a U.S. statesman, serving as U.S. Representative from Michigan, the ninth Governor of Michigan, and United States Secretary of the Interior.-Early life in Pennsylvania:...
, 9th Governor of Michigan and 4th Secretary of the Interior - Franklin PierceFranklin PierceFranklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
, 14th President of the United States - Zachary TaylorZachary TaylorZachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
, 12th President of the United States - Daniel W. VoorheesDaniel W. VoorheesDaniel Wolsey Voorhees was a lawyer and United States Senator from Indiana, who was leader of the Democratic party and an anti-war Copperhead during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, former U.S. Senator from Indiana - Robert J. WalkerRobert J. WalkerRobert John Walker was an American economist and statesman.- Early life and education :Born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, the son of a judge. He lived in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania from 1806 to 1814, where his father was presiding judge of the judicial district. Walker was educated at the...
, 18th Secretary of the Treasury - Thomas Hart BentonThomas Hart Benton (senator)Thomas Hart Benton , nicknamed "Old Bullion", was a U.S. Senator from Missouri and a staunch advocate of westward expansion of the United States. He served in the Senate from 1821 to 1851, becoming the first member of that body to serve five terms...
, former U.S. Senator from Missouri
Other Historic Societies
- The Philolexian SocietyPhilolexian SocietyThe Philolexian Society of Columbia University is one of the oldest college literary societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia...
of Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the... - The Philomathean SocietyPhilomathean SocietyThe Philomathean Society of the University of Pennsylvania is a collegiate literary society, the oldest student group at the university, and a claimant to the title of the oldest continuously-existing literary society in the United States.This claim is disputed between the Philomathean Society and...
of the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... - The American Whig-Cliosophic SocietyAmerican Whig-Cliosophic SocietyThe American Whig–Cliosophic Society is a political, literary, and debating society at Princeton University and the oldest debate union in the United States...
of Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.... - The Jefferson Literary and Debating SocietyJefferson Literary and Debating SocietyThe Jefferson Literary and Debating Society is a debating and literary society at the University of Virginia. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest organization at The University and one of the oldest continuously existing debating societies in North America....
of the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson... - The Union-Philanthropic (Literary) Society of Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney CollegeHampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
- The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
- The Demosthenian Literary SocietyDemosthenian Literary SocietyThe Demosthenian Literary Society is a debating society at The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1803 by the first graduating class of the University's Franklin College. The society was founded on February 19, 1803 and the anniversary is celebrated now with the Society's...
of the University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in AthensAthens, GeorgiaAthens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...