Demosthenian Literary Society
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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 19th, 1803 and the anniversary is celebrated now with the Society's annual All-Night Meeting. It was named after the Greek orator Demosthenes.
Augustin Clayton, Williams Rutherford, and James Jackson are recognized as the founding fathers of Demosthenian. Clayton became the first student to receive his diploma from Franklin College and went on to become a judge of wide respect and a U.S. Representative from Georgia, with Georgia's Clayton County being named in his honor. Rutherford and Jackson went on to become professors at Franklin College.
Demosthenian Hall was constructed in 1824 at a cost to the Society of $4,000. This construction of the Hall gave the Society a place to keep its growing library, which surpassed that of the University's main library.
In recent years, the Demosthenians have hosted two debates with the Oxford Union, splitting the contests 1-1.
The Demosthenian Literary Society meets weekly Thursday nights at 7:00 during the Fall and Spring semesters at Demosthenian Hall on the historic North Campus of The University of Georgia.
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[edit] Current Officers
- President: J. Matthew Williamson
- Vice President: Stephanie Buhlig
- Secretary: Bill Richards
- Chief Justice: William Broach
- Associate Justice: Jordan Myers
- Associate Justice: Kayte Servidio
- Treasurer: Michael Darsie
- Hall Administrator: Kristin Bernhard
- Historian: Courtney Brown
- Sergeant at Arms: Kevin O'Brien
- Librarian: Chris Hansen
- Custodian: Stephen Dowell III
[edit] Annual Programs
The Demosthenian Literary Society is known for several events it holds annually during the Fall and Spring Semesters.
[edit] The Hat Debate
Members and guests are called up one by one to pulled a resolution at a hat and then give a presenting speech in the affirmative. Participants are given 5 minutes maximum to make a case for the resolution and must present the resolution they pulled from the hat.
[edit] The Demosthenian Classic
Starting in the Spring of 2006, The Demosthenian Literary Society moved beyond their traditional activities and created a new high school debate tournament. The Demosthenian Classic High School Debate Tournament has taken place in mid January for the past two years and has had three participating schools. The tournament has been well received and is likely to expand over the next few years.
[edit] Oration/Declamation
Because the Society traditionally participates in impromptu debate, once a year a meeting is dedicated to original orations and famous or not so famous declamations. The meeting takes place in two parts. The events are considered a competition with the winner of each event winning a speakers point. The competition is judged by the members of the Judicial Council. The competition normally takes place in early April. In 2006, the winners were Kristin Bernhard and Parker Morgan.
[edit] Famous alumni
- William Yates Atkinson Former Governor of Georgia
- John Barrow U.S. Congressman
- Pope Barrow U.S. Senator
- Robert Benham First African-American Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court
- William Tapley Bennett Jr. Diplomat
- D. W. Brooks, Founder of Gold Kist
- John A. Campbell U.S. Supreme Court Justice
- William Ragsdale Cannon, United Methodist bishop
- Augustin Clayton Statesman, Judge, U.S. Congressman from Georgia
- Hugh M. Dorsey Governor of Georgia
- Crawford Long Physician
- Count Emilio Pucci Fashion Designer
- Ralph Reed Political Consultant
- Charles Henry Smith better known as writer Bill Arp
- Herman E. Talmadge U.S. Senator and Former Governor of Georgia
- Robert Toombs U.S. and Confederate Statesman
[edit] Printed reference
Coulter, E. Merton. College Life in the Old South. Reprint edition. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, c1983.
