Episkopon
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Episkopon (Greek: Επισκοπων, sometimes spelled "Episcopon" earlier in its history) is a controversial secret society active at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. Episkopon began its activities at Trinity College in 1858.[1] Little recent information is available about this highly covert group, subject to rumours and speculation. The society is named for the "Venerable Father Episkopon" (from the Greek word "episkopos") — Trinity's supposedly indwelling spirit of guidance. Tradition holds that the words of the Venerable Father are delivered to undergraduates through the utterances of a "Scribe", accompanied by the remains of a human skull reverently displayed at Episkopon gatherings.[2] An affiliated (but separate) all-female incarnation of Episkopon produces separate readings,[3] delivered from the "Venerable Mother Episkopon".
The wider societal impact of this influential society has been a matter of speculation among journalists.[4]
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[edit] History
For almost 150 years, more than 142 men of Trinity College have served as Scribe. This succession first came to public notice with the 1858 announcement that Pakenham Edward Stewart, later an Anglican priest, was the first Scribe of Episkopon.[1] Described in the media as a "self-perpetuating board of directors", the clandestine group of former Scribes and their assisting editors style themselves as "the Order of the Golden Key."[4] It is traditionally held that Episkopon began as a kind of student newspaper. Excerpts from its first edition were published in the Toronto press and became a source of embarrassment to the college. Thereafter, only one copy of each edition was created, to be read aloud by the Scribe.[1] In October 1991 following accusations of racism, sexism, and homophobia in the Episkopon, a task force was formed to investigate it and Trinity College at large.[2] When the Scribes of the 1992-1993 academic year refused to draft a constitution that was consistent with the task force's recommendations, the Trinity College Council voted unanimously to sever all ties with the organization.[5] Despite dissociating itself from the college, Episkopon traditions continue to this day.[6]
[edit] Traditions
The society still presents three "Readings" each academic year that are intended to portray the follies of the college's undergraduates in a humorous light.[2] Investigative journalist Declan Hill, a Trinity alumnus,[7] in a 1993 documentary broadcast on the CBC Radio program Ideas, claimed that these readings tended to ridicule certain groups and actions as a form of social control.
Each reading is delivered by the organization's current Scribe; past Scribes have included famous Canadians, including politicians, artists and poets. In a 1999 newspaper article, reporter Shannon Black of the National Post noted that the intention of the readings was to "prick the pride of Trinity students but without cruelty" in the form of witty poems, songs and aphorisms. The article cited student objections to the singling out of individuals, criticizing an institutional propensity to publicly shame those who distinguish themselves from the crowd.[3]
Some students maintain that Episkopon serves a very important historical role for undergraduates of the College, providing archives of readings that date as far back as the mid-1800s.[2] A poster by artist Roloff Beny advertising the Spring reading from 1945 is in possession of the National Archives of Canada.[8] Also in the National Archives is a film about the former Trinity College campus on Queen Street West, made prior to the College's relocation to Queen's Park, Toronto. The observance of Episkopon traditions features prominently in this silent movie, made by Gordon Sparling, a pioneer in Canadian documentary film-making.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Trinity, 1852-1952: Published as a special centennial issue of the Trinity Review.
- ^ a b c d Mitchell, Alanna (1992-09-05). "Is the student society at venerable Trinity College guilty of offensive human-rights abuses? Or is this another sanctimonious outcry from the prissy ranks of the politically correct?". The Globe and Mail: D1.
- ^ a b Black, Shannon. "Juvenile jokes or cruel cuts? Episkopon, the 140-year-old vehicle of public shaming at U of T's Trinity College". National Post 1 (129): B12.
- ^ a b Hill, Declan. "The Tempest at Trinity". Ideas, 1993. Toronto: CBC Radio
- ^ Grant, Donald (1992-10-06). "Toronto Live: Links to Episkopon Cut". Globe and Mail: 1.
- ^ Talaga, Tanya (1999-03-27). "Secret student group divides U of T's Trinity College; Once banned from campus, society returns". The Toronto Star: 1.
- ^ Declan Hill's personal website
- ^ National Archives of Canada
