Senior Orations History

History

Compiled by Ethel Kanoy in 1977: “In the first year of the Institute (1834) students organized a debating society. Soon after the opening of the second session in 1835, students organized two groups, the Euzelians and the Philomathesians. These two literary societies promoted debate and oratory at all special occasions of the college.

At first, all members of the senior class were expected to speak, unless excused by the faculty. In the early 1880s the number of speakers was fixed at 10; others in the class wrote a thesis. In 1899 the number of speakers was reduced to eight, in 1909 to six and in 1924 to four. In 1973 the Dean of the College reduced the number of speakers to three.”

Today, 10 speakers give their orations at the Senior Colloquium.