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American Whig–Cliosophic Society
Founded	1765; 259 years ago (1765) Princeton University
Type	Debate and Literary society
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Scope	Local
Chapters	1
Nickname	Whig-Clio
Headquarters	Whig Hall Princeton, New Jersey 08544 United States
Website	whigclio.princeton.edu

The American Whig–Cliosophic Society, sometimes abbreviated as Whig-Clio, is a political, literary, and debating society at Princeton University and the oldest debate union in the United States. Its precursors, the American Whig Society and the Cliosophic Society, were founded at Princeton in 1769 and 1765.

The Society frequently hosts events open to all Princeton students, as well as to faculty and community members. These include the Society's monthly Senate Debates on topics related to national or campus policy, lectures, discussion dinners with guest speakers, and social events. The Society also oversees four subsidiary groups: the International Relations Council (IRC), Princeton's Model Congress (PMC), Princeton Debate Panel (PDP), and Princeton Mock Trial (PMT).

The two original societies continue as "houses" within the larger American Whig–Cliosophic Society, with Whig considered the more liberal house and Clio the more conservative.

History

Origins and early years

The American Whig-Cliosophic Society has its ancestry in the literary institutions of the Plain-Dealing Club (Whig) and the Well-Meaning Club (Clio), both formed around 1765. An intense rivalry between these clubs led to their suppression by the university in 1769. Persuasion from William Paterson and other alumni led to president John Witherspoon to permit successor organizations. Shortly thereafter, the American Whig Society formed on June 24, 1769 by James Madison, Philip M. Freneau, and Hugh Henry Brackenridge; the Cliosophic Society formed on June 8, 1770 by Nathan Perkins, Robert Stewart, John Smith, and Issac Smith.

Whig derived its name from the "American Whig" used in essays by William Livingston, a trustee of the college, while Clio derived its name from Paterson. Both societies were assigned rooms in Nassau Hall.

The societies in their early years served as institutions for members to practice oratory skills, engage in discussions about contemporary issues, and engage in literary activities. Before the American Revolution, they provided future leaders like James Madison, Aaron Burr, and others a place to develop these skills. However, much of the history of the society's other activities during this time were lost in a fire in 1802; the only documents remaining from this period relate to the recurring "Paper Wars," where members of each society would deride each other through verse. The societies became dormant during the Revolution, with Clio resuming in 1781 and Whig in 1782. From this point until around the 1880s when the societies had their greatest influence on Princeton campus life.

To one historian, the societies "functioned as colleges within the College of New Jersey," with each respective society having its officers, traditions, curriculum, bylaws, libraries, and diplomas. Talented members were given exclusive opportunities to deliver special addresses and speak in debates. Meetings were held to allow members to practice ahead of these events. Admittance was selective, focusing on academically accomplished students, and much of the societies' efforts were focused on glory and high achievement over the rest of the student body. The societies served the additional purpose of providing social opportunities to students who were under a rigorous and tightly controlled schedule.

19th and 20th centuries

The societies moved to the university's new library building, Stanhope Hall, in 1805.

In the decades before the Civil War, the societies frequently debated the subject of slavery. Despite their regional differences, both societies voted regularly in support of slavery's continuation and opposition to emancipation. The subject united the two societies, which otherwise often disagreed. Clio's members were usually northerners, while Whigs typically came from the southern states.

Competition from eating clubs, sports teams, and other student activities eventually drew members away from the societies. Prompted by declining memberships, the societies were merged to form the American Whig–Cliosophic Society in 1928.

The Society's first female president was Tina Ravitz in 1975.

Contemporary times

The organization's modern role is to serve as an umbrella organization for political and debating activity at Princeton, as well as host speakers, dinners, lectures, and social events.

In 2024, the society voted to adopt a policy of institutional neutrality based on the University of Chicago's Kalven Report and banned considering a speaker's political, ideological, and religious beliefs when inviting them. The society held a candidate forum for the 2024 Democratic primary in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, the first event of its kind in the society's history.

Subsidiaries

Princeton Debate Panel

The Princeton Debate Panel (PDP) is a collegiate debating society that competes in sanctioned debates by the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) league, of which it was a founding member. In the APDA, PDP has won the Team of the Year award a record eight times and the Speaker of the Year Award a record nine times. PDP hosts a high school and a collegiate tournament during the academic year.

Princeton Mock Trial

Princeton Mock Trial (PMT) is a mock trial program that competes with three teams. In the American Mock Trial Association, it ranked 67th in the 2023–2024 season, 124th in the 2022–2023 season, and 175th in the 2021–2022 season. It ranked 2nd in the American Mock Trial Association National Championship in 2014. It annually hosts two Moot Court tournaments for local high schools.

International Relations Council

The International Relations Council (IRC) is a forum for international issues on campus. It houses the Princeton Model United Nations program, which hosts a high school conference, Princeton Model United Nationals Conference and a collegiate conference, Princeton Diplomatic Invitational. The program also features the Princeton Model UN Travel Team, which competes on the regional and international collegiate circuits.

Model Congress

Princeton Model Congress (PMC) hosts an annual model congress conference in Washington D.C. for high schoolers. The conference simulates all three branches of federal government and draws approximately 1,200 participants.

Honorary Debate Panel

The Honorary Debate Panel (WCHDP) sponsors and promotes prize debates at Princeton University. Annually-held debates and oratory contests include the Lynde Prize Debate, the Class of 1876 Memorial Prize for Debate in Politics, the Maclean Prize and Junior Orator Awards, the Walter E. Hope Prizes in Speaking and Debating, the Spencer Trask Medals for Debating, and the William Rusher ’44 Prize in Debating.

Membership

To become a member, Princeton students are required to attend and sign in at three Whig-Clio events. Members of Whig-Clio subsidiaries are automatically considered members in the American Whig–Cliosophic Society.

Awards

The James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service is a longstanding tradition and the highest distinction bestowed by the Whig-Cliosophic Society to individuals committed to the "betterment of society" who have confronted "some of society’s biggest challenges". The first woman woman recipient was Golda Meir in December 1974. The full list of recipients is below.

In March 2021, the Society voted to revoke Senator Ted Cruz's award after he attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election based on false claims of voter fraud. The Society reversed course a month later and decided not to revoke the award.

Governing council

The Governing Council is the primary decision-making body of the Society when the Assembly, the body that includes all undergraduate members in good standing, is not in session. It consists of the executive officers, non-executive officers, and subsidiary heads. The executive officers, who include the President, Vice President, Secretary, President of the Senate, Director of Program, Speaker of the Whig Party, and Chair of the Cliosophic Party, are elected by the members of the Society to one-year terms and each have one vote on the Council. The Council is responsible for confirming events, appointing non-executive officers, and making other important decisions for the Society. A quorum for binding decisions is at least half of the voting members, and votes are typically conducted by secret ballot. The Council's decisions can be overturned by the Assembly or deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Compliance Committee.

Notable members

The Society has had many notable members throughout its history. In politics and government, members have included U.S. Presidents James Madison and Woodrow Wilson; Vice Presidents Aaron Burr and George M. Dallas; and Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Paterson. Influential scholars such as John Rawls and Joseph Nye have also been members. The society has also included renowned writers and journalists, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Booth Tarkington. Other prominent members have included Adlai Stevenson II, Ted Cruz, Ralph Nader, and Paul Sarbanes.

Controversies

In 2018, Whig-Clio co-presidents disinvited conservative University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax after she had made controversial remarks about the quality of her Black students.

In 2020, a conservative member of the society stated that he had proposed inviting The Washington Post columnist George Will and federal judge Neomi Rao to speak at the society, but its governing council had voted not to.

See also

• Father Bombo's Pilgrimage to Mecca
• List of college literary societies

Notes

1. Clio formally acknowledged the Well-Meaning Club in 1820 as its ancestor, moving its founding date back to 1765. The connection between the Whig and the Plain-Dealing Club is uncertain, with no member of the Whig guaranteed to have been a member of the ancestor club. Clio's relationship with the Well-Meaning Club is more certain, with several of the founders of the club at Clio's founding; any member of the club was also made a member of Clio. On the contrary, it is unclear when Whigs began recognizing members of the Plain-Dealing Club as their own. Separately, Clio had separate motivations for recognizing the Well-Meaning Club, as the founders were more prominent: William Paterson, Oliver Ellsworth, Luther Martin, Tapping Reeve, Robert Ogden, Jonathan Edwards, Waightstill Avery, and Hezekiah James Balch. The Plain-Dealing Club did not have a similar level of prominent founders, leaving Whigs to remain with their 1769 founding.

References

1. ^ "Whig and Clio Debating and Literary Societies". Princetoniana. Princeton University. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
2. ^ Niu, Samuel. "The Whig-Cliosophic Society and Slavery". Princeton & Slavery. Princeton University. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
3. ^ Looney 1996, p. 4.
4. ^ Durkee 2022, p. 488.
5. Giger, G. Musgrave (1865). History of the Cliosophic Society, from 1765 to 1865 (PDF). Philadelphia: Sherman & Co., Printers. p. 68.
6. Beam, Jacob Newton (1933). The American Whig Society of Princeton University. Society. pp. 13–17. hdl:2027/uc1.$b18338.
7. Looney 1996, p. 5.
8. Looney 1996, p. 6.
9. Looney 1996, p. 7.
10. Looney 1996, p. 8.
11. ^ Looney 1996, p. 16.
12. Looney 1996, p. 14-15.
13. Looney 1996, p. 13.
14. Looney 1996, p. 10.
15. ^ Looney 1996, p. Xi.
16. "Freedom of Expression Code". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. January 18, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
17. "Speaker's Code". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. January 18, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
18. Roth, Charlie (April 16, 2024). "Whig-Clio set to host first congressional primary candidate forum in its history". The Daily Princetonian. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
19. ^ "Princeton Debate Panel". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
20. ^ "Princeton Mock Trial". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
21. "American Mock Trial Association 2023-2024 Team Power Rankings" (PDF). American Mock Trial Association. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
22. "American Mock Trial Association 2022-2023 Team Power Rankings" (PDF). American Mock Trial Association. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
23. "American Mock Trial Association 2021-2022 Team Power Rankings" (PDF). American Mock Trial Association. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
24. "National Championship Trial Results". American Mock Trial Association. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
25. ^ "International Relations Council". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
26. ^ "Princeton Model Congress". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
27. ^ "Honorary Debate Panel". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
28. ^ "The American Whig-Cliosophic Society". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
29. "James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. December 7, 2020.
30. Mukherji, Aniket; Blake, Kalena (March 4, 2021). "Whig-Clio votes to rescind James Madison Award from Sen. Ted Cruz '92". The Daily Princetonian.
31. Kane, Christopher (11 April 2021). "Whig-Clio Reverses Course After Voting To Rescind Sen. Ted Cruz's James Madison Award". Princeton Tory. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
32. ^ "Constitution of the American Whig-Cliosophic Society". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
33. ^ "Notable Alumni". The American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
34. "Whig-Clio Society at Princeton Observes Its 200th Anniversary". The New York Times. 1975-09-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
35. "Senate Debates Team Students With Guest Figures". The Daily Princetonian. Vol. 99, Special Class Of 1979 Issue, no. 73. July 25, 1975. p. 72.
36. "J. P. HUMES '43 CHOSEN HEAD OF DEBATING CLUB Newly Formed Group, Holding First Meeting, Decides Upon Seven Freshmen For Officers. WILL JOIN WHIG-CLIO IN FALL". The Daily Princetonian. Vol. 65, no. 52. April 12, 1940. p. 1.
37. Deford, Frank (January 7, 1958). "Holt, Nye Among 32 Selected For U.S. Rhodes Scholarships Harvard Winners Top Oxford List". The Daily Princetonian. Vol. 81, no. 142. p. 1.
38. "OVER THREE HUNDRED FRESHMEN JOIN HALLS Small Percentage Of Entering Men Sign Up For Literary Societies WHIG AHEAD Has 174 Signed Up While 148 Signify Intention Of Joining Clio Hall". The Daily Princetonian. Vol. 37, no. 93. October 15, 1913. p. 1.
39. "Whig, Clio Were Once Rivals". The Daily Princetonian. Vol. 91, Special Class Of 1971 Issue, no. 72. June 15, 1967. p. 1.
40. Nancy Bowen (1 April 2002). Ralph Nader: Man With a Mission. Millbrook Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7613-2365-5. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
41. "Undergraduates To Elect Sophomore Councilmen". The Daily Princetonian. Vol. 75, no. 262. May 14, 1952. p. 1.
42. Zymeri, Jeff (January 3, 2019). "U. Debating Society Whig-Clio Struggles to Grapple with Internal Dissension, Charges of Anti-Conservative Bias". The Princeton Tory.
43. Hoffman, Adam (January 4, 2021). "The New Strategy to Suppress Conservative Voices on Campus". The National Review.

Works cited

• Looney, J. Jefferson (1996). Nurseries of Letters and Republicanism: A Brief History of the American Whig-Cliosophic Society and its Predecessors, 1765-1941. Princeton: American Whig-Cliosophic Society.
• Durkee, Robert (2022). The New Princeton Companion. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Further reading

• McLachlan, James (1974), "The Choice of Hercules American Student Societies in the Early 19th Century", The University in Society, Volume II, Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 449–494, doi:10.1515/9780691196701-004, ISBN 978-0-691-19670-1
• Williams, Charles Richard (1916). The Cliosophic Society, Princeton University: A Study of Its History in Commemoration of Its Sesquicentennial Anniversary. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

External links

• Official web site

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