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In 1820, as a debate on freedom and democracy in Greece was argued
across the globe, a small group of students at the University of
Georgia was forming a debating society and would eventually take
up the topic of Greek independence themselves. On March 28,
1823, members of the new group, the Phi
Kappa Literary Society, debated the question, “Ought the
United States assist the Greeks in their struggle for liberty?”
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| The Phi Kappa Literary Society at UGA
is one of the oldest student organizations in the United States. |
Nearly to the day 182 years later, UGA student debaters will
argue a similar question—this time in the context of the war
in Iraq—as part of a ceremony rededicating the newly renovated
Phi Kappa Hall.
“Ought the United States assist the Iraqis in their struggle
for liberty?” will be debated by members of Phi Kappa and
the Georgia
Debate Union in the Chapel on March 30 at 3 p.m.,
followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of Phi Kappa Hall;
a reception will follow and guests may tour the building.
As the seventh-oldest building on campus, Phi Kappa Hall was in
need of attention, according to Scott Messer with the Office of
University Architects. The bottom floor, which serves as the Georgia
Debate Union headquarters, had been renovated a number of times;
the upper floor, where Phi Kappa holds its meetings, had remained
largely untouched, “making it one of the most pristine places
on campus from an historical aspect,” says Messer.
Among other things, the mechanical system in the building was updated,
and the architects employed a mixture of renovation and restoration
to make the building a suitable, functioning meeting place for both
groups.
“The renovation of space dedicated to student organizations
affirms the administration’s commitment to improving the undergraduate
experience at Georgia,” says Edward Panetta, director of the
Georgia Debate Union and associate professor of speech communication.
“The renovated Phi Kappa Hall should help Georgia Debate’s
efforts to recruit talented debaters to UGA. And, the restored upper
hall should attract more students to the Phi Kappa weekly meetings.
I believe that the membership of both groups couldn’t be happier
with the work that has been done on this project.”
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Norman Fletcher, former Phi
Kappa member and UGA alumnus, will deliver the invocation preceding
the debate. The Phi Kappa team will consist of undergraduates Robert
Hodges and Rachel Rogers. The Georgia Debate Union will be represented
by graduate students Robert Quinn and Jarrod Atchison. |
