Episkopon

Episkopon (Greek: Επισκοπῶν, sometimes spelled "Episcopon" earlier in its history) is a controversial secret society active at Trinity College in the University of Toronto that dates back to 1858." [http://main.library.utoronto.ca/webcat/goto_catalogue_url.cfm?where=ckey&what=476369 Trinity, 1852-1952] ": Published as a special centennial issue of the Trinity Review.] The society is named for the "Venerable Father Episkopon" (from the Greek word "episkopos") — Trinity's purported 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 a human skull reverently displayed at Episkopon gatherings.cite journal |title= 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? |journal= The Globe and Mail |date= 1992-09-05 |last= Mitchell |first= Alanna |pages=D1] An affiliated (but separate) all-female incarnation of Episkopon also exists.cite journal |journal = National Post |last = Black |first = Shannon |title = Juvenile jokes or cruel cuts? Episkopon, the 140-year-old vehicle of public shaming at U of T's Trinity College |volume= 1 |issue = 129 |pages = B12]

History

For almost one hundred and fifty years, more than one hundred and forty two 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. 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."Hill, Declan. "The Tempest at Trinity". "Ideas", 1993. Toronto: CBC Radio] 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. When the Scribe of the 1992-1993 academic year refused to draft a constitution that was acceptable to the college administration, the Trinity College Council voted unanimously to sever all ties with the organization.cite journal |journal= Globe and Mail |first= Donald |last= Grant |title= Toronto Live: Links to Episkopon Cut |date= 1992-10-06 |pages= 1] Despite dissociating itself from the college, Episkopon traditions continue to this day.cite journal |journal= The Toronto Star |first= Tanya |last= Talaga |title= Secret student group divides U of T's Trinity College; Once banned from campus, society returns |date= 1999-03-27 |pages= 1]

Traditions

The society still presents three "Readings" each academic year that are intended to portray the follies of the college's undergraduates. Investigative journalist Declan Hill, a Trinity alumnus, [ [http://www.declanhill.com/ Declan Hill's personal website] ] 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, notably including Bill Graham and Archibald Lampman. 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." The article cited student objections to the singling out of individuals for public shaming.

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. A poster by artist Roloff Beny advertising the Spring reading from 1945 is in possession of the National Archives of Canada. [ [http://mikan3.archives.ca/pam/public_mikan/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=185554& National Archives of Canada] ] 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. The observance of Episkopon traditions features prominently in this silent movie, made by Gordon Sparling, a pioneer in Canadian documentary film-making.

Women's Episkopon

For just over one hundred years, Women's Episkopon has been active. Mable Pattee is the first known female Scribe of Episkopon, beginning in 1899.

ee also

*Collegiate secret societies in North America

References

External links

* [http://www.episkopon.com/ Episkopon]
* [http://www.vmepiskopon.com/ Women's Episkopon]