Belles Lettres

Union Philosophical Society holds elections. Belles Lettres holds a spelling bee. Sophomores interfere with taking of freshman class picture.

Gettysburg College accuses Dickinson of violating athletic contract. Alpha Chi Rho takes annual ride to Doubling Gap. Freshman class election results. Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Society election results.

A report of the whereabouts and activities of the class of 1897 is published.  Traditional "Fair Week" half-holday is canceled, and Friday after Thanksgiving is proposed as a substitute.  After a year's break from the usual custom, the requirement of upper classmen to answer to church roll is revived, with disapproval from the editors.  United States President William McKinley, Professor Cramer, and Dr. Stauffer are elected to honorary membership in the Belles Lettres Society.  The editors call for improved exits from the athletic field.

The Union Philosophical Society holds their anniversary, while the Belles Lettres Society opts not to.    The boys on campus hold a “Stag Dance” in the basement of Old West.

Baseball plays against Carlisle Indian School. Debates about the validity of the honor system take shape within the pages of the editorial section.  A chapter of the Delta Chi Law Fraternity is founded at the Law School.  Dickinson wins one game and loses one game of chess with Bucknell.  The Belles Lettres Society holds elections.  Improvements are made to the athletic fields.

Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Society hold annual joint meeting, elect S. G. Hare B.L.S. president and John Wilson U.P.S. president. Commencement. McCauleys give annual Levee to senior class. J. T. Mallalieu wins sophomore oratorical prize from U.P.S. Alumni erect a monument over the grave of former president H. M. Johnson. Salutatorian is allowed to speak in English instead of Latin because he had a science focus. The fraternity formerly known as Independent is chartered into Beta Theta Pi. Class of 1872 plans a reunion.

Schedule for Commencement week. C. B. Staples lectures to Scientific Society; J. A. Barnitz is elected president of the society. Senior class has tea at house of Professor Henry Harman. Sigma Chi holds convention of Pennsylvania chapters at Dickinson. J. E. Price wins Belles Lettres Society sophomore oratorical prize; Union Philosophical Society holds sophomore oratorical contest but has yet to decide the winner. A Harrisburg team defeats the Dickinson baseball team.

Schedule for commencement activities is published. The committee for organizing Class Day is chosen. Seniors R. M. Parker, R. B. Weaver, and W. C. Gross lecture to Scientific Society. Literary societies plan sophomore contests. G. W. Miller, J. A. H. Barnitz, A. R. Bender, and Ed. Hilton are elected Dickinsonian editors. Baseball club is formed with C. W. Emmerich as president.

Belles Lettres Society celebrates its eighty-eighth anniversary. Union Philosophical Society celebrates its eighty-fifth anniversary. Senior J. W. Wetzel presents research on arsenic detection to Scientific Society.

Union Philosophical Society faces turmoil over attempt to charge debaters to have their names engraved on invitations. G. W. Miller, J. A. Barnitz, and C. W. Emmerich become new leaders of Belles Lettres Society. The college and ministers from town engage in a day of prayer for colleges.

Scientific Society discusses experiments.  Suggestions are made for the libraries of the Union Philosophical and Belles Lettres Societies.

Freshman class is characterized by the relatively advanced age of its members. Belles Lettres Society refurnishes its library. Sophomores defeat Juniors in baseball.

The Belles Lettres Society holds their anniversary celebration, with a disappointing Anniversarian speaking. The Union Philosophical Society also holds its anniversary celebration, with a more adept Anniversarian. Complaints of the marking system run rampant around campus.

Commencement week is detailed. J. Richard Parkison and E. H. Conklin win Pierson Prizes in Junior oratorical contest. Class Day is detailed. First Class Spread is a success. Board of Trustees meets. Alumni Association holds annual meeting. J. W. Wetzel, G. H. Miller, J. R. Parkison, and W. L. Gooding are elected Dickinsonian editors. J. Y. Dobbins and C. F. Robbins are elected secretaries; E. F. Hilton is elected treasurer. Senior D. M. Graham holds class party. Henry Thomas wins Union Philosophical Society's sophomore oratorical contest. Jno. F.

The Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Societies abolish their initiation fees.  The Belles Lettres Sophomore Contest  and Union Philosophical Society Sophomore Contest are held.  A group of undergraduate students steal from a senior reception two freezers full of ice cream.  Students visit Gettysburg Battlefield on Decoration Day.  The second annual Field Day of the State Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association of Pennsylvania is held.  Dickinson ties Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg in baseball. 

Complaints are aired about the random nature of the oratorical awards given by the Literary societies.  The Sophomores beat the Freshmen in baseball 53 to 4.  The Belles Lettres Society holds its annual Sophomore Contest, as does the Union Philosophical Society.  Baseball games are rained out.

A committee of Union Philosophical Society and Belles Lettres Society members is formed to revise the "Joint Rules" for using the libraries.  The Dickinsonian defends its existence in the wake of complaints from students.  Seniors begin competitions for the Scientific Society prize.  Baseball games abound between picked teams, Carlisle teams, and class teams. 

The college catalogue is released.  Planning begins for the Junior Contest and Belles Lettres Sophomore Contest.  A reunion is called for the class of 1882. 

Students request an Inter-Class Debate and the formation of a baseball team.  The Tome Scientific Building is dedicated.  The Belles Lettres Society holds their anniversary. 

The bowling alleys are the most popular part of the new gymnasium.  Interest forms over the Inter-Collegiate Mock Trial, and in preparation the Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Societies decide not to hold anniversaries.  The sophomores hold a class supper. 

Union Philosophical and Belles Lettres had their annual debate, Union Philosophical was declared the winner.  The topic was "That the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution should be repealed."   The Lyric Club will hold a concert in Bosler Hall.

Belles Lettres defeats Union Philosophical Society in annual inter-society debate. Freshman banquet is held. Phi Delta Theta holds fifth annual dance.

Dickinson defeats the Carlisle Indians in baseball.The annual baseball game between the Freshman and Sophomore classes is held. Tea party for women of the Hall on Pomfret street. Belles Lettres Sophomore oratorical contest occurs in Bosler Hall. Professor T. A. Schurr comes to Carlisle to lecture students and visit the Carlisle Indian School. 

Metropolitan Opera Company singer Nina Morgana hold recital. $1500 worth of instruments purchased by College for student band. All-College Social Committee plans upcoming events. Football team ends season with 6 wins, 3 losses. Dramatic Club announces cast for two upcoming shows. Belle Lettres to file complaint with faculty regarding the continuing vandalism of the society hall.