 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2010) |
| Episkopon | |
|---|---|
| ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΩΝ | |
| Founded | 1858 Trinity College |
| Type | Secret society |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Defunct |
| Scope | Local |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Headquarters | Toronto Canada |
Episkopon (Greek: ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΩΝ, "bishop") was a secret society at Trinity College in the University of Toronto, which has been active since 1858 when its male branch was founded. The 225th reading of its original male branch was held in 2011.[1] The female branch of Episkopon had been active since 1899, holding their 182nd Reading in 2019. Prominent alumni of the Episkopon include Former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham, filmmaker Atom Egoyan, and Former Canadian Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. The organization is one of the oldest collegiate secret societies in North America and the oldest in Canada.
The male and female branches both present three annual Readings during which they publicly satirized the goings-on about college through a wide range of jokes, songs, and poems delivered by the branch's leader, the Scribe.[2] The society's mythological premise is to deliver "gentle chastisement" on behalf of the Venerable Father (or Mother) Episkopon, a spirit who supposedly resided at Trinity and who was represented at Readings by a human skull.[2] 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.[3] The motto of the organization is from Horace: Notandi Sunt Tibi Mores (Latin: "The manners of men are to be carefully observed").
In 1992, Episkopon was censured and disassociated from the Trinity College Council following allegations of racism and homophobia.[2] Despite policies prohibiting Episkopon from engaging in any activities on College property, the society nevertheless continues to play an important role in undergraduate life at Trinity.[4] It announced its closure in June 2020.[5]
- ^ Trinity, 1852-1952: Published as a special centennial issue of the Trinity Review.[verification needed]
- ^ a b c Mitchell, Alanna (1992-09-05). "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?". The Globe and Mail: D1.
- ^ Hill, Declan. "The Tempest at Trinity". Ideas, 1993. Toronto: CBC Radio
- ^ Talaga, Tanya (1999-03-27). "Secret student group divides U of T's Trinity College; Once banned from campus, society returns". The Toronto Star: 1.
- ^ Puvipalan, Vaishnavy. "Worst and Worst-Kept Secret". The Underground at UTSC. Retrieved 2024-08-10.