Washington Literary Society and Debating Union
| Washington Literary Society and Debating Union | |
|---|---|
| ΣΒΦ | |
| Founded | 1831 Refounded 1865, 1979 University of Virginia |
| Type | Literary |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Debate, oratory |
| Scope | Local |
| Motto | Quam fluctus diversi, quam mare conjuncti "Though the waves are many, the sea is one" |
| Member badge | |
| Colors | White Maroon |
| Flower | White rose |
| Philanthropy | The Haven, working to end homelessness in the Charlottesville community. |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Nickname | The Wash |
| Headquarters | Newcomb Hall PO Box 400429 Charlottesville, Virginia 22904 United States |
| Website | www |
The Washington Literary Society and Debating Union (also known as "the Washington Society" or "the Wash") is a literary and debating group at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. While its current incarnation is modern, the Society has roots back to the first decade of operation of the university and was founded in the mid-1830s.
The Society was reorganized twice, in two major historical partitions as the First Refounding (1865) and Second Refounding (1979). The First Refounding was led from members returning to the university after the Civil War. The Second Refounding of the Society was made possible by Mr. R. E. Heischman of Charlottesville, an active member of the Washington Society from 1923 until 1925, who administered the oath of membership on the night of November 16 pursuant to the code of the Society's 1929 constitution.