William Edwin Stephens wrote a series of articles in the Pharos in the spring of 1940. It was called Trend of Times, and included such topics as The Mass Mind (February 21, 1940) and Defending Democracy (April 10, 1940).
Stephens was a senior that spring, and World War II was looming. He was from Moundsville, WV and was a member of several organizations on campus in addition to being a writer for the Pharos. Those organizations included:
- Pi Kappa Delta: Pi Kappa Delta represents the most able debaters of Wesleyan’s campus. This organization is to promote forensic endeavor. It was establised in 1928. It is nationally affiliated. (Murmurmontis 1940)
- Play Shop: “The play must go on” is the motto of this group of actors and actresses on Wesleyan’s stage. Those students who complete four internships are eligible for membership in this club. (Murmurmontis 1940)
- Sigma Alpha Sigma: Honor students of the college, those with the highest scholastic averages, make up this organization’s distinction. It was organized in May 1933. (Murmurmontis 1940)
- International Relations Club: Foreign policies near and far are the interests of this group of young history students and those interested in the affairs of the world today. (Murmurmontis 1940)
- Debate
(I include his credentials here as a way of saying that he was very well qualified, was thinking things through, and was an expert in the art of debate rather than in the emotion filled tone of the recent election ads on all sides.)
Following his graduation in 1940 (Cum Laude, with a Double Major in Social Studies and Education) William served in the 8th US Army Air Force in Europe during World War II and retired as a Lt. Col. from the US Air Force Reserve. He was a Personnel Manager for Dupont for 27 years. See his obituary for details.
On the eve of Election Day 2018, I would like to let William’s articles speak to us across the sands of time. They certainly have a ring of familiarity and relevance about them. And, he includes the voices of well-known and well-loved faculty members as well. Click on the titles of the articles to see them in their entirety and in the context of the other things that were happening at the time.
February 21, 1940 The Mass Mind
March 3, 1cdm16111.contentdm.oclc.org/…ll13/id/2722940 Propaganda Analysis (Which includes the voices of Professor Harold Ahlgren, Professor Lewis Chrisman, Professor Arthur Allen Schoolcraft, Professor Harold Steele, and Professor George Glauner.
March 30, 1940 Yellow Journalism
April 10, 1940 Defending Democracy
April 17, 1940 The Real Issue