About Epigram

A society for better disagreement.

Epigram is St Joseph's University's Debating Society: a place for debates, writing, media, and the long habit of learning how to disagree well.

Original Welcome

Welcome to St Joseph's University's Debating Society.

Epigram began with a simple promise: students should have better rooms for argument, research, rebuttal, and speech. The new site keeps that promise close instead of hiding it in old pages.

History

From classroom debate to recognised society.

3 Mar 2023

The first shape

Epigram began as an inter-school debating effort and a classroom debate programme.

9 Mar 2023

First debate

The inaugural classroom debate was held in A204, Arrupe Block, St. Joseph's University.

10 Oct 2023

Formal recognition

The university formally recognised Epigram as its debating society.

2024-25

More rooms opened

Publications, Airwaves, committees, forums, and the society's formal rules began to take shape.

23 Feb 2024

First annual magazine

The first-ever student-run annual magazine of the university, the Epigram Magazine, was published and released.

16 Jun 2024

Rules on paper

The Drafting & Advisory Committee began shaping the document that would organise the society.

Jul 2025

First Edition

The first edition was completed after nearly two years of work, trial, and argument.

Principles

Rigour, respect, curiosity, voice.

Rigour

Arguments are built with research, clarity, and intellectual honesty.

Respect

Fierce disagreement belongs with graceful discourse.

Curiosity

Members are expected to ask better questions, not just win louder.

Voice

Debate, writing, and media give student thought a sharper public shape.