In 1909 a debating council was formed to provide for efficient management of intersociety and intercollegiate debates. The president of the university was ex officio, chair, and annually appointed two members of the faculty and an alumnus of one of the literary societies to act with him, while an alumnus of the other society (Chi Delta or Philomathesian) was elected by its members, and each society was additionally represented by one if its active men.