They held regular weekly programs, with the debate feature strongly emphasized, and on occasions the societies would compete with each other in joint meetings. From these groups were drawn the students, as a rule, who represented the university in intercollegiate oratorical and debate contests. Probably, too, it was worthy of mention that in the spring of 1893, with no commencement exercises in contemplation in honor of the graduation of a class, the Amphictyon Literary society was charged by the faculty with the responsibility of giving an entertainment to mark the close of the school year. This entertainment was held in what was then the assembly hall of the university on the third floor of the west wing, and consisted chiefly of orations, readings, and music, while the stage was beautifully decorated with flowers, the dominant kind being the wild rose which grew profusely on the hills back of the university, and which was gathered in large numbers by an energetic committee appointed by the Amphictyon society for that purpose.
It should be recalled that the University Argonaut was born during this early period, and as a monthly magazine its first number was issued in the autumn of 1898. Likewise, it should be remembered that the pioneer college fraternity was Kappa Phi Alpha. Organized as a local in January, 1900, it became (1908) Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta. Kappa Sigma was the first national fraternity to enter the Idaho campus, the local group recognized coming into being within the pioneer period, though subsequently to the birth of its early rival.
Athletics. 