[1] Some of the debate topics included “Ought students to associate with ladies while pursuing their studies?”, “Ought the Indians to be driven from the land they occupy?”, "Was John Wilkes Booth a Patriot", "Was the Reconstruction of the Southern States Justifiable", "Was the Introduction of Slavery into the United States Beneficial to the Human Race", and “Can there be a greater knowledge of the country obtained by traveling or by the study of geography?”[2][5] All students on campus were members of one of these two literary societies, which were the center of campus life.

[1][2] To attract interest, the society started bringing speakers to campus and hosted debating and oratory contests.

[2] The Eumenean Society's Latin motto is Pulchrum Est Colere Mentem or "It is noble to cultivate the mind".

[7][2] Its Greek motto is Καλόν ή άλήθεια καί μόνιμον or Kalon Aletheia Kai Monomon or "Truth is lasting and beautiful".

[1] In its early years, Eumenean Sociey members wore a pink ribbon on their coat collar at graduation.

[7] In the 1840s, this changed to a medal that was shaped like a crescent with a chain from both ends that connected to a pink ribbon; this was worn on the right coat lapel.

[1] Because the Philanthropic Society also wanted a hall, the two groups collaborated to design buildings that would be "alike in size, material, and magnificence",’ with a budget of $1,500 each.