Philolexian Society

The Philolexian Society is one of the oldest collegiate literary societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia. It was founded in 1802. The society aims to "improve its members in Oratory, Composition and Forensic Discussion". The name Philolexian is Greek for "Lover of discourse," and the society's motto is the Latin word "Surgam", meaning "I shall rise".