Barker Contest THE incisive event in oratory this year was the Barker Extemporaneous Speaking Contest established by James L. Barker, a former principal of Weber Academy. This Contest has enabled students to materially increase their powers of clear thinking and intelligent expression, an inevitable aid to the development of individuality and the unfolding of character. The addresses this year well demonstrated this fact. In the initial contests the following students were winners: Evelyn Burton, Grant Ellis, Arthur Marble, Evelyn Neilsen, Frank Mouritson, Rulon Pendleton, and Anna Cannon. In the final competition Grant Ellis, with his subject "Art of the Fine Arts," won first place; Arthur Marble won second place, Rulon Pendletone third place, and Evelyn Burton fourth place. In class competition the Sophomores, with 41 points, were victorious over the Freshmen who had a total of 31 points. Grant Contest THE Heber J. Grant oratorical contest was held November 22, 1926, before the col- lege student body. President Heber J. Grant of the L. D. S. church instituted this contest at all Church schools, which offers a beautifully-bound, autographed book to the winner. The value of this, as of other speaking contests, is evident. It enables students to develop their powers of expression, aids them in the attainment of self-confidence, and, in adition, serves to stimulate and emphasize Christian ideals. Twenty-three students of Weber gave ten-minute orations on the subject, "How one may secure a testimony of the Divinity of the Latter-day Work." From this group three students were selected as the final entrants. These were: Leonard Judkins, who was awarded first place; Evelyn Nielson, and Therma Scoville. The orations, in brief, endeavored to express the thought that the church is a divine and indespensable institution, sincere in all its aspects. '05 Contest AS A GIFT, the class of '05 left a cup to Weber and planned in its connection an extemporaneous speaking contest, the winner of which was to have his name and class engraved upon the cup. The participants in this competition must be able to think clearly and consecutively and deliver their messages with ease and ability. This year the Sophomore class was represented in the finals by Evelyn Nielsen and Ernest Ward, and the Freshmen by Wilma Rubenstein and Arthur Marble. Miss Rubenstein was awarded first place for her speech on "Science and Judaism." Evelyn Nielsen was awarded second place, and Arthur Marble was chosen as third place winner. The Lewis Contest WITH an excellence unsurpassed, seven college men, Frank Mouritson, Frank Douglas, Ellsworth Weaver, Lawrence Van Dyke, Lester Young, Leonard Judkins, and Joseph Steed, delivered short addresses in the annual Lewis Extemporaneous Speaking contest, which provides that the annual winner be awarded the Lewis medal. The speeches were short, simple, sincere, each with a definite message, each forcibly and interestingly delivered. The final decision was given Frank Douglas who spoke on "Sincereity." His talk was based upon the quotation "To Thy Country, God, and Self be True." The ACORN 1927 SOCIAL