Debating Society
From its earliest days, Loyola Academy had a very active and robust debating society.
In 1940, the Academy encountered resistance participating in debate activities with some other Illinois high schools. While they engaged in debating activities with Chicago high schools, new Illinois High School Association (IHSA) rules created obstacles to debating at some schools. On November 15, 1940, Loyola Academy's Debate team was invited to participate in a tournament at Thornton Township High School. Ten days later, however, the Academy was told they could not participate because of legislation that C. W. Whitten had passed. C. W. Whitten, the head of the IHSA at the time, had been leading the effort by school principals to eliminate university-sponsored national athletic tournaments. Since Loyola founded the National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament almost twenty years earlier, Whitten's actions aggravated Fr. Brucker, the Academy principal, and Fr. Samuel Knox Wilson, the University President.
Because Whitten controlled the IHSA, Fr. Brucker stated his preference not to join the association in a letter to Fr. Wilson. He even asked Fr. Wilson if they should bring the matter before the Board of Education, the North Central Association, or the Illinois Department of Education due to issues of discrimination against Catholic schools. C. W. Whitten, the head of the IHSA at the time, led the effort by school principals to eliminate unviersity-sponsored national athletic tournaments. Since Loyola founded the National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament almost twenty years earlier, Whitten's actions aggravated Fr. Brucker, the Academy principal, and Fr. Samuel Knox Wilson, the University President.
The Academy eventually joined the IHSA, and they are still a member of the organization today.