Episkopon

Episkopon (Greek: Επισκοπῶν) is a controversial secret society at Trinity College in the University of Toronto, which has been active since 1858 when its male branch was founded. The 225th reading was held in 2011. A female branch of Episkopon has been active since 1899, holding their 150th Reading in 2009. In 1992, Episkopon was censured and forcibly disassociated by the Trinity College Council following allegations of racism and homophobia. Despite policies prohibiting Episkopon from engaging in any activities on College property, the society continues to play a significant role in undergraduate life at Trinity. The male and female branches both present three annual Readings during which gossip is disseminated and students are criticized through a wide range of formats of jokes, songs, and poems delivered mostly by the branch's leader, the Scribe. The society's mythological premise is to deliver "gentle chastisement" on behalf of the Venerable Father (or Mother) Episkopon, a spirit who supposedly resides at Trinity and who is represented at Readings by a human skull. Described in the media as a "self-perpetuating board of directors", the clandestine group of former Scribes and their assisting editors style themselves as the Order of the Golden Key. The motto of the organization is: Notandi Sunt Tibi Mores.