Vol 86, No. 2 Fall 2012 - Monmouth College

Chapter Reports (Continued)
Alwine and Dr. Jane Crawford. We are
looking forward to what next year holds
and excitedly preparing to host the 2013
national convention.
Beta Delta at the University of Tennessee
In the Spring of 2012 our chapter inducted
fifteen new student members and one
honorary professional member in a very
well-attended and joyous initiation ceremony.
Our guest speaker was one of our
faculty, Dr. Theodora Kopestonsky, whose
banquet speech was both informative
and lively. The highlight of the academic
year for Beta Delta was the first annual
undergraduate Classics conference held
at the University of Tennessee, where
several members delivered papers before an
appreciative audience. We are looking forward
to working closely with a revitalized
Classics Club in 2012–13, which will hold
monthly classically themed social events
for ΗΣΦ members and non-members alike.
Beta Kappa at Notre Dame of
Maryland University
This big event on our campus this year
was our name change from College of
Notre Dame of Maryland to Notre Dame
of Maryland University. Campus-wide
events celebrating this new public identity
caused Beta Kappa chapter to get off to a
slow start, but once we started we were on
the move. In the fall semester some of our
members attended the exhibit, Lost and
Found: The Secrets of Archimedes, at the
Walters Art Museum, which celebrated the
restoration of the Archimedes palimpsest
that had been entrusted to the Walters
conservators for restoration. We also
attended several lectures there by Reviel
Netz, co-author of the The Archimedes
Codex, and other scholars
On November 2 Patricia Short, retired
Latin teacher, member of ΗΣΦ and daughter
of classical scholar, Graves Thompson,
who was the beloved chair of Latin at
Hampden-Sydney College for many years,
gave an illustrated presentation on the
Latin of the Bayeux Tapestry. This lecture
was attended by Latin and history students
as well as teachers, students and Latin lovers
from the broader Baltimore community.
On March 7 we hosted our annual
Sister Mary Gratia Memorial Lecture. John
Beta Kappa: Sabrina Cummings, Madeleine Grewell, Keira Gruber, Stephanie Kirchhoff,
Amal Malik
McLucas, Professor of Latin and Italian at
Towson University, traced the evolution of
Rome from antiquity through the Renaissance,
examining the image of the city as
it changed from Caput Orbis to Babylon,
Widow, and finally Wonderland. This was
attended by members of Beta Kappa chapter
from its beginnings in the early fifties as
well as current students, alums and friends
of our chapter.
On May 3 we held what might be the
first annual Bronze and Brains competition.
This combination of athletic events
and Certamen was open to the whole
campus, but the Certamen included on
trivia questions related to classical studies.
All the contestants had a good time in
the competitions and the pizza party that
followed.
We closed the year on May 12 with
induction of five new members and a
presentation by our prytanis, Amanda
D’Onofrio, on the influence of the Medea
myth in literature, art and music.
We went on line for our fall fundraiser
and sold holiday candy. Our spring fundraiser
was our traditional Maryland Classics
Raffle. An endowed gift in memory of
an alumna who graduated in 1927 made it
possible for us to attend the national convention
at the University of Missouri. An
endowed tuition scholarship in memory of
Gladys Callahan Justice has just matured
and will be used for the first time next year
for a student of classical studies. Our annual
fundraisers have helped to make both
these gifts available.
Beta Nu at the University of
Mary Washington
Continuing its efforts to promote the study
of the ancient world, Beta Nu held its 12th
annual Classical Essay Contest this year
for local middle and high school students
of Latin. In the fall we sent flyers to Latin
teachers in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where
Mary Washington is located; to teachers in
the neighboring counties; and to members
of the Fredericksburg Area Latin Teachers’
Association (FALTA). We invited essays,
2–3 pages or approximately 750 words in
length, on the following topic, “When
speaking about his love, Catullus (8.10-12)
states nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura (do not
chase one who flees, nor live unhappily,
but endure with a strong mind, be obstinate).
When a relationship with a friend
or sweetheart is coming to an end, do you
think that Catullus’ words are the best way
to handle the situation?” We received over
100 essays, which we judged in February at
a combined essay reading session and pizza
party. We awarded ΗΣΦ medals, book
prizes, and certificates to first and second
place winners in two levels of competition,
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