Published by Eta Sigma Phi - Monmouth College

Chapter Reports 2006–2007 (Continued)Zeta Lambda at the University ofLouisvilleIn the fall of 2006, we initiated a dozennew members into our Zeta Lambda chapterof Eta Sigma Phi: Justy Barnett, SabrinaCarlisle, Kyle Currie, Fae Grace Goodman,Nikki Jackson, Bryan Jones, KathleenCaster Mace, Jessica LaShawn Mitchell,Nathaniel Moore, Lance O’Cull, KatherineD. Sherman, and Kelsey Veilleux.Our chapter conducted a number offund raising activities, using the moneyraised to provide official Eta Sigma Phimedallions, ribbons, and certificates to theoutstanding Latin students in our localhigh schools as an outreach activity. Alsounder our auspices, at our annual springsymposium, our own University of Louisvilleoutstanding Greek student, LanceO’Cull, and our outstanding Latin student,Kathleen Mace, were recognized and givenprizes to honor their achievements. Thisyear we also recognized Laura Mills for heroutstanding work in written Greek andLatin translation.Eta Delta at Hillsdale CollegeEta Delta Chapter began its year by distributingdictionaries to all the third-gradersin Hillsdale County. Through the generousfinancial support of the local KiwanisClub, members of Eta Delta Chapter wereable to place in the hands of over 500children a dictionary which, in additionto definitions and a pronunciation guide,included other resources, such as the USConstitution, the Declaration of Independence,biographies of the presidents,maps of the world, and all the states andcapitals of the union. During the presentation,members told the students about whowe were, what the study of classics was,and how the Greek and Latin languagesformed the basis for many of the Englishwords in their new dictionaries. Finally,we taught them the letters of the Greekalphabet and showed them how to writetheir names in Greek letters.Early in the semester, the headmasterof a local charter school approached thefaculty of the Classics Department withthe idea of starting a Latin program thereto their students from Kindergarten to theseventh grade. Unfortunately, the schoolhad no budget for any books, supplies,Eta Zeta at Truman State UniversityThe Eta Zeta Chapter of Eta Sigma Phihas had a variety of activities this year.The fall “Classics ‘Alive and Kicking’Series” sponsored a reception for currentand prospective majors and minors withinformation about study abroad opportunities.Other activities included a moviediscussion group considering the use ofPlautine stock characters in the Broadwaymusical “A Funny Thing Happened onthe Way to the Forum” and a Homeraorteachers. Three members of Eta Deltachapter, Paula Eikenberry, Tucker LaPrade,and Tara Doyle have volunteered to serveas these students’ Latin teachers, workingwith them two days a week throughoutthe year. In order to raise funds for books,we had the students at the school makeValentine’s Day cards in Latin and soldthem on the college campus. The salesproved very successful, but have onlypartially covered the costs of textbooks forall of the children, so we have worked withthem to make various kinds of greetingcards, which include various Latin wordsor phrases, such as “Gratias tibi ago” fromthe more advanced students and basicLatin vocabulary words with illustrationsfrom the younger children.Peer tutoring has also been a successfulprogram for Eta Delta Chapter. Studentsstaff tables in the classics seminar roomtwo nights a week throughout the semesterfor introductory and intermediatestudents. This program provides a greatopportunity for students who are havingdifficulty in the classes to get the help thatthey need beyond what is available duringfaculty office hours, but it also allows forgreater interaction between the introductorystudents and their more advancedcounterparts.In late January, we traveled to theToledo Museum of Art to see the exhibit,In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient SeasideVillas of the Roman Elite, where we sawartifacts from the remains of a Roman cityafter the eruption of Mount VesuviusIn February, Eta Delta chapter initiated16 new members into the rites and mysteriesof Eta Sigma Phi, putting them throughthe full ritual. Later in the month, inaddition to the Valentine’s Day card sale,members participated in the third annualEta Sigma Phi Date Infliction. Unlike thesales of fraternity and sorority members,who put their Alpha males and females onthe auction block, Eta Sigma Phi auctionedtheir Beta through Omega members, butwith a twist: purchasers need not keeptheir prize, but can inflict that memberupon a poor, unsuspecting soul as a datefor the upcoming Cheese Ball. The biddingwas rather heated at times, as peoplevied for the privilege to inflict classicistsupon others, or to avoid having classicistsinflicted upon them. On a side note, theweek after we had our date infliction,members of various men’s and women’sathletic teams put themselves on the auctionblock as dates for the President’s Ball.Despite selling fewer people, Eta Sigma Phiraised over $200 more than the athletesdid in their auction. Upon our return fromthe convention, we will begin preparationsfor our Cheese Ball. Our theme this yearis Forbidden Homeschool Prom, and welook forward to seeing the ladies in denimjumpers, modest turtlenecks, and sensiblesneakers, and the gentlemen in plaid shirtsand polka dot clip-on bowties feeling tooembarrassed to ask them to dance. Thoseof them who are brave enough to do so willbe expected to leave a respectable distanceof at least three feet between themselvesand their dates while on the dance floor.In the month of March, studentsattended a production of Aristophanes’Wealth, translated by our own Dr. LornaHolmes and put on by the Tower Players ofHillsdale College. Dr. Adam Kemezis alsocame from Bowling Green University togive a talk on portrayals of Julia Domna inthe works of Cassius Dio and Philóstratus.And just before spring break, Eta SigmaPhi hosted the seventh annual Honoramabowl-athon, in which we bowl againstall other honoraries on campus to raisemoney for the college’s annual Habitat forHumanity Spring Break Alternative. Onceagain, Eta Sigma Phi suffered defeat at thehands of their bitter rival accounting club,but a good time was had by all.Our final event of the year was theFloralia, our end-of-the-year feast, duringwhich we bid farewell to our graduatingseniors, ritually assassinate our outgoingpresident, and install our new regime.32