Vol. 82, No. 2, Summer 2008 - Monmouth College

2008 Convention ResolutionsSapientia petimus placidam sub libertate quietemEditor’s Note: The motto of both theCommonwealth of Massachusetts and theUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst isense petimus placidam sub libertate quietem.So, we arrived at Boston Logan, and wesaid, “Sapientia petimus placidam sub libertatequietem” . So, we drove through thenight, through the snowstorms, throughErie, Pennsylvania; we left behind thepaludes lacertorum of Florida, and we toldstrangers on the way, Sapientia petimusplacidam sub libertate quietem. And all wemet told us, “Go, go ye, to western Massachusetts,to the home of the pioneers.”And we, because we were ignorant cornfarmers from Indiana, we said, “Whatis this strange place you speak of, thisoxymoron, western Massachusetts. Thereis only Boston.” And they said, go, go, ye,beyond the Cimmerians, to western Massachusetts.Fortunately for us, as Aeneas followedthe Sybil, as Dante followed Vergil, wewere following the golden brow of AndrewCarroll and the members of the EpsilonOmicron chapter. We said, Sapientia petimusplacidam sub libertate quietem, and theysaid, “Come, come ye to western Massachusetts.”And they set for us contests, certaminaand agones, to see whether we might beworthy of placida quiés. And we failed atviros Romam mittent qui regem petant, orviros Romam mittunt qui regem petent orpetunt or whatever, but the heroes fromIowa and Texas survived.And we exchanged tales from ouradventures. Some said, “We seek placidaquies, because we have been sacrificingpiñatas.” Others said, “We seek the same,for our enemies make us date non-classicists.”And were heard tales from beyondthe end of the world, beyond the lastcamps of Alexander, for Zeta Beta has nowsent beauty’s flame to Mongolia. And thethree wisest among us made eloquent orations,and we learned that in-breeding killsand our ancestors reveled in stealing godsand virginities.But these sibyls demanded more laborsfrom us. They said, “You must descendWant to place an ad in Nuntius?Cost per issue for active chapters:$25 (1/4 page);$40 (1/2 page);$75 (whole page).Rates for other individuals andorganizations available upon request.Send payment and electronic camerareadycopy to the editor.Published by Eta Sigma PhiVolume 80 Summer 2006 Number 2The 78th Annual National ConventionMinutes submitted by Megas GrammateusSharif Said of Beta Sigma(Marquette University)The 78th Annual NationalConvention took place March 31through April 2, 2006 in Blacksburg,Virginia. This convention,hosted by Virginia Tech’s Eta EtaChapter, was attended by twentysevenchapters from all cornersof the country. The kickoff forthe weekend took place in theWallace Atrium where chaptersregistered and attendees enjoyedice cream sundaes. Each participantin the convention was givena stylish sack bearing the everfashionableEta Sigma Phi seal.Inside the bag was a handy folderwonderfully decorated with thesame, and it held the program andinformation about the conference.The opening remarks were givenby Virginia Tech’s very own Professorof Classics Terry Papillon,who told those attending that he felt thebad weather was sent by Zeus because helacked the funds to register. Prof. Papillonthen introduced Virginia Tech DeanJerome Niles and other members of theVT community who graciously welcomedall the travelers to their campus.Following these remarks ExecutiveSecretary Thomas J. Sienkewicz of MonmouthCollege (Gamma Omicron) beganthe certamen battle of the wits. Each ofthe chapters stretched their intellectualmuscles and flexed them with all theirmight, but only one team could rise thevictor. The story ended with the teamcalled “Oedipus and the Mama’s Boys”Continued on page 3Above, members ofEta Eta at VirginaTech preparing towelcome delegates tothe convention.Right, Jane Hall ofNLE welcomed byTrustee Chair Sr.Thérèse Dougherty.into this frigid grotto called Bartlett, andthen you must climb this mountain andmake sacrifices to the dryads who live onthe summit there.” And we said, “Greatdaimones, how can we? We are but nerdlybeings. Here, we give you Elpenor andPalinurus; they are the bravest of thenerds; maybe they can climb the mountain.”Let us not forget to bury them onthe way home.And they took us to another nearbytown, for there was a greater temple of themuses in that town, for you see this valleyis filled with temples of learning. And inthat temple, we saw many votive offeringsleft by Greek travelers. The nativesworship these offerings and make copies ofthem. And we said, “We have seen thesestatues in the homeland.” And we drewpictures so that the locals might use themin their temples. And they said, “Whydo your draw like children or Alcibiadesat a symposium? But they accepted ourbest efforts: a knife-wielding lupus and anattention-starved Cicero.And they led us to many mirabilia visu.We saw a shadow, a fleeting image of thetruth — a college president who is a classicist,namely Ralph Hexter of HampshireCollege. What is this place that makesphilosophers king? And we learned of themansions of the mind of Kenneth Kitchell,the winner of the Lifetime AchievementAward. He inspired us to a life of investigationand scared us with tales of smokingJesuits.And they set at our hands all the daintiesof a feast, and they distilled pure waterfrom their pond in bottles with their owninsignia.And the muses set the fire of inspirationin the heart of the Executive Secretary,Thomas Sienkewicz, and we borebeauty’s flame in song…again and againand again.Tandem placidam quietem invenimus, etEpsiloni Omicroni magnas gratias agimus.At last we found peaceful rest, and we sincerelythank the members of Epsilon Omicronand the University of MassachusettsAmherst. We are restored for the travels,and contests, and wonders to come.14