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

Chapter Res Gestae 2007–2008These reports of the chapter activities forthe current academic year have previouslybeen called Chapter Reports. Beginningwith this issue of NUNTIUS, however,these reports will be called Chapter ResGestae in order to distinguish them moreclearly from the Annual Reports whicheach chapter is required to submit everyfall. Many thanks to Eta Delta of HillsdaleCollege for the suggested name change!Shorter oral versions of these reports arepresented by a chapter delegate to nationalconvention. All chapters, even those notattending the convention, are encouragedto submit their Res Gestae for the summerissue of NUNTIUS.Editor’s Note: These reports arereprinted exactly as they were submittedby the chapter advisor. No stylisticchanges were made.Gamma at Ohio UniversityResuscitated in the Spring of 2007, theGamma Chapter has been very busywith providing Classics related events toOhio University’s campus and surroundingcommunity. In the fall, the societyscreened Frank Miller’s blockbuster “300”after which was an enjoyable and informativequestion and answer session withProfessors Bill Owens, Ruth Palmer andJames Andrews concerning the historicalaccuracy of the film. Also in the fall, theGamma Chapter teamed up with AmnestyInternational for a forum discussionentitled “Slavery Through the Ages.” Theforum focused on slavery in the AncientWorld, Pre-Civil War South, and theModern Middle East. Speakers included:Dr. Bill Owens (Classics and WorldReligions Department, Ohio University);Dr. Robin Dearmon Jenkins (AfricanAmerican Studies Department, Ohio University);Dr. Ali Akbar Mahdi (SociologyDepartment, Ohio Wesleyan University);Kathleen Davis (the Polaris Project). Currently,the Gamma Chapter is anticipatingits upcoming event: a Classical Feastcomprising of cuisine from Ancient Greeceand Rome.Epsilon at the University of IowaService activities include tutoring 1stand 2nd year Latin students, elementaryafter-school Latin program, volunteeringat Iowa City Public Library for children’sGreek mythology program.Poetry readings (one/semester) for ClassicsDept.Guest speakers regarding study abroad,post graduate opportunities, special collectionsat UIowa libraries (Katie Eckvall,Carin Green, David Schoonover).Multiple students have studied or arecurrently studying abroad, mainly in Romebut including Greece and archaeologicaldigs in The Netherlands.Regular movie nights (I, Claudius,Gospel at Colonus, Titus Andronicus,etc.).Four new initiates, for a total membershipof ten.Officers:Prytanis: Gillian Grady, Ben ButlerHyparchos: Liz Mawhiney, Will StormGrammateus: Laura WallaceChrysophylax: Tiffany GriffinAdvisor: Carin GreenZeta at Denison UniversityAlthough the Zeta chapter of Eta SigmaPhi intended to hold numerous events thisyear, the Campus Governance Associationhere at Denison denied funding forour organization, thus rendering theseevents impossible. However, Zeta chapterinducted ten new members during thespring term.Eta at Florida State UniversityEta chapter has been rebuilding its numbersafter a wave of graduations last year.We inducted 8 new members this yearand expect to have a good number morejoining in the Fall. This past year, studentssponsored a series of regular eventsfor members of the organization. Theseincluded a weekly afternoon tea and studysession as well as movie nights duringwhich students screened episodes of Rome.Three students participated in the annualEta Sigma Phi translation contest and one,Gabe Fechter, placed third in AdvancedLatin. Students also acted as judges forLatin competitions in local high schoolsduring the year. Members have formulatedplans to increase the visibility of the chapteron campus next year and are lookingforward to resuming activities in the Fall.Lambda at the University of MississippiAfter a couple of dormant years, Lambdachapter initiated a bumper crop of newmembers in April 2007 and has had agreat year. We began a Classics film series,open to the campus at large and showingmonthly. We served as volunteers forthe Mississippi Junior Classical Leagueconvention in early March and are lookingforward to working with high school andmiddle school students in the area morenext year. Our pyloros (and prytaneis for2008-2009), Jessica Smith, designed abeautiful t-shirt for the University of MississippiClassics community at large (butin Eta Sigma Phi colors!). At our springinitiation we brought another large groupof new members into the fold (34), madeour advisor Dr. Molly Pasco-Pranger anhonorary member, awarded our graduatingseniors honor cords, and finished theevening with a Mediterranean reception.Tau at the University of KentuckyTau Chapter was revived this January after20 years of dormancy. We are looking touse our newly reborn group to strengthenour network of Classics students, toincrease the number of Classics majors,and otherwise find reasons to get togetherand have fun.We participated in the national translationcontests this year and are planninga better showing with more submissionsand preparation for next year. Hopefullythis will include a new emphasis on KoineGreek. In addition, we hope to develop atutoring program for our Greek students,giving first semester students encouragementand help to aid in retention. To bringmore students to the program, we alsocanvassed high schoolers at our state’sWorld Language Festival to encouragethem in taking Latin or Greek.Our chapter helped to host severalevents including two pizza parties and twowell-attended talks for an excavation inCalabria. We are currently planning moresuch talks for next semester, particularlyabout Koine. We sold t shirts for the Greekstudents with Latin shirts forthcoming innext semester. We also plan to participatemore fully in the University communitywith a polyglot party and early semesteractivities in conjunction with K Week.25