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

slowly but steadily, and we are anxiousto hear the replies from the seven studentswho have been given bids for thisyear. We’ve recently had elections for the2008-2009 school year and would like tocongratulate these students for the followingpositions:Prytanis – Tess HendersonHyparchos – Jeremy OndoChrysophalax – David CarperGrammateus – Alex Medoro (accepted,to be initiated on April 28, 2008)We are also very sad to be losing twovery special Eta Sigma Phi members,seniors Timother Beutler (Chrysophalax,2 years) and Mark Savinell (Prytanis, 2years), and we wish them the best of luckwith graduation and all their post-collegiateendeavors.Theta Lambda at Hamilton CollegeTheta Lambda is a new chapter of EtaSigma Phi. Since our founding in May2007, we have already initiated 14members.We began the year with a chapter meetingto get to know each other and to planactivities for the year and future years.Our first real accomplishment came in theform of T-shirts for the department. Wealso organized a regular homework night,where we can collectively answer eachother’s grammar questions so that we canhave deeper class discussions on content.It has been really nice to see our majorsand our Eta Sigma Phi members fromdifferent class years and different abilitiescome together and work together. Weheld two parties last semester. Our annualHalloween party was a tremendous hit, asstudents and faculty alike got dressed incostume. Our second party welcomed thenew members into the department. Thisyear we had a record breaking 14 majorsdeclare, many of whom will be eligible forinitiation into Eta Sigma Phi this spring.On April 18th, three of our senior EtaSigma Phi members presented papers atParilia, an annual undergraduate researchconference with Classics students fromfour upstate N.Y. colleges: Skidmore,Union, Colgate, and Hamilton. LeahF. Delany will present, “‘Blowin’ in theWind’: Bob Dylan and Ancient GreekLyric”; Maria-Christina Rubino, “The Barof Greatness: Athletes as Demigods andSuperheroes in Pindar and Pausanias”; andAlbert B. Trithart, “Fearmongering andJingoism: The Rhetoric of Imperialism inAncient Athens and the ContemporaryUnited States.” We are delighted andexcited that so many of our younger majorsare eager to travel to the conference andsupport those presenting papers.As a new chapter, we are still brainstormingfor the future. We still hope towork with the community around Clinton,NY and bring Latin to local high schools,as well as to strengthen the love of theClassics on our campus. We are currentlytalking with the local high schools toset up a tutoring program for those kidswho want to learn Latin independently,because, sadly, Latin is not offered to thestudents in the local Clinton schools. Inupcoming years we would really like tosponsor a myth challenge night open tothe entire campus, to have a Greek lyricpoetry reading spotlight during one of themany campus-wide acoustic coffeehousesand to have a marathon night of the HBOseries Rome as well. We look forward toseeing our chapter grow and flourish.Eta Sigma Phi MedalsEta Sigma Phi medals awarded to honor students in secondaryschool Latin classes help to promote the study ofLatin in high school and give Eta Sigma Phi an excellentcontact with high school students of the Classics.Chapters can use them as prizes for contestsor as a way to recognize achievement. Inaddition, chapters can award the medalsto outstanding students of the Classics attheir home institutions. Two silver medalsare available: the large medal (1½ inches)at $28.75 and the small (¾ inch) at $10.25.A bronze medal (¾ inch) is available at$6.50. The various medals can be awarded tostudents at various levels of their study.Theta Pi at Kenyon CollegeThe events of Kenyon’s chapter of EtaSigma Phi for the 2007-2008 year haveconsisted of the initial induction of thechapter, new members, and officers in theFall. We have reached a consensus thatannual inductions should take place at thistime of year, typically toward the beginningto the semester. Upon returning forthe Spring semester, we have had an initialmeeting to notify people of the scholarships,translation contests, and othergeneral benefits that exist for members.As an event during the semester we heldan ‘I, Claudius’ marathon showing. Wehad another meeting toward the end ofthe Spring semester to discuss the end ofthe year party and how we might dovetailour group’s efforts into the official Classicsdepartment party held at the end of everyyear. The Eta Sigma Phi publication wasdistributed as well as official certificates,and we are presently organizing one finalevent, going to CoSi (the science museumin Columbus, OH), which will be showingan IMAX film about Ancient Greece.Beyond this, discussion about next year’sofficers was discussed, and nominations/elections/appointments will take place inthe Fall. This concludes the first year inKenyon’s Chapter of Eta Sigma Phi.Obverseand reverseof the largesilver medalMedals may be ordered from Dr. Brent M. Froberg, 5518 Lake Jackson St., Waco,TX 76710-2748. Please add $1.00 per order to cover the costs of postage and handling.Checks should be made payable to Eta Sigma Phi Medal Fund and shouldaccompany the order.43