Dies Secundus: Studia, Petenda, and Latinae Minutiae

Today was our first day of classes! Students attended Quid Rides? (Why are you laughing), taught by Magistris Primis McIntire, Stylus Amicitiae (The Stylus of Friendship), taught by Magistra Harrell, and Voces Feminarum (The Voice of Women), taught by Magistra Koshute. After classes, we took part in a petenda (scavenger hunt) around campus. Students needed to work together in provinces to translate Latin clues, find various landmarks on campus, and engage with their teachers lingua Latina (in the Latin language).

Following petenda, we returned to Andrews Hall for our otium (leisure time). Some students elected to go to the gym while others passed the time by working on their dipinti for elections. Once we had all eaten cenam together, we traveled to Brock Commons to hear Magister Cavedo deliver this year’s theme lecture. He discussed the translation of this year’s Latin Academy theme, quisquis amat valeat (let whoever loves be well) while touching on both the ancient context of this graffito and modern applications of it. There was a wonderful dialogue throughout the lecture as students had wonderful questions and interpretations to offer.
Our next activity of the evening was the long-standing Latin Academy tradition, Latinae Minutiae (Little Latin Things). Students competed against one another in groups in this trivia game, answering Latin questions on topics ranging from Greco-Roman mythology to episodes of Avatar the Last Airbender.

The final event of the day was our first epistulae (letters), when students received their letters and packages from our fabulous RA’s, Benji, Sophia, and Laura. Tomorrow promises to be another fun-filled day as we will be holding our elections. Bona fortuna (good luck) to all the candidates!

​Magister/Διδάσκαλος Cogan