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news
Honor society
hones in to CSULB
By Alison Heney
Special to the On-line Forty-Niner
Now making waves
at The Beach is the newest chapter of the nationally recognized
Classics Honor Society, Eta Sigma Phi. First recognized as
a student association in spring 2001, the Classics Honor Society
is working to create a program to involve CSULB students in
the study and awareness of classical literature, art, theater,
language and history.
Meetings will be
held at 5 p.m. every other Monday in the University Student
Union. Signs will be posted on campus indicating upcoming
meetings and events.
Headed by this
year's president, Noelle Kinley, the Honor Society offers
a variety of memberships to allow students with all levels
of interest participation in the association.
Active membership
is offered to undergraduates who are enrolled in Latin or
Greek language classes and are maintaining a letter grade
of "B" or better. Associate membership is awarded
to graduate students as well as former members of Eta Sigma
Phi who transferred from another chapter. Honorary membership
is given to students selected by the chapter for their interest
in the classics and for contributions to the understanding
and appreciation of ancient cultures.
As she took on
the position of president for the new chapter, Kinley indicated
that she was excited about the group and hoped that she would
carry the title of president well.
Along with new
membership qualifications, each elected student is eligible
to receive NUNTIUS, an official publication of Eta Sigma Phi
concerning original articles by members, announcements, and
accounts of activities of other chapters.
The new chapter
of Eta Sigma Phi also plans to sponsor a trip for students
to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana as well as a student mixer
at the end of the semester.
"The culture
of classical Greece and Rome is the foundation of Western
society and thought. It is important for modern students to
gain an understanding and appreciation for it," Kinley
said.
Eta Sigma Phi began
as an honorary collegiate society for students of Latin and
Greek at the University of Chicago in 1914. As it became nationally
known around 1924, scholarships were awarded to selected members.
Currently, two scholarships are awarded to students who study
abroad during the summer. One is to the American School of
Classical Studies at Athens and the other is to the American
Academy in Rome. A third scholarship is awarded to rising
juniors and seniors to a session of the Virgilian Society
at Cumae.
Each year the society
also hosts contests among its students in Greek translation,
Latin translation and Latin prose composition. For more information
about Eta Sigma Phi, call Student Life and Development at
(562) 985-4181.
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