Class Note 1984
Issue
Jan - Feb 2019
This has been a challenging column to write. You see, 2019 marks the sestercentennial anniversary of Dartmouth, and all class secretaries were asked to incorporate this important event into our columns. Well, that’s been difficult. I usually don’t do so well with instructions, but I thought I’d give it a try.
Sestercentennial. A huge word. Sounded very important. I wondered what it meant? I decided to google it. It seems that sestercentennial is a Latin word that translates to the number 250. It’s an important-sounding word. I’m always trying to make this column seem more important. Perhaps if I added a bit of Latin to the column, people would take me for the serious thinker that I am. First problem is that I don’t speak Latin. No worries, I could ask my old roommate Keith Dickey for help. Keith was a Latin major. Or a classics major. Definitely one of those. He has a Ph.D. in classical archaeology. He’s also been to Greece. I figured I would write the column, Keith would sprinkle in some Latin phrases, and, ipso facto, we’re all set. So I proceeded to look him up. It seems that Keith works for Michigan Medicine. It sounds like a great job and it’s a very impressive website, but I don’t think Keith has a job that uses very much Latin. Also, I’m pretty sure Keith’s pictured on the website wearing a tie that he “borrowed” from me in 1982. Decided to avoid the awkward conversation.
What about our classmates who became real teachers? They might be able to help. After all, teachers know Latin. This could be the solution to my problem, without having to interact with the tie-stealer. I quickly looked up Beth McGee, who teaches at Thetford (Vermont) Elementary School. This seemed promising. Unfortunately, Beth teaches art and theater. Unless Beth is teaching the students to make statues without arms, I realized that she would not be much help in the Latin department. Also, Beth recently wrote a moving essay about her relationship to the College, which is posted on our class Facebook page. Unlike this column, Beth’s essay has a point and is largely true. Well, to each their own, or, as they say in Latin, suum cuique.
On to Pam Ross. Pam molds impressionable minds as a fourth-grade teacher at the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School, which is located in Washington, D.C. This could be perfect. Emotionally, I am often compared to a fourth-grader. Not always favorably. Anyway, Pam was very helpful. She pointed out sestercentennial is not the best word choice for this auspicious event. There are far better words, according to Pam. Sure, other schools have already used the ever popular semiquincentennial and bicenquinquagenary. However, the best Latin word for 250 of all, quarter millennial, is still available. That’s it! We should all urge the College to change sestercentennial to quarter millennial before it’s too late. Imagine, if successful, we would all finally become millennials, if only fractionally.
—Eric Grubman, 2 Fox Den Way, Woodbridge, CT 06525; (203) 710-7933; grubman@sbcglobal.net; Juliet Aires Giglio,4915 Bentbrook Drive, Manlius, NY 13104; julietgiglio@gmail.com
Sestercentennial. A huge word. Sounded very important. I wondered what it meant? I decided to google it. It seems that sestercentennial is a Latin word that translates to the number 250. It’s an important-sounding word. I’m always trying to make this column seem more important. Perhaps if I added a bit of Latin to the column, people would take me for the serious thinker that I am. First problem is that I don’t speak Latin. No worries, I could ask my old roommate Keith Dickey for help. Keith was a Latin major. Or a classics major. Definitely one of those. He has a Ph.D. in classical archaeology. He’s also been to Greece. I figured I would write the column, Keith would sprinkle in some Latin phrases, and, ipso facto, we’re all set. So I proceeded to look him up. It seems that Keith works for Michigan Medicine. It sounds like a great job and it’s a very impressive website, but I don’t think Keith has a job that uses very much Latin. Also, I’m pretty sure Keith’s pictured on the website wearing a tie that he “borrowed” from me in 1982. Decided to avoid the awkward conversation.
What about our classmates who became real teachers? They might be able to help. After all, teachers know Latin. This could be the solution to my problem, without having to interact with the tie-stealer. I quickly looked up Beth McGee, who teaches at Thetford (Vermont) Elementary School. This seemed promising. Unfortunately, Beth teaches art and theater. Unless Beth is teaching the students to make statues without arms, I realized that she would not be much help in the Latin department. Also, Beth recently wrote a moving essay about her relationship to the College, which is posted on our class Facebook page. Unlike this column, Beth’s essay has a point and is largely true. Well, to each their own, or, as they say in Latin, suum cuique.
On to Pam Ross. Pam molds impressionable minds as a fourth-grade teacher at the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School, which is located in Washington, D.C. This could be perfect. Emotionally, I am often compared to a fourth-grader. Not always favorably. Anyway, Pam was very helpful. She pointed out sestercentennial is not the best word choice for this auspicious event. There are far better words, according to Pam. Sure, other schools have already used the ever popular semiquincentennial and bicenquinquagenary. However, the best Latin word for 250 of all, quarter millennial, is still available. That’s it! We should all urge the College to change sestercentennial to quarter millennial before it’s too late. Imagine, if successful, we would all finally become millennials, if only fractionally.
—Eric Grubman, 2 Fox Den Way, Woodbridge, CT 06525; (203) 710-7933; grubman@sbcglobal.net; Juliet Aires Giglio,4915 Bentbrook Drive, Manlius, NY 13104; julietgiglio@gmail.com