Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200011
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STACY JONES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Someone should have told that to John Donohue and the 15 teen-agers who had gathered to speak of the dead - as in dead language, as in Latin.
``Carpe aliquid vitae,'' joked Donohue with one of the students. ``Get a life.''
The room resonated with laughter.
Donohue's class in vulgar, or spoken, Latin was a part of the Governor's Latin Academy, a summer program for rising juniors and seniors from Virginia high schools. This year's three-week academy concludes Friday at Hollins.
Although studying the past, the students are definitely of today. T-shirts commemorating Metallica and The Dream Team mix with ravewear, baby-doll dresses, Reeboks and walking shorts.
``My first thought before I got here was, `Wow, the classics. What a geek major,' '' laughed Andrea Wong of Virginia Beach. ``But after I got here I thought `Well, these people seem semi-cool.' ''
More than that, they were actually having fun.
The academy was started in 1988 at Emory & Henry College. It moved to Hollins in 1991.
Sponsored by the Department of Education, the Latin academy is one of six such programs in Virginia. The others are on French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Russian language and culture.
This summer's academy has been a bittersweet experience for Donohue, who has been a faculty member since the inception and currently is the program's director.
Notified in December that the academy's funding had been abolished, the Newport News high school teacher didn't expect to be here this summer. Intense lobbying resulted in half of the budget being restored, but next year is still in doubt.
If students had to start paying their own way to the academy as a means of keeping it alive, Donohue said, it would cost them about $1,200 apiece.
``We feel like an endangered species,'' he said.
``It would be a great loss,'' Donohue said. ``The academy encourages pure scholarly pursuit. So many places discourage that.''
To qualify, students must be nominated by a teacher, pass a test and write an essay. More than 100 students applied for the 45 program slots.
"To be chosen is very, very prestigious," said Associate Director Beth Brodie of Richmond.
It's hard to tell who enjoys the Academy more, the 45 students or the seven teachers - many logging their fourth or fifth summer - who come from high schools and colleges in Virginia. What is clear is that everyone wants to be here and leaves with something more valuable than improved verb conjugation skills.
``The kids are so eager, so excited, so well prepared and fun,'' gushed Sally Davis, second-year teacher from Arlington and Latin guru to the faculty. ``It's rare to get such a group, it's a teacher's dream.''
``It's a shot in the arm,'' Brodie agreed. ``We need it.''
The program runs on a college schedule and is intense. There are three classes a day, six days a week. In addition, there are cultural excursions, a play is produced and there are other activities to expose the students to the realities of Roman life.
For example, toga-clad students were divided into six families of different social classes for a Roman-style banquet. Those who represented the Nobilese, who made up about 5 percent of Roman society, sat at the front of the dining hall clad in togas, feasting on shrimp, eggs, grape juice (in place of wine), hummus and other delicacies.
In the center of the hall at four large tables resided the other 95 percent - the lower and middle classes. They got bread, chicken and not much else.
Students and faculty are locked into their social class for such events during the entire three-week session.
``Some students don't like it when they first hear about it, but it makes a point,'' explained Donohue. ``Roman society was very diverse, but your worth depended on your class.''
``Role-playing makes it interesting,'' said student Lisa Scavo of Spotsylvania. ``In school, you never hear the other side of the story.''
Another rarity in school is intellectual challenge, at least according to many of the academy students.
``ln school, everything is done on the `Average Joe' level,'' explained Rachel Orsinger of Vienna. Her fellow classmates nod their heads in agreement.
``Everyone is here to learn, to dig deeper, to learn more than just the grammar,'' said Reesh Puri of Vienna, jumping into the verbal free-for-all. ``It's just an overall great experience.''
What is it about this allegedly defunct language that causes such passion?
For one thing, Latin isn't dead, said Greg Daugherty, a professor of classics at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland and member of the academy faculty. ``It didn't die, it evolved.''
``The Roman empire was so vast, when it crumbled the different dialects took over,'' explained Brodie. ``It transformed so much that it can't be called Latin.''
``Now it's called Spanish and Italian,'' Daugherty said.
Another draw is the lasting cultural relevance of Roman times.
``It's impossible not to be able to find something relevant to today's society in the ancient world,'' said Daugherty.
``Roman culture was a multicultural society before there was such a word,'' he said.
Everyone involved sees the importance of continuing the program, but they want Gov. George Allen to understand as well.
``It's worth the money,'' said Leila Dominick of Arlington. ``I think it will affect all of our futures in a great way.''
All they can do is wait.
``And keep our fingers crossed,'' said Donohue.
by CNB