It really reflects well on a university when the Provost shows up after being invited to spend quality time with students.
Especially a Provost who is also Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.
And it is especially meaningful as part of the interdisciplinary collaboration which is so enriching for students and the university community.
On the Ides of February, the day before Valentine’s Day, Dr. Jean McGivney-Burelle did just that.
Dr. McGivney-Burelle took time from her very busy schedule to enjoy delicious snacks and participate in a stand-up matching game of Latin expressions of love and their translations.
In the accompanying photo, one can see the hearts held by the Latin students of Saint Joe’s and the palpable fun in their expressions.
Hear what the students have to say:
“Amor omnia vincit (love conquers all), especially with cookies and fun games! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this!” says Keeghan “Sappho” Green.
Jason “Scipio Africanus” Roberts adds, “I thought the Convivium was a great way to end the week! I enjoyed how it took what we’ve been learning in the classroom and gave us the chance to engage with it in a fun, social way with Classical Fax trivia and matching the hearts.
“I think learning occurs best when it’s done in a low-pressure environment where you can find something to enjoy about what you’re doing. The snacks were really good, I also prefer to eat organic!”
Mackenzie “Queen Merneith” Austin enthuses, “I thought the Convivium was really nice.
“It reminded me of the Valentine’s Day parties you would have in elementary school.
“I think it was a fun way to invoke Latin for a popular winter day. I really enjoyed it and found making the hearts a really fun activity.
“Thank you for hosting the event, I really enjoyed participating and helping set up.”
“Our Valentine’s Day Convivium was such a great way to bring our Latin classes together.
“We had treats like cookies, organic peanut butter cups, and played Latin-themed games. It made learning fun and interactive,” contributed Grace “Cleopatra VII” Balsamo.
Cate “Cynisca” DeGraw added, “The Convivium was so much fun!
“Getting to mingle with another class, eat organic treats, and learn more about Latin at the same time brought so much joy to college students who do not normally get to do that in classes.
“We played two different activities that involved question and answer, as well as finding your partner to match the English and Latin aphorisms together!”
For more information about fun and educational games to be used in Latin classes, contact Mary Brown, mbrown@sju.edu.