The Orange County Junior Classical League (OCJCL) initiated new members from Orange High School and Cedar Ridge High School on Thursday, October 10. The ceremony took place from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. in the hallway next to the Latin room. Future OCJCL members were initiated after they took an oath and were highfived by Latin Club officers. The initiation was supposed to be performed outside between the 100 and 200 wings, but it had to be moved inside because of the weather.
Nicholas Mauriello, the Latin teacher at OHS, bussed CRHS Latin students from CRHS to OHS. Once he returned to OHS with the CRHS students, students from both schools donned togas and talked among themselves while the officers prepared their scripts. After a few minutes, the students were called out into the hallway to begin the initiation.
The first part of the initiation was a series of speeches by each officer about Latin and different aspects of Roman culture. Some speeches described why Latin is still important today. After all the officers finished speaking, students gathered around Mauriello and began the second part of the initiation- hitting a piñata shaped like a present. After a couple of students hit it, the bottom opened and lollipops and Tootsie Rolls fell onto the floor. Some students eagerly tried to grab the fallen candy.
The next stage of the initiation was the oath. Students promised to value Latin above all other languages, then the officers coated their hands in gold paint and highfived each new member. After the ceremony was finished, members ate chocolate cake and drank fruit punch, placing their plates in a pile that would be sacrificed to Zeus.
Michaela Champion, the OHS consul, said, “I think the turnout was really good this year.” Mauriello said, “The omens were good.” His wife, Celeste, added that, “Zeus is pleased.”
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