Convocation of the Collegium

[Lucius Livius Seneca]

L. Livius Seneca mag. omnibus collegis s.p.d.

The recent absconsion of our former magistra maxima, Cassia Longina, is a matter of serious concern to our Collegium. Therefore, as Magister, and in accordance with our and the , I am summoning to Collegium Latinae to meet, beginning a.d. VI Kal. Mai. (Wednesday, April 26th). All proceedings will take place here, in our collegiate sub-forum.

I strongly encourage all members to participate so that sufficient votes may be procured to amend our now grievously out-of-date bylaws. In the meantime, any members are more than welcome to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns.

Valete.

[Gaius Curtius Philo]

[Lucius Livius Seneca]

L. Livius mag. C. Aureliano trib. lat., et omnibus collegis sal.

Gratias ago for reminding me of that edictum, Tribune! This is indeed very good news for our Collegium.

In accordance with Section IV of the , I am, therefore, advancing the inaugural date for the meeting of the Collegium Latinae to a.d. VI Kal. Mai. (Wednesday, April 26th).

Vale valeteque.

[Lucius Livius Seneca]

[Lucius Livius Seneca]

[Publius Sextius Laevus]

omnibus collegis sal.

The Republic is made up of Citizens of diverse backgrounds and interests with a wide range of expertise. Many of us have an avid yet amateur interest in Roman history and culture.

However, their are among us those who are qualified academics in fields pertinent to the Republic. Their academic achievements are attested by legitimate learning institutions. When this expertise is offered for the good of the Republic, these credentials should be recognized in the Republic with an insignia awarded by the Censors.

There are also those among us those who have achieved academic expertise through life experience and self study. If this expertise is demonstrable and offered for the good of the Republic, it too should be recognized in the Republic with an insignia awarded by the Censors.

Those so designated would serve in official capacity as arbiters of correctness in their field of Latin grammar, historical accuracy or philosophical counterpoint, for official statements of the Republic and as a leading light to Citizens who sojourn in the Forum.

The academic achievement in the Latin language is one such expertise that is pertinent to the good of the Republic.

These Citizens that you, Seneca, would designate as "full members (called grammatici) who possess qualifications in Latin" and would reserve "the privileges of suffrage and government" should not be a college, but more properly, a Society - perhaps one of all the Republic's designated experts.

The collegium, although served by, and even electing to be lead by the experts, should remain the democratic institutions they were created to be, open to those who wish to engage at whatever level they are capable and participate in the governance of the college.

P. Sextius Laevus
Amator Lingua Latina

[Lucia Horatia Adamas]

L. Horatia Adamas L. Livio Senecæ P. Sextio Lævo omnibusque S.P.D.

I fully support the change of the name of this collegium to more correct Latin; as my colleague Seneca noted, proper Latin uses an adjective rather than the genitive of a noun in such situations--unless, of course, there is no suitable adjective.

As for the other suggested provisions, I do not like the idea of depriving members of suffrage simply because they are not fluent in Latin. Too, at least during the Republic, the Roman way of governance tended toward pairs of equal occupants of a given post: two consules, two prætores, und so weiter. I think that two magistri / præceptores (or whatever one might call them) is a good idea. At present, this group is too small to have a large group of officers; if it gets so large that such a thing is necessary, we might wish to institute an ability-based division of members, but not restrict the franchise to those individuals, and to them alone.

Valete!

[Lucius Livius Seneca]

L. Livius magister P. Sextio et aliis collegis sal.

I do not think it is the responsibility of the censors to document and adjudicate the countless qualifications which the citizenry may possess. It would seem far more practical for the government to authorize a reputable group of such persons to recognize one another's expertise, i.e., a professional association, which is precisely one of the major functions which I envisage for our Collegium.

Contrary to your assertion, I see no evidence that collegia are intrinsically democratic. While they are necessarily electoral (, §II.c), suffrage is not presumed to be universal (§VII.a.ii). Nor does a societas, as you propose, seem like an adequate venue to me, as their purpose is specifically for "private ... collaborative project[s]" (§III), and so do not possess the stable, public character of a professional body.

All that said, neither you no I are wrong in this, we just have different visions for what this Collegium Latinum is to be. If the membership prefer to keep the Collegium as an enthusiast's club, as opposed to something more professional, that decision is entirely legitimate, and I welcome the consideration of any amendments to this effect.

Valete.

[Lucius Livius Seneca]

L. Livius magister omnibus collegis sal.

Failing any amendments from the floor, I will have to call for a vote on the standing motion to amend the bylaws, and will be doing so a.d. VI Id. Maii (May 10th) so as to avoid the approaching dies nefasti.

Valete.

[Publius Sextius Laevus]

Salve Seneca,

I think we need more time to discuss this. Why have just one grade able to vote. Not everyone is a teacher, yet have different levels of accompliment that that would warrent full participation. There are at least four grades on experties that should be able to vote. I wrote up a few ideas at work today but will not be able to enter them until the weekend. There is no rush for this. You are fully capable to exercies your experties now.

Vale
Laevus