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Fall 2019 · Torch:U.S. · CONVENTION RECAP
CONVENTION
CONVENTION
2019 National
The arrival of exhausted JCL students stirred the relative quiet of the North Dakota State University campus on Friday, July 26th, 2019. Many, having traveled hundreds—possibly even thousands—of miles, unloaded their luggage and headed to their dorms. A considerable number had actually already been on campus since Thursday, enjoying their preconvention time at NDSU’s bowling alleys and pool tables.
Friday morning was hectic. Students were running all over campus for creative arts, graphic arts, state t-shirt, and all other categories of registration. Unlike most of convention, there were no planned events to keep students occupied, so the buzz of energy was high later in the Fargodome where everyone convened for the first general assembly. NJCL President Natasha Panduwawala struck her gavel, calling the first General Assembly into order, and gave her opening remarks to welcome everyone, convention veterans and middle school newbies, to the 2018-2019 National Junior Classical League convention. Dean Bresciani of NDSU also delivered a welcome address, relating the core values of the JCL to that of the university. After the NJCL Officers, Committee, and SCL officers were introduced, several notable figures in the JCL were presented with awards (which are detailed in another page).
The long first General Assembly finally came to a close and students scattered to different parts of campus to attend a myriad of events, including colloquias, spirit orientation, and a screening of the Bee Movie. As expected for the first day of the convention, it was not unusual to spot herds of JCLers, occasionally pointing at buildings and snapping their heads back and forth from Google Maps to the sidewalk. Shuttles transported students from NDSU campus to the pool at the local high school for Olympika swimming. The first round of competitive certamen was later that evening, setting the bar high for all teams. For the rest of Friday, students spent their first day, wandering around NDSU campus, admiring the facilities.
Wisconsin delegates cheer on their swimmers at Olympika swim Photo: Elizabath Foster
Early birds lined up on the grass on Saturday morning for Olympika track and field, while many other JCLers lay fast asleep in their dorms. By 9 AM, a long stream of students could be spotted making their way to Fargodome for the second contest session, some trudging sleepily and others briskly walking determined to win awards. Legend says that if you walked into Memorial Union at the right time in the morning, you might just spot a tired national officer wrapped up in their pajamas, attending the daily NJCL officers' meeting.
Saturday afternoon didn't disappoint either. Colloquia II was a hit with the very popular colloquia So You Think You Can Dance? and other interesting sessions. During Nominations Committee, possibly one of the most anticipated events of the day, voting delegates narrowed the candidates for all NJCL offices to two
by Anika Park, 2018-2019 NJCL Editor