![\"\"](\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/OSCC2016-4-Ontario-Classics-Association-copy.jpg\")
<\/a>Students at the Ontario Students Classics Conference take part in a simulated archaeological dig behind DeCew residence.<\/p><\/div>\n
The OSCC is also an important recruiting opportunity for the Department of Classics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great chance for us to show these students what a great place Brock would be to come pursue these interests,\u201d Smith says.<\/p>\n
The conference aims to support mens sana in corpore sano \u2014 <\/em>a healthy mind in a healthy body \u2014 through friendly competitions.<\/p>\n Students compete across three categories: academic, athletic and creative. The academic competition includes contests in written Greek and Latin, vocabulary and derivatives, sight translations, mythology, Greek and Roman history and geography.<\/p>\n Athletic competitions reflect the sports practised by the ancient Greeks and Romans including discus (frisbee), slinging, mini marathons, foot races and swimming.<\/p>\n The highlight of the annual conference is the chariot race, scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m., when each school races a chariot they\u2019ve made around the Brock traffic circle.<\/p>\n Creative competitions encompass visual arts, drama and fashion, with students displaying artwork, audiovisual projects and computer work and performing skits for their peers. Participating schools also create visual displays in Thistle hallways.<\/p>\n Students also apply what they\u2019ve learned about archaeology, working in teams to complete a simulated archaeological dig behind DeCew residence.<\/p>\n The conference wraps up Saturday night with a traditional pompa (parade) and award ceremony.<\/p>\n