Kirtland Society
By ESTHER CHAE, LYDIA KUHNERT, and SERENA YUE
At 7 p.m. on a Friday night, the average Exonian may be found walking to Lexie’s, meeting with friends in Grill, or possibly watching Netflix in their room. Meanwhile, mere minutes away, the Latin Study roars with life, crammed with students lost in the thrill of the ancient world. Despite what some upperclassmen may (jokingly) suggest, Kirtland Society is not a cult—though they may occasionally laugh about “sacrificing a prep.”
Meetings at Kirtland are one of a kind. There’s no singular format for it—instead, they may vary from Quiz-Bowl style competitions, Catilinarian Orations in the assembly hall, to straight gladiatorial combat. Club members can often be found around a Harkness table, shouting answers, pounding fists, and chanting with excitement. Other times, they’re recreating the glory of gladiatorial combat, wielding makeshift spears. And occasionally, they end up in the health center—casualties of said gladiatorial battles, perhaps nursing a lacerated eye. One thing is certain: there is never a dull moment when Kirtland meets.
Upper Cecily Reed eagerly anticipates the meetings every week: “We do chariot races. We do gladiator fights. We do mock trials. We do Ouija board. We play Mafia. We play board games. You name any activity, we have done it. And it’s just all so much fun because you’re doing it with people that share the same interests, the same passions, and the same mindset as you.”
Co-head Laura Saldarriaga echoed that sentiment, adding, “My favorite thing about Kirtland is that it’s a community of people who are passionate about not only the classical world but also about helping other people learn about the classical world and discovering more about ancient Greece and Rome together.”
The society isn’t just a place for students to discuss their favorite poet or bash on the ablative of means—it also boasts a highly competitive Certamen team. While not all members participate in Certamen, most enjoy it. Certamen is a Latin-themed quiz bowl with questions divided into four categories: grammar, culture, mythology, and history. Each team consists of four members who specialize in one of these areas. It’s important to note that students do not need to take Latin or Greek to join Kirtland or participate in Certamen—there is room for everyone.
Upper Jinmin Lee reflected on Certamen. “I think it’s very addictive,” he said. “It requires you to have a very wide and deep understanding of most of the subjects. I also think that it brings people together because once you create a team, and you start working really hard, studying really hard, you get to spend a lot of time together, which creates community.”
“And I also think that it makes your Latin a lot stronger, because a lot of the grammar concepts tested are also grammar concepts that you see everywhere else,” he continued. “You have to be able to think really quickly on the spot, conjugate on the spot, decline on the spot, which is stressful. But if you can do it under a lot of stress, and not crack under the pressure, then in class, it becomes almost second nature.”
Last year, the Kirtland Society’s Intermediate Certamen team reached the national finals, a testament to their success. “We are known and feared,” Reed declared.
The upperclassmen are particularly excited to welcome new members to the community. Upper Olivia Pierre looked back on her experience in Kirtland as a prep. “Kirtland genuinely has the best community out of any club I’ve ever been in at Exeter. When I did Certamen my prep year, we would all go out to dinner after our competitions and talk for hours, even after we had spent almost the entire day together.”
Reed added, “As an underclassman, it really was my home and my community. And now as an upperclassman, I just love being able to give that back to the preps. I just love to think about how I can welcome them into the community, the same way that I was brought in. And I just think that’s like the most wonderful thing.”
New students are also buzzing with excitement for the upcoming season. Prep Jocelyn Wen said, “My favorite thing about Kirtland is Certamen. I can’t wait to compete.” As they integrate into Kirtland, they will not only learn about Certamen but also experience the rich culture and camaraderie that define the society.
Returners are looking forward to adding more trophies to the impressive collection. Reed declared, “This is our year for domination. We are going to win everything this season.”
Saldarriaga is also keen on unique traditions Kirtland will celebrate throughout the year. “We’re going to celebrate some of the same traditions the club has always done, which include Saturnalia, which is a Roman holiday set in December similar to Christmas.”
“Come!” Reed concluded. “You know what they say: it’s not a cult, it’s a family.”
