Dead Language Alive and Well in the Union
Introducing the voice of Communications Director Marc Kennedy–a long-time Wisconsin Union staff member, communications extraordinaire and lover of all things involving words. As Marc wraps up his time at the Union to explore the world of retirement this coming January, Terrace Views features a series of posts that encompass his voice and his love of the Union. The first post gives us a lesson in the historic language of the Wisconsin Union.
What is “Societate Crescit Lumen”?
A) The name of Madison’s new hipster free-range coffeehouse/hot yoga salon/hug therapy clinic.
B) A good reason for little Societate Lumen Jr. to demand to be called “Spike” as soon as he can talk.
C) A Latin phrase.
Of course the answer is C) A Latin phrase.
“Societate Crescit Lumen” written on the floor of the west wing in Memorial Union
I know this because I took three years of Latin, though I can only recall one sentence: “Elephantus non capit murem” which means “the elephant doesn’t catch the mouse.” Ha ha, you say, what kind of a dope spends three years studying a dead language and then can’t recall any of it? Other than the remote possibility of running into a 1,500-year-old Roman who may or may not own a non-mouse-catching elephant, Latin is still relevant today, as the root of the Romance Languages—Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian—and a key component in what eventually became English, and to an extent, its somewhat rustic step-cousin dialect, American.
Latin has given us poignant phrases such as “veni, vidi, vici,” “e pluribus unum” and in the case of the Wisconsin Union, its motto—“societate crescit lumen.”
Some students, staff and Union members at least have seen the motto somewhere in the Union. Or heard of it. Or think they’ve heard of it. But what does it mean?
The translation is not “I’d like a chai soy latte and a back rub while I’m doing downward-facing dog…” Rather, it’s “light is increased by human relationships.”
OK, Mr. Smarty-Toga, so what the heck does that mean?
Ted Crabb in front of Memorial Union
Good question. I asked a few people familiar with the Union what it means to them:
Sarah Bergman, current Union President: “The Union creates a space to help students learn and grow from each other.”
Ted Crabb, Union Director Emeritus: “The motto envisions the Union’s purpose—to join together the university community to provide a common life and cultivated program for its members as part of the total educational experience.”
So, it fits. The Union is all about building community, linking people together and providing a convivial venue for all to gather, whether they are teaching French, studying Spanish or attending an elephant husbandry symposium.
The Union motto appears in several places in Memorial Union. I’d tell you where, but that would be cheating. It’ll give you a chance to wander around looking for it before the next phase of the Memorial Union Reinvestment begins in fall 2015 and the central and east part of the building will go dark for two years of renovation.
After a couple of frustrating hours, you can always ask the helpful Campus and Visitor Relations folks at the new information desk in the west wing entrance. They’ll be glad to let you know where to find the phrase “Societate Crescit Lumen.”
Just ask for Spike.
