“Salvete!” Hundreds of voices shout the greeting—Latin for “be well” or “hello.” People often refer to Latin as a “dead language.” No one speaks it fluently anymore beyond an academic setting, but in this packed campus auditorium, Latin roars like a battle cry. A kid in a toga praetexta sprints past me to his seat, the toga’s purple border a blur of motion against the crowd. Across the room, one school waves a banner painted with its school mascot in Roman armor. I’ve been here for five minutes and I’ve already seen three golden laurel wreaths, two sets of cardboard armor, and zero signs of Latin being “dead.”

Southern California Regional Amici Madness, or SCRAM, is a day-long Latin convention where schools from across the region compete, connect, and celebrate all things Latin. The convention took place this year on October 25. Part academic competition, part spirit rally, and part theatrical chaos—SCRAM is an event where mythology trivia meets art contests and spontaneous Latin chants.  It’s where students like me can let their inner Latin-nerd loose among other Latinophiles.

SCRAM is affiliated with the California Junior Classical League (CAJCL), a statewide organization for Latin and Ancient Greek students. Westridge has consistently participated in the event for as long as current Latin teachers Dr. Diane Pintabone and Dr. Hilary Malspeis have been teaching at Westridge. The only exceptions were 2020 and 2021, where the event was either online or a half-day of in-person fun.

For outsiders, it might be hard to understand why Latin students pour this much energy into a language that’s no longer widely spoken. But inside this community of ancient-language enthusiasts, it makes perfect sense. Latin is the glue that binds together art, myth, logic, and history. Ask around, and you’ll hear a dozen reasons why students come back—for the thrill of Certamen (the fast-paced quiz bowl that tests Latin knowledge and classical culture), the friendships formed across schools, the inside jokes only fellow Latin students understand. As Fiala P. ’27 puts it, “[SCRAM] is a great way to bond between grades, and it’s also nice to talk to Latin nerds from other schools who know the history and are learning the language.”

For many students, SCRAM is the Super Bowl, the Met Gala, and the Olympics rolled into one toga-wrapped Saturday. It celebrates not just learning, but passion and belonging, where shared nerdiness becomes a kind of pride.

Walking through Harbor Day School’s campus, the school hosting SCRAM this year, felt like entering another world. Clubs and classes from every school set up banners as students race around trying to complete scavenger hunts. In the impromptu art contest, students create their own interpretations of Theseus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur, while others compete in Project Runway, creating costumes for one of their team members based on a similarly mythological theme. In Certamen, students shout answers to questions that range from straightforward vocabulary to surprisingly obscure mythological trivia. It’s a test of both quick thinking and deep knowledge.

For students like Katherine D. ’28, Spyglass copy editor, SCRAM is a magical convergence of passions. “I’m really interested in things like Latin and Greek mythology,” she said, “And SCRAM is that place where I get to kind of combine my passions, my interests, and my hobbies all into one day.”

Other students note the balance of competition and community at SCRAM. While certain events like Certamen and the required tests are competitive, other activities like the scavenger hunts and art contests do have winners, but they are designed to encourage everyone to participate in their own way. Everyone, whether competing or not, is simply there to enjoy the experience and connect with like-minded peers. As Dillan R. ’28 puts it, “It’s like one big community, where the goal is to have fun and celebrate Latin.”

“Sometimes I think the Latin students feel like there isn’t anybody else doing this,” said Dr. Pintabone, Westridge’s Middle School and Upper School Latin teacher. “And you see hundreds and hundreds of other students [at SCRAM].”

Dr. Malspeis, an Upper School Latin teacher, added, “It’s really cool to see Westridge students become part of something bigger, especially something nerdy, like a Latin convention.”

During the Colloquia Zoom session with Madeline Miller,  author of The Song of Achilles and Circe, students were able to learn about her experience working with stories that were thousands of years old and ask questions about her interpretations of these myths. “There’s a saying about languages like Latin being dead,” she said, “but while culture and knowledge are gone, our understanding of them continues to grow.”

SCRAM is living proof of this, reminding participants that Latin isn’t just a subject in a textbook. It’s a living culture and a community built on shared curiosity, creativity, and unapologetic enthusiasm for something beautifully old and strange. Latin connects students to ancient history, epic storytelling, and enduring traditions, bringing the past into the present. From legal terms and scientific names to modern fantasy novels, Latin quietly shapes the world we live in. SCRAM reminds students that learning can be playful, collaborative, and even a little absurd—but deeply meaningful. Through SCRAM, students can experience the joy of loving something not because it’s practical or modern, but because it’s timeless and a celebration of all things weird and wonderful.

As the day wound down and the crowd began to disperse, I lingered by the quad for just a moment longer. A laurel crown lay forgotten on the grass, but the energy of the day still hung in the air. Latin isn’t dead—it’s alive, vibrant, and rejoicing. And for one day, at least, we all got to be part of that living, breathing madness.