Et tu, Old Dominion?

Campus community asked to decide whether university should have a motto

Virginia Tech has one, Harvard's consists of a single word, even Christopher Newport has a well-known one.

The question is: Should Old Dominion University, like many of its fellow institutions of higher education before it, adopt a motto?

President Roseann Runte is putting the question before faculty, staff, students and alumni, and in the event the response is favorable, has opened the floor for suggestions of mottos. They must be received in the President's Office by March 30 (mottos should be in English or in English and Latin).

If there is a general consensus among the university community regarding a desire for Old Dominion to have its own maxim, a committee will be formed to select an official motto. The winning entrant will be announced in September and awarded a $100 gift certificate to the University Bookstore. (If the winner is from a TELETECHNET site or an off-campus alumnus, a cash prize will be awarded.)

To get you thinking along the right track, Runte offers the following examples of mottos at other schools:

oHarvard University: Veritas (Truth)

oVirginia Tech: Ut Prosim (That I may Serve). This, says Runte, is a reflection that the university instills within each member of its community an appreciation of the values and obligations of productive citizenship and the responsibilities while promoting personal and intellectual development.

oChristopher Newport University: E pluribus unum (From many one)

oWest Virginia University: Where Greatness is Learned (in English only)

oNew York University: Perstare et praestare (to persevere and to excel). According to Runte, this motto underscores the depiction of classic runners and, when the two sentiments are combined, represents the continued pursuit of academic excellence.

oHofstra University: Luctor et emergo (I struggle and emerge)

oYork University: Et Alteri Saeculo (Discover Other Paths)

oVictoria University: Study Builds Character (in English only).

Et tu, Old Dominion?