Cheers to the new year! St. John’s students are currently home for a well-deserved winter break, but we still wanted to take the time to share  a sampling of December’s St. John’s Related happenings with you:

• Alumna named editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post. Lydia Polgreen ’97 was recently hired to run the Huffington Post. She has previously served as a bureau chief for the New York Times in West Africa, South Asia, and Johannesburg, and most recently as an associate masthead editor and the editorial director of NYT Global. Congratulations Lydia!
• Winter Collegium. the semester ended with song, as Johnnies on both campuses gathered to enjoy performances by students and faculty. Music is a big part of life at St. John’s throughout the year, and it’s great to have the chance to join together to appreciate the work of some of the many students who make music a part of their lives outside the classroom.
• Lecture on Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed.  Tutor Judith Seeger talked about some of the big questions the book raises in a Friday Night Lecture on December 2nd. Friday Night Lecture is a tradition on both campuses, and lectures are always followed by long question periods to allow for discussion with the speaker.
• A Day of Duels. The HEMA (Historic European Martial Arts) club gave a demonstration of Renaissance and Medieval style sword fighting with rapiers and long swords. HEMA Club also studies some Great Books that didn’t make it on to the Program, in the form of texts on swordplay by the likes of  17th Century Master Ridolfo Capoferro!
• Freshman Chorus. The freshman chorus in Annapolis—composed of every single member of the class of 2020—performed its first concert this month to an enthusiastic audience of upperclassmen and community members. Traditionally, the freshman chorus sings certain songs twice in order to allow its nostalgic audience the chance to sing along!