Troy University - Palladium Yearbook (Troy, AL)

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In the Courtl D

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$n tlje Courtly Hays of IJorc j + ourtly ladies curtsying m to passing knights, the L King an S Que e n o t Bellatrix strolling through the courtyard greeting their subjects, a strange form of English spoken among smiling faces with accompanying color- ful, ornate costumes: Sound like a scene from Don Quixote or King Arthur ' s court? In actual- ity, the scenario is a common occurrence in tournaments and exhibitions sponsored by The Society for Creative Anachro- nism. Established in the mid-1960 ' s, The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a non- profit organization dedicated to the recreation of the Middle Ages (600-1650 A.D.). The pur- pose of the Society is to re- create the Middle Ages not as they were, but perhaps as they should have been by doing away with the strife and pesti- lence and emulating the beau- ty, grace, chivalry and brother- hood of the time period. Members of the Society per- form in tournaments and exhi- bitions throughout the country and abroad. The various events held, such as the fighting event shown at far right, are dedi- cated to the recreation of the midieval atmosphere. This at- mosphere gives the participants the opportunity to actively pur- sue their interests in historical research. Matthew Nessi, a member of the Troy chapter of SCA and a senior from Enterprise, said the primary purpose of the Society is educational. We try to educate ourselves and others on the history of the medieval ages, said Nessi, We try to stick to the customs and mannerisms of the time as much as possible. Some 12,000 men and wom- en are members of SCA, and chapters are located through- out the USA, in Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and Korea. There are 12 kingdoms, each representing a geographical re- gion. The Troy, Alabama chap- ter of SCA is in the Kingdom of Meridies which covers many of the southern states. Chivalry, courtesy and honor are the goals of the Society. Ac- cording to Queen Carol ' s Guide to the Current Middle Ages, a Bible for the SCA, Courtesy and chivalry are the SCA ' s hallmark. The active practice of courtesy and chival- ry is what sets the Society apart from any other organization. Each person is considered a lady or gentleman unless his or her actions prove otherwise. Kissing a lady ' s hand, bowing in the presence of the King and Queen, and encouraging ex- treme courtesy at all times are just a few of the myriad of cus- toms in the Society. To an on- lo oker, the customs can be overwhelming, particularly if members are speaking for- soothly, the speech reminis- cent of Shakespeare and Chau- cer. Speaking forsoothly is encouraged but not required. According to Nessi, what is so rewarding about the SCA is the challenge of learning the cus- toms and getting to know the members of the Society. You can really develop a brotherhood, similar to the me- dieval times, at least how we try and remember them, said Nessi. The Troy chapter presented a fighting exhibition on campus May 7, 1987, which gave TSU students and faculty a taste of the Middle Ages as recreated by The Society for Creative Anachronism. This Page: Top: Shown is the various gear worn by knights in fighting or jousting. Bottom: David Patti takes a closer look at the costumes worn by SCA members Mary Bracewell and Sheri Crout. Opposite Page: Scenes from a fighting exhibition sponsored by the Troy chapter of SCA. 24 In the Courtly Days of Yore

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Incoming Students Below: After a day packed full of ac- tivities, this orientation student takes a break from the action. Far R ' ghf: Thomas K launch, speaking into the microphone, and Joanne Stone compete for Mr. and Miss Orientation as Chris Brown, orienta- tion leader, looks on. Right: Jeannine Porter and Gibson Vance, orientation leaders, help in- coming students prepare their schedules for fall quarter. 26 Orientation