Since 1998, UNC has hosted a bilingual reading of the classic Dr. Seuss book, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the tradition will continue.
Former UNC English professor Tom Stumpf and UNC Student Store associate George Morgan will do the readings. Stumpf will read in English and Morgan will read in Latin.
The event will be held in The Bull’s Head Bookshop lounge at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. There will be refreshments served at the event, including cookies and cider.
The tradition began as a novelty in 1998 when Bull's Head received a copy of the Latin translation of the book. The former manager of Bull’s Head suggested a bilingual reading be held at UNC.
Stumpf has always participated in the English reading, but a former UNC professor from the classics department was the original reader. Morgan began the readings after the professor retired.
“We started in 1998 and we haven’t missed a year,” Morgan said.
Morgan is a devoted Latin speaker who was once a part of a weekly dinner club where the members gathered to speak the language together. He has since tried to reassemble the group, but has struggled to find willing participants.
“All over the world there are enthusiastic groups of people who do speak Latin,” Morgan said. “Despite the rumors that Latin is a dead, it is the official language of The Vatican City. It’s dead in the sense of it being a native language, but it is still very much in use today.”
Kathleen Pittman is a sophomore at UNC and looks forward to attending the event and joining in on the tradition.
