If you’re interested in anything having to do with ancient Greece or Rome then you might be interested in this club. It’s not just an ancient language thing, its also ancient history, philosophy, literature, & mythology.

The club only recently became an official NCSU club & hasn’t really got off the ground yet, but there are a few tools that will probably be used when it’s ready to expand, so I’ll inform people of those now.

There’s a classics listserv, started by the classics club president (I'm the classics club publicity chair), but for any one interested in the triangle area at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trianglelatin/

There’s also an unrelated group on facebook at

http://ncst.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2200355711

The facebook group isn’t related to the classics club, but since it’s for the same cause, we’d probably try to post on there any information or events that we’d want to get to interested ears.
-

The listserv has classics grad & undergrad students, others in the area who are interested, a retired UNC classics professor, & a NCSU classics professors… so it’s a good place to direct classics related ideas or questions.

4/28/2006 12:06:20 AM

There are some professors & classes people looking at this thread might be interested in.

Grk 310 – Ancient Mythology. Although it has a Grk in the title it actually covers greek & roman mythology (& a little info on other mythologies), but it’s not in any way a language course. Taught by Dr. Packman. She is also the faculty advisor for the classics club & the NCSU professor on the listserv that I mentioned. She also teaches several latin language courses here & Dr Sosower does some greek language courses here, greek medical terminology, & tragedy in translation.

Phi 300 – This is an ancient philosophy taught course taught by Dr. Jesseph.

Eng 220, 221, 380 are all english classes that go over classics topics in translation.
Eng 209 is a Shakespeare class, not classics per se, but it’s a fun class with Dr Hunt & it goes over Mid Summer Nights Dream & The Tempest which have ancient settings & some greek god stuff & a lot of shakespeares work has more subtle classical references.

HI 321 – This course goes over ancient science so you can’t help but get some interesting material. Early parts of astronomy courses also go into the history some so they can make good sciences for people interested in all things ancient.
Hi 207 - This is an intro into ancient history & a really great class with Dr. Parker. He’s our big name history department guy & pretty fun to take classes with. Dr. Sack & Detreville also do ancient history classes. There are several advanced history classes that focus just on Greece or just on Rome here at ncsu, maybe some just on their militaries.

There is also the interinstitutional option. If UNC has a class you’re interested in that ncsu doesn’t have, then you can take it at UNC but only pay the NCSU cost for a course. UNC has a great classics program so this is a good way to go. I had a greek archaeology class over there that was really well done. This method requires more planning & working out transportation, but it’s well worth it.

There are a few classics minors offered at ncsu, and plenty of ways to get strong classical education (even if you aren’t into studying language) at this school.
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But for anyone who only wants to take 1 fun class to test the waters, I most recommend Grk 310 – ancient mythology with Dr. Packman. It’s a really fun topic, with a great lady teaching it, and it’s not as hard as a language related classics course.

4/28/2006 12:23:03 AM

wooooooooo Latin!

4/28/2006 1:25:49 AM

Alright, I'm signing up for this.

4/28/2006 7:22:00 AM

There’s also some annual Greek festival at the fair grounds. I think its mainly ran by Greek orthodox churches, but they also have a lot of stuff to advertise their early western civilization stuff that they’re proud of. Usually some ancient stuff. I got some nice mugs with Greek God pictures on them one year, and a bust of Socrates in an earlier year just after switching to a philosophy major. I don’t know when it’ll happen next, but I’ll try to post about it if I find any information on it… unless someone else knows off hand?

I also wonder if this listserv would be interesting to fraternity & sorority members. I know there are a lot of stereotypes about them with their Greek ties being little more than toga parties, but their ideological connection to the ancient Greeks is interesting. And most fraternity/sorority members atleast know the Greek alphabet.

4/28/2006 2:39:40 PM

I said there was a current NCSU classics professor, and a retired UNC classics professor on the listserv, but I forgot to mention a retired classics professor from Meredith who I believe is also on there.

Oh & here's the links to the classics minors available at NCSU. They are heavily language based b/c its hard to do much scholarly stuff in classics without knowning the languages, but as a hobby there's alot of interesting stuff in ancient history & mythology. One is for a focus in Greek & the other is a more general classics minor. These links are also a good place for information on classics related classes offered at NCSU even if you aren't interested in getting a minor.

http://www.ncsu.edu/advising_central/minors_desc/class_greek.html
http://www.ncsu.edu/advising_central/minors_desc/classical.htm

[Edited on April 30, 2006 at 10:43 PM. Reason : classics department link http://sasw.chass.ncsu.edu/fl/classics/]

4/30/2006 10:30:41 PM

Great Gazoo hanc epistulam approbat.

5/1/2006 1:43:38 PM

I'm in. Or I will be in. After I finish up this semester and go on intellectual/emotional hiatus for the summer photographing groundhogs and grasshoppers. But yeah, the fall, I'm in.

5/1/2006 3:58:56 PM

Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.

5/1/2006 4:01:05 PM

Hey I can quote the Carmina Burna, look at me!

j/k, you people are smart for sticking with Latin.

5/1/2006 4:03:41 PM

There’s a classics related movie day at unc soon that I’ll try to post more information on.

Visiting the NC museum of art could make for a good classics club trip or for individual exploration. The museum over on Blue Ridge rd has nice collection of ancient art & “Admission to the Museum and its permanent collection is free.”

Quote :

" Regular Operating Hours: Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The Museum is closed on Mondays."

http://www.ncartmuseum.org/collections/highlights/ancient.shtml

Also the classics club is looking for new members since many of its members are graduating this semester. Dues & level of meetings are decided on by the members so it’s no more taxing than you make it. Level of work for the officer positions is also for the most part decided by its members (although the constitution dictates a few minimum things to keep the club going) so if anyone is interested in joining for the fall & having an officer position to list on grad school applications or resumes for down the road just private message me or e-mail me at jagoad3@ncsu.edu & I’ll get you all the information you need.

5/2/2006 3:51:57 PM

I'm just putting some information on tdub for future reference for the next generation of the classics club should it survive. Just making sure that if for some reason I'm not able to help with organizing it next semester that all the information is out there thats required to keep it oging. Dr. Packman can help you guys keep it organized if you want. Below is the constitution, although contact me with e-mail if you want a word document nicer copy.


Also heres the link to the form that needs to be turned in near the start of the fall semester if you want to keep the club maintained, and the exact location in talley to turn it in at. (although maybe you could get the contact info from the sorc website & e-mail it to them?)

http://www.ncsu.edu/sorc/Regform.pdf
Student Organization Resource Center (1202 Talley Student Center, Campus Box 7306, 515-3323)

Quote :

"CLASSICS CLUB CONSTITUTION November 2005 Article I Name and Purpose Section 1 This organization shall be known as the Classics Club. Section 2 The purpose of this organization shall be to provide students of all backgrounds and specialties with interests in the classics a social space wherein to convene and interact; to stimulate interest in the classics among new students; and to provide for additional curricular and extracurricular educational opportunites in the field of the classics at North Carolina State University. Article II Membership Section 1 Membership shall be open to all full-time or part-time students of North Carolina State University who are interested in the classics, regardless of educational background, language experience, or prior engagement with the classics. Section 2 Any individual to whom membership is open may join by contacting the President and paying dues for the academic year. Section 3 All members of the organization not in arrears shall hold a vote and a voice in all business meetings. Section 4 The founding members of the organization shall be known as patres patriae. Patres patriae shall be permanent members of the Classics Club. Patres patriae shall hold a vote and a voice in all business meetings, but shall not for the purposes of determining quorum. Additional honorary patres patriae may be selected during a business meeting by two-thirds (2/3) vote, with a requirement of twenty-four (24) hours prior notice. Article III Officers Section 1 The President of the organization shall be responsible for submitting contact information for all new members to the Secretary and for submitting collected organization dues to the Treasurer. The President shall further be responsible for representing the organization to the North Carolina State University faculty and staff, and for interacting regularly with the organization’s faculty advisor. Section 2 The Vice President of the organization shall be responsible for publicizing the organization and for recruiting new members. The Vice President shall attend College of Humanities and Social Sciences Council meetings as a representative of the organization. Section 3 The Secretary of the organization shall be responsible for maintaining a membership database and for publishing this database to the members of the organization on a semesterly basis. The Secretary shall further be responsible for recording the activities of the organization and publishing a yearly report to the members of the organization. Section 4 The Treasurer of the organization shall be responsible for handling the finances of the organization, including the deposit of all submitted dues, the disbursement of funds for purchases approved by majority vote of the officers of the organization, the filing of Appropriations Requests with the North Carolina State University Student Government, and the financial record-keeping of the organization. Section 5 The founders of the organization shall, upon ratification of this Constitution, adopt by consent the interim officers of the organization. Thereafter, officers shall be elected or adopted by consent during the last week before exams of each spring academic semester for the following academic year. Elections shall be conducted via an equal and private process, with the candidate receiving a majority vote securing his/her election. Section 6 In the case of the indisposition or default of the President, the Vice President shall assume his/her duties. In the case of the indisposition or default of any other officer, the President shall appoint an interim officer to fulfill that office’s duties until the next business meeting, at which a new officer shall be elected or adopted by consent. Article IV Dues Section 1 Organization dues will be assessed once per year to each member. Section 2 Organization dues for the 2005-2006 academic year shall be $5.00 per member. Article V Meetings Section 1 The organization shall hold at least two (2) business meetings per academic year, one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester. Business meetings shall be called by the President no less than seventy-two (72) hours before the meeting is to take place. All members of the organization must be informed by this time. Section 2 Quorum of the membership of the organization shall be a majority of its members. Section 3 Business meetings shall generally be open to non-members. The organization may enter into executive session during any business meeting by majority vote. Section 4 Informal gatherings and other non-business meetings shall not be subject to requirements of quorum. Article VI Amendments Section 1 Amendments to this Constitution may be submitted in writing to the President by any member of the organization for discussion and vote at the next business meeting of the organization. Copies of the amendment must be distributed by the President or his/her representative to the members of the organization at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting during which a vote takes place. Section 2 Amendments must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, with a requirement of twenty-four (24) hours prior notice. Article VII Ratification Section 1 This Constitution was first ratified on November 28, 2005. Section 2 This Constitution stands unamended. Section 3 The organization’s patres patriae are: - Thomas Parker, founding advisor - Zola Packman, founding advisor - Patrick Dombrowski, ’06 - Ted Gellar, ’06 - Jake Goad, ’06 - Megan Tirpak, ’07 "

Here's a link to UNC's current classics department current events:
http://www.classics.unc.edu/newsandevents.html
Although there are other areas on their classics site that list other events going on.

http://www.duke.edu/web/classics/

Between meetings, publicizing, ncsu's lib, unc's classics lib, unc events, trips museum's in raleigh & chapel hill, stuff at duke, all the movies out related to classics (pop culture stuff too, not just educational), and dr packman as the group advisor... the classics clubs members could organize plenty of common interest stuff to do if people are interested.

Oh & that movie day I mentioned before is at day hall in chapel hill at 1 on thursday.

[Edited on May 9, 2006 at 10:54 PM. Reason : .]

5/9/2006 10:53:24 PM

Quote :

"HI 321 – This course goes over ancient science so you can’t help but get some interesting material. Early parts of astronomy courses also go into the history some so they can make good sciences for people interested in all things ancient. Hi 207 - This is an intro into ancient history & a really great class with Dr. Parker. He’s our big name history department guy & pretty fun to take classes with. Dr. Sack & Detreville also do ancient history classes. There are several advanced history classes that focus just on Greece or just on Rome here at ncsu, maybe some just on their militaries."

Two of my favorite classes. This club kinda sounds interesting, but in a few days I'll be out of here like I should have been last year.

5/9/2006 11:06:38 PM

I've never been part of the history club, but I have taken about four classes alongside a girl who is a head honcho (and one overstressed workaholic), so I've heard a lot of her stories... seems like the history club is really having trouble. Perhaps something like this is a little more specific in interest and get some popularity.

5/9/2006 11:10:13 PM

Quote :

"The club only recently became an official NCSU club & hasn’t really got off the ground yet"

You guys are listed on the main student org webpage, which is a good start (http://www.ncsu.edu/sorc/myOrgs/details.php?id=600). Work on getting a website up over the summer ... I know you've been busy with finals . Seriously, freshman during/after orientation may stumble across this page ... if you are listed but don't have a website up, the interest level will drop like a rock. Student Senate also grants a one-time "startup-club" allocation of $300. Look into that for Fall 2006 if you want to do a bit more with it.

I like the idea/concept. HI207 w/Parker was fascinating when I took it.

5/10/2006 5:31:38 AM

"startup-club" allocation of $300"

That sounds interesting.

Also some classics club members and other students had a little party thing for one of our advisors today. Dr Packman has taught countless classes here that she doesn't get paid for as independent studies and is in general such a nice person that we chipped in on & got her this plaque thing with a latin inscription.



Some back ground info on her:

Quote :

"Z M Packman: Previous Academic Positions University of Natal (South Africa) 1990-1998 Professor 1991-1996 Head of Department Institut für Altertumskunde, Universitaet Koeln (Germany) 1989-1990 ACLS Research Fellow Duke University (Durham, NC) 1988-1989 Visiting Associate Professor Washington University (Saint Louis) 1975-1988 Associate Professor 1969-1975 Assistant Professor Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) 1965-1967 Instructor Washington University (Saint Louis) 1963-1965 Instructor "

5/10/2006 6:25:52 PM

"Work on getting a website up over the summer"

The listserv website I mentioned in the first post is a yahoo group site so I think it also has photos, chat options, a message board maybe, and some other stuff in addition to just being an e-mail listserv. It was designed by the president of the classics club, but its not just for the club, but anyone in the community interested in classics.

I don't know enough about website stuff to make a real classics club site, but this one has worked for our needs so far even though its classics community rather than classics club oriented.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trianglelatin/

Cddweller I remember you mentioned you’re good with financial stuff, maybe in the fall we could have you take a look at the student senate allocation thing Perlith mentioned?

[Edited on May 10, 2006 at 7:06 PM. Reason : .]

5/10/2006 6:56:55 PM

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you about this - I am still interested, and I will be here summer session II if you need any help starting things up in the summer.

5/11/2006 6:02:28 PM

Quote :

"From : GreatGazoo To : Supplanter Received : Thursday May 11, 2006 at 7:51 PM Subject : classics club If there is anything I can do to help out, let me know. I'd like to support the classics and the liberal arts at NCSU - after all, I'm the only prof to try to connect Shakespeare and phase transitions. If you folks are interested in any sort of outreach, I know the upper school principal at Raleigh Latin HS fairly well: these kids are pretty strong students and establishing some connection between the RLHS and NCSU might benefit both. Their website is: http://raleighlatin.org/ and the phone number is 848.8334. Let me know if you'd like to follow up or contact them directly. "

I just thought I'd throw this out there so that I'll be reminded of it in the fall when I come back to this thread as an undate on who was interested in the club and what procedures need to be followed to keep it going (since we’re new & almost all the currently active members are graduating)... and so any other people interested in the classics club can think about outreach like this.

5/12/2006 12:38:18 AM

Ja, Dr. W is all about the classics, he's the first prof I thought of who would be serious about it even though he's in the Chem department.

But Supplanter, do count me in, I tried signing up with the Yahoo group for the email and the email I sent bounced.

5/12/2006 9:01:06 AM

PM sent. We'll get you on the listserv somehow

5/12/2006 12:07:01 PM

keeping this thread alive til the fall

6/3/2006 8:11:40 AM

Keeping thread alive, don't mind me.

6/23/2006 3:28:25 PM

8/13/2006 4:34:32 AM

The entire club graduated, but if the people who talked in this thread before, or anyone else wants to pick up where we left off, all the information/forms are here I believe.

8/25/2006 6:42:41 PM