Classics Club is an RSO that was founded in 2013 with the general goal of connecting like-minded students who have an interest in the classical world. There is a general sense of community and the club is tight-knit yet welcoming, described as “creating a small liberal arts college vibe in the massive university.”
During the campus shutdown in March, 2020, the officers and advisors for the club quickly pivoted and found ways to keep meetings going virtually. Dr. Rachel Hart, another club advisor, says that, “It's important that we didn't stop and say we'll forget it for the rest of the spring semester.”
Both advisors talk about how important the role of Classics Club is in keeping a sense of community for students during a time when forming community is made so difficult by distancing in classrooms, or having fully online classes. “It kind of gives another outlet,” said Hart, “not only for students to informally meet each other, but to have interactions between professors and students.” Lippman adds that, “I'd like to say that it's very important, I think to both of us, that we kept [club] alive and consistent and unbroken.”
Hart and Lippman and the student club-members have all expressed excitement for a time when the club can return to its in-person format where they can see friends in person and it is easier to keep multiple conversations going without talking over one another.
Students who attend the club describe the reasons they keep coming back during this time where the club mostly meets virtually. Paige Jennings, a new member of the club describes how, “I immediately felt included in the discussions and activities, and I really enjoy getting to know everyone who attends. My only experience in college has been during the pandemic because of the fact that I am a freshman. Going to Classics Club has been the key part of my experience at UNL because it has provided me the best opportunity to be involved, build connections, and foster a sense of belonging.” Current club president, Andrew Malesker says the most important thing about the club to him is “The atmosphere: Lots of jokes being told, plenty of time to hang out with likeminded people and make new friends.” Vanessa Larsen, a previous president of the club describes the benefits of the club as “Lots of great friendships. [There are] not many other places to talk about classics.” She says that coming to club is important to her “this time of year especially, because of events like Homerathon.”
The Homerathon is a major annual event that is a joint effort of Classics Club and UCARE that started at UNL in 2018. Homerathon is a marathon reading of either the Iliad or the Odyssey that lasts about 20 hours. It’s a large-scale event that has been held on the Meier Common in front of the Union in the past. Hart mentions that the advisors and students felt that it was important not to cancel the event in 2020. The students and advisors alike are proud of how well they were able to put together a fully virtual Homerathon last year with just a few weeks of warning. Last year’s Homerathon was a podcast-style video with readings of various classical works featuring a pandemic called the Panhellenic Pandemic Performance.
Classics Club will be hosting a similar Homerathon this year. It will be a reading of the Homeric Hymns with a following Zoom discussion for any interested and will be housed on homerathon.com. The club will also be putting together a new fall event in conjunction with the Homerathon.
