Jonathan Shay, author of Achilles in Vietnam and Odysseus in America, was in Lincoln to give a lecture in April. Shay is a psychiatrist who spent some years working with combat veterans from the Vietnam War and his books use the Homeric epics to talk about combat trauma. Last spring, Shay gave a lecture about leadership in the Homeric epics. He also participated in the Homerathon later that week by reading and signing copies of his books. The students organizing the Homerathon were thrilled that Shay was able to attend the event.
During the Homerathon, members of the university’s Classics Club helped raise donations for flood relief as part of an effort they had started earlier that spring. Partnered with the 4-H Foundation and 4-Hers Helping 4-Hers, Classics Club students raised funds for Nebraska flood relief during the spring semester by going to the Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS) to collect donations from attendees. Between the donations given at CAMWS and the Homerathon, Classics Club raised a total of $663 for flood relief in Nebraska.
Shay, moved by the efforts of the students, wanted to support flood relief efforts. In mid-September he sent $2,000 to the Classics Club to add to the funds collected for flood relief. The Classics Club students were overwhelmed by Shay’s incredible generosity and the money has been sent on to the 4-H Foundation for distribution.
