trans. by Diane Rayor
presented by
Jenison High School
November 18-21
The Letters and Other Writings
Translated with introduction and notes by William Levitan
A Translation, with Introduction and Notes
Diane Rayor
Edited by Andrew Cain and Noel Lenski, with a contribution by Charles Pazdernik
The Department of Classics
The program in Classics spans the many different aspects of the Greek and Roman world - its languages and literatures, its art and archaeology, its history, its religious and philosophical traditions, its social and legal forms - from the Bronze Age to the period of the late Roman Empire and early Christianity.The cultural riches of classical civilization are as rewarding as anything the liberal arts has to offer, but the value of Classics has another dimension as well.
Insofar as Classics examines the artistic, intellectual, and social traditions that have shaped the Western world over the course of a hundred generations of human history, it provides an informed and critical perspective on many of the ideas, values, and institutions that continue to shape the world in which we live today.
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| Classics major Ben Sparks '08 as the title character in the 2007 Classical Theatre Workshop mainstage production of Seneca's Oedipus. |
The Department, a unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is large enough to offer a complete preparation for students seeking a wide range of postgraduate and career opportunities. Yet it remains small enough to allow our faculty and staff to get to know all of our students individually and to work with them closely.
This student-centered approach is something we encourage: it fosters collaboration and mutual respect and promotes cooperation, discussion, and intellectual interaction. These are the hidden, and often neglected, elements of a first-rate education.
Courses and programs in Classics are designed to meet the needs of a variety of students. For students who pursue a major or minor in the field, Classics provides a broad and solid liberal arts education that will be useful in many careers and vital to the development of their full human capacity.
For students in other disciplines, Classics offers a valuable opportunity to investigate at first hand the works and traditions that have provided much of the intellectual background of their own chosen fields. Many find that working with the classical languages improves their grasp of English and their skills as readers and writers.
| I am writing an email...thanking you for emphasizing the importance of what we were learning in Classical World. Unfortunately, I did not take in the maximum amount of information I could have in that class..., not realizing at the time how much I would need/benefit from that knowledge and hard work if I determined to take it with me. I hated philosophy and now love it. I hated history and now love it. I wrote shallow, nonanalytical, simple papers and now realize the importance of depth, analysis, and complexity. So thank you. ...[S]tudents in your classes...may not see the place for the knowledge and wisdom of classics in their social work, medical, business, etc. education. PLEASE let them know they WILL need it and should appreciate it, not only in college, but in life in general. SINCERELY, Erica J. Barnes September 1, 2006 (quoted with permission) |
Today’s challenges demonstrate the need for leaders and managers who take words and ideas seriously, who are capable of looking outside of their own cultural and historical assumptions and approaching problems from every angle, and whose choices are informed by long-term perspectives and a concern for the judgment of posterity. The study of Classics has long been recognized as among the most demanding academic programs and an excellent preparation for a wide range of professions and careers.
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| Classics major Michelle LeMieux experiences Greek ceramics in a literally 'hands on' way in the Honors Classical World sequence. |
We offer exciting programs in Greek and in Latin, and in Latin secondary education for students who plan to teach Latin in grades 7-12.
Our innovative program in the Classical Tradition emphasizes the legacy of the classical world and specifically investigates the relationship between Greek and Roman civilizations and the literary, artistic, intellectual, social, and political traditions of other cultures. Students who seek a broad acquaintance with the classical world, but whose interests do not fit easily into other departmental programs, have the opportunity to design individual programs to fit their talents, interests, and career goals.
 Classics major Crystal Daining '07 discovers an ancient coin while on an archaeological dig in Greece with Classics Professor Melissa Morison. |
Our students also have the opportunity to explore the classical world in its own setting, through study-abroad programs such as the College Year in Athens and the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome.
For students in other disciplines, Classics offers a valuable opportunity to investigate first-hand the works and traditions that have provided much of the intellectual background of their own chosen fields. The department collaborates with the GVSU departments of Anthropology, Art and Design, English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, and Theater as well as with the Frederik Meijer Honors College and the College of Education.
Our courses in Latin and Greek fulfill the university's foreign language requirement, while our courses offered in translation fulfill many General Education and Honors requirements.
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Printable Program Brochure (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) |
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