The campus and community are invited to step into Gearhart Hall and into the past (and future) for an engaging Classics Symposium.

The event offers a unique opportunity to explore the enduring relevance of classical studies in today’s world. Through dynamic discussions with distinguished faculty and alumni who have built their careers through Classics, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how ancient cultures continue to influence modern thought and culture in the 21st century.

The Classics Symposium will be from 5:15 - 7 p.m. April 2 in GEAR 26. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance.

Daniel Levine, University Professor of Classical Studies in the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures who retires from the U of A this year after 45 years of teaching Classics, will share his insights, making this a special occasion to hear his reflections on the discipline and its evolution over time.

“Knowledge of the ancient world is ipso facto the quintessence of our cultural DNA,” Levine said. “Discovering our origins gives us the context we need to understand the world; ergo, it is our sine qua non.”

“Daniel Levine’s work in classical studies at the University of Arkansas has transformed the lives of many students, both undergraduate and graduate, humanist and STEM scholar alike,” said Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College. “His ability to teach the complexities of classical languages, along with his adventurous study-abroad program in Greece, stand as monuments of academic rigor and imagination. From exploring the funerary cultures of the ancient Mycenaeans to climbing remote mountains to access the splendors of a Byzantine oratory to engaging students in contemporary Greek culture and politics, Levine remains an icon of the vitality and importance of the humanities in Fulbright College and the University of Arkansas. It is difficult to imagine our campus without his vibrant, intellectual presence in the classroom.”

The event will feature a distinguished panel of speakers, including U of A faculty members and alumni:

• Daniel Levine, University Professor of world languages, literatures and cultures at the U of A
• David Charles Fredrick, associate professor of world languages, literatures and cultures at the U of A
• Megan Tynan, manager of engagement management at MongoDB
• Kirsten Day, professor of Classics at Augustana College

Following the symposium, a reception will be held in the Honors Lounge, providing an opportunity for networking and further conversation.

“I rejoice to see our U of A Classics alumni return to their alma mater and relate how everywhere they see classics in our world: in politics, architecture, literature, philosophy, television, movies, popular culture and games, et cetera, ad infinitium, ad nauseum,” Levine noted.

“The ancient Mediterranean world offers de facto insights into the nature of humanity – studying these subjects is not only sui generis and unique to the literati, it enriches everyone,” he added. 

“Without Greek, how could we say technology, democracy or microbiology?” Levine posed. “Without Greek and Latin, how would Jews and Christians say gloria in excelsis Deo, Sanhedrin, synagogue, ecclesiastical, apostle, eucharist or Pentecost?” 

The Classics ask eternal questions, Levine argues, ones that transcend time and culture.

“Where lies truth? Some may answer in vino veritas, but I say that the bona fide consensus is that our debt to classical antiquity is endless,” Levine said. 

ABOUT DANIEL LEVINE

Levine studied Greek and Latin at the University of Minnesota, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the University of Cincinnati before coming to the U of A — where he has taught classical studies since 1980. His publications include essays on Greek comedy, tragedy and epic poetry; and modern literary receptions of ancient Greek and Roman literature, including works by Rita Mae Brown, V. T. Hamlin and Michael Chabon. He has received teaching and service awards from the Society for Classical Studies, the Classical Association of the Middle West and South, and the U of A.

ABOUT DAVID CHARLES FREDRICK

Fredrick is the head of the Classical Studies program in the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures. He received his M.A. in Classics from the University of Kansas in 1984 and his Ph.D in Classics from the University of Southern California in 1992. He works at the intersection of higher education and video games, with research interests that include Roman art, architectural history, spatial cognition and the use of machine learning and neural networks in art history. From 2012 to 2021, Fredrick directed the Tesseract Center for Immersive Environments and Game Design, an award-winning game design studio on the U of A campus.

ABOUT MEGAN TYNAN

Tynan (B.A., classical studies, cum laude, ’99) is an honors graduate who has parlayed her degree in classical studies into a successful career in the IT field with companies such as SAP and MongoDB through the savvy application of the critical thinking skills learned under the tutelage of Arkansas' finest, including Levine. She lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and partner in tomato propagation, Tommy Dunmore.

ABOUT KIRSTEN DAY

Day received her bachelor's degree in ancient Mediterranean civilizations and art and art history from Rice University, and her master's and doctoral degrees in comparative literature with an emphasis in Classics from the U of A. Day’s primary research interests include classical representations in popular culture and the role of women in the ancient world. In 2007, she joined the Classics Department at Augustana College, where she also contributes to the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program. As a professor, she has taught courses in Greek and Latin, as well as classical epic, mythology, women in classical antiquity, ancient comedy and the study of Classics in film, among others.

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.  

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.