Classics and Social Justice at SCS 2017
This meeting saw the official launch of the new Affiliated Group for Classics and Social Justice. We hosted two very successful events—a round table attended by 40 people, and an open meeting, where just as many participated: undergrads, graduate students, high school teachers and professors. There were not even enough seats to accommodate everyone! We discussed what social actions each attendee was doing or wanted to and directions we could move forward together. In recognition of the immigration issues and other difficulties members faced in getting to Toronto, we streamed the meeting; you can view it at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Classics-and-Social-Justice-368632663501363/. We welcome those interested to our listserv (contact Nancy Rabinowitz, nrabinow@hamilton.edu to be added to it), to connect with others, share resources, and work towards collective action. We have also created a blog (https://classicssocialjustice.wordpress.com/blog/) which will carry stories, enable sharing of syllabi and keep members informed, and a Twitter account (please follow @classics_sj).
The topics of interest to members of the groups assembled were wide and various; we have formed action committees to structure our ongoing responses to several pressing issues. They are listed with contact person below:
- Diversity Outreach (Dan-el and Dominic Machado, dominic_machado@brown.edu)
- Economically Disadvantaged and Undeserved Students (Amit Shilo, amitshilo@classics.ucsb.edu)
- Immigration/Undocumented Status (Dan-el Padilla, dpadilla@princeton.edu)
- Mental Health/Disability (Clara Bosak Schroeder, cbosak@illinois.edu)
- Prisons (Nancy Rabinowitz, nrabinow@hamilton.edu)
- Women-Gender-Sexuality Issues (Amy Pistone, apistone@umich.edu)
- Veterans (Roberta Stewart, Roberta.L.Stewart@dartmouth.edu)
The Classics and Social Justice Group has been discussing issues of concern to classicists for around a year now, since the Rhodessa Jones performance at SCS 2016. Members of the group presented a panel on Prison Teaching at CAAS in 2016, and we are planning a panel at the SCS in 2018 (see the CFP on the SCS website and on our blog and Facebook page; abstracts are due by January 31st). We are very grateful for the enthusiastic welcome given to our new group, and look forward to meeting more of you at regional meetings or at the next SCS.
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