The Ancient Gardens/Archaeology/Classical Society Club
The Ancient Gardens Club was originally founded in the fall of 2006 for the students in Dr. Dvorsky-Rohner’s LSIC freshman colloquium on “Ancient Gardens.” Since then the club has gradually evolved to include students interested in Archaeology and Classical Studies generally. The Classical Society was founded in 2003, and is open to all UNC Asheville students with an interest in the ancient world. Activities have included service projects at local elementary schools, Movie Nights, and co-sponsorship of lectures on campus.
The ongoing project of the club is the upkeep of the area behind New Hall as an ancient garden, complete with working sundial, herbs, mosaics created by club members, and a small vineyard. Students have also been investigating historical sites of archaeological interest on the UNC Asheville campus and the local area.
Eta Sigma Phi – Eta Tau Chapter
Eta Sigma Phi is the National Classics Honor Society for qualified students of Latin and/or Greek. The purpose of the society as stated in its Constitution is “to develop and promote interest in Ancient Mediterranean study among the students of colleges and universities; to promote closer fraternal relationship among students who are interested in Ancient Mediterranean study, including inter-campus relationships; to engage generally in an effort to stimulate interest in Ancient Mediterranean study, and in the history, art, and literature of ancient Greece and Rome.
Our local chapter, Eta Tau, was inaugurated in 2003, and is advised by Prof. Lora Holland. New members are invited to join early in the spring semester, and initiation and new officer elections follow. Students who (1) have completed or are enrolled in Intermediate Latin or Intermediate Greek or have declared a AMS major or minor and (2) have no grade lower than B- in any AMS course and 3) have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 may be invited to join Eta Sigma Phi. There is a one-time initiation fee to be collected from members after their acceptance to the society. An initiation and the election of officers are held each spring.
Members of Eta Sigma Phi are eligible for two national scholarships for study abroad in the summer, one to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the other to the American Academy in Rome. There are also nationally sponsored translation contests in Latin and Greek that carry cash prizes.