From the Chair

“It takes a bit of courage to read the newspaper these days.” So wrote Peter Knox in this space a year ago, shortly before I assumed the Chair’s role he fulfilled so extraordinarily well for eight years. If your courage didn’t desert you, chances are you got little joy from what you read about CU in 2003-04: a “top party-school” ranking, a football recruiting scandal, and the still unanswered question whether Colorado will fix its constitution to avoid becoming the first state to cease funding higher education altogether. Yet the news was not all bad. If you looked hard, you also found stories about better prepared students, service to the community, faculty recognized for outstanding teaching and research, and even the amazing (if usually unsung) learning experiences that take place every day in our classrooms, laboratories, and libraries.

Far from the headlines, the Classics department took care of business and now looks back on an excellent year, as these pages attest. Our numbers of students are holding steady or growing at all levels. On campus, Classics students have a deserved reputation as academic high achievers, and when they graduate, they find good opportunities for work or further study. Classics faculty continue to accomplish wonderful things in print, in the classroom, and (literally) in the trenches.

We also mark a few milestones and changes. Returning from sabbatical, Noel Lenski faced a huge pent-up demand for his expertise in Roman history. In March, he treated a large audience to a lecture on Constantine—an occasion that included a celebration of Barbara Hill, who has left the position of Latin Program Coordinator. How crucial Barbara has been to the success of CU Classics is well known to many of you; luckily, she continues her association with the department and will teach for us from time to time. Her successor is Alison Orlebeke. We are delighted to welcome both Alison, who has taught for us before, and new Assistant Professor Andy Cain. (Read more about our new faculty on p. 3.) Hearty congratulations to Peter Hunt, who was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor, and—mixed with sadness—to Chris Shields, who is leaving us for a position in Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Chris is a peerless teacher and colleague whose contributions to Classics grew steadily in recent years; we draw small comfort from the fact that he will be even more keenly missed in the Philosophy Department.

As always, we have been encouraged in our work by the support you have shown us. A great many of you responded to our plea on behalf of Diane Conlin’s excavation of the Villa of Maxentius in Rome. You were equally generous in support of our goal of acquiring a permanent display case for the Jaffee Collection of Ancient Roman Coins. I am happy to report that the latter goal is now within reach: look for a story on new arrangements for the display and use of the coins in the next newsletter. We are fortunate indeed to have such friends and supporters of Classics at the University of Colorado, and we thank you warmly.

John Gibert
Chair