This Friday there will be a Town Hall Meeting in the Department of Classics. The primary purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Department's undergraduate programs in advance of next year's external review. We shall also provide some information and start a discussion on the new system for course evaluations, which will replace the existing course evaluation questionnaires across the university in the fall.

The meeting will be held in room B09 (the undergraduate lounge) in the Lillian Massey Building (125 Queen's Park), from 2.30 to 4.00pm.

All students enrolled in programs offered by the Department of Classics are invited to attend.

The McGill Summer Institute in Classical Studies offers students from Canada and abroad the opportunity to develop their training in the ancient languages within a unique setting in the heart of Montreal. The Institute operates annually form June-July and features intensive courses in Greek and Latin. These are complemented with civilization classes that foster the understanding of ancient Mediterranean history and culture.

For inquiries, contact the Director of the Summer Institute in Classical Studies, Professor John Serrati at 514-398-4400 ext. 094273 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I’m Ben Akrigg and I am taking over from Hugh Mason as the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Classics department. The email address ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and the office phone number (416-978-4848) remain unchanged. As before, students are encouraged to contact me with individual concerns.

At the moment I'm still learning the ropes, so in the short term it may take a little longer to get an answer to your questions than you're used to. However, I hope that overall the transition will be smooth, and that I’ll be able to live up to the standard set by Professor Mason.

There will be a ceremony in the department on Friday, May 6 at 4:00 pm in the lounge, room 206, to honour the successful candidates in the CAC sight competition.

They are: (Uof T students in bold)

High School Latin

First Prize ($100.00) Valentina Beux, South Burnaby High School

Second Prize ($75.00) Jessica Zung, University of Toronto Schools

Third Prize ($50.00) Eric Merienuk, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf

Honourable Mentions

Charles Hébert, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf

Alvin Leung, University of Toronto Schools

Soohyun Park, University of Toronto Schools

Margaret H. Thompson Prize in Greek Sight Translation (Junior Greek)

First Prize ($150.00) Elizabeth Ten-Hove, McGill University

Second Prize ($100.00) Cristina Ichim, University of Toronto

Third Prize ($50.00) Mufei Jiang, University of Toronto

Honourable Mentions

Ross Kettleson, McGill University

Jose Campos, McMaster University

Junior Latin

First Prize ($150.00) Brett Bartlett, University of Waterloo

Second Prize ($100.00) Mufei Jiang, University of Toronto

Third Prize ($50.00) Sonya Tors, University of Toronto

No Honourable Mentions this year.

Senior Greek

First Prize ($150.00) Alessandro Sisti, University of Toronto

Second Prize ($100.00) Ruben Post, University of Victoria

Third Prize ($50.00) William Pemberton, Trent University

Honourable Mention

Laura Hare, University of Toronto

Peter Lawson Smith Prize in Latin Sight Translation (Senior Latin)

First Prize ($150.00) Jacob Currie, University of Toronto

Second Prize ($100.00) Alessandro Sisti, University of Toronto

Third Prize ($50.00) William Pemberton, Trent University

Honourable Mentions

Elizabeth Ten-Hove, McGill University

Nicholas Arrigo, University of Toronto

On Tuesday April 5th TVO?s BIG IDEAS, in conjunction with Centre For Inquiry Ontario (CFI) will be co-sponsoring a debate hosted by University of Toronto Secular Alliance, between Canadian philosopher Ronald de Sousa and clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson.

The question is whether it is possible and/or desirable to imagine a culture which is not based on any conceptions of the sacred. Dr. de Sousa will speak in support of relegating all notions of the sacred to the ash heap of history as irrational and potentially harmful, and in favour of a conception of life open to critical thinking in the light of reason. On the other hand, Dr. Peterson will defend the sacred as a necessary expression of human struggle with inscrutable complexity and suffering. The debate will be moderated by UTSA's Matthew Gayford.

The event is being held at O.I.S.E. auditorium, 252 Bloor Street West. Admission is $5 general, cash at the door only, FREE for students and CFI members. Debate starts at 7 p.m. Seating begins at 6 p.m. Come early; seating will be on a first-come basis and is expected to be sold out.

Additionally, following the debate, the speakers will join us at a members only reception at CFI Ontario, 216 Beverley St (College & Beverly) for CFI members and UTSA staff/volunteers. Light food and refreshments will be served. Also, cash bar.

Lastly, if you'd like to volunteer at the event as an usher, please contact Mehdi Zabet.

Our website: http://www.uoftsecular.org/

Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4601782678#!/event.php?eid=148419578554053

Contact person: Mehdi Zabet @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The 2011-2012 Arts and Science Calendar is now available on line. Here is the connection:

http://www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/calendar/

The Classics material is available here: 

http://www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/calendar/crs_cla.htm

There are a number of changes to programs and courses resulting from the Faculty's process of Curriculum renewal. The main ones are:

(1) The cancellation of the Specialist Program in Classics

(2) the introduction of a new Second-year course on Theory and Methodology (CLA 260H1), required of students in all Major and Programs, and

(3) a 4th year advanced seminar (CLA 402H1 or 403H1), required of students in the Major program in Classical Civilization

(4)  Enhanced prerequsites for 300-level CLA seminars

(5)  A number of new 300-level seminars.

(1)  The specialist program in Classics ( =Greek and Latin) entirely overlapped with the separate Majors in GRK and LAT. There will be no new enrolments in this program. but comletion of the program will be recorded for students presently enrolled.

(2) and (3) will only be required of students who enrol in these programs in April 2011 or later;  but we hope that currently enrolled students will find these courses matach their interests and will choose to enrol in them. CLA 402 and 403 will be limited to graduating students in Classical Civilzation.

(4)  ROSI will monitor prerequsites for CLA 300-level courses as it does now; it will use the new prerequiste lists starting this summer. If students currently enrolled have difficulty meeting these new requirements, they should contact the Undergraduate Coordinator (undergrad.classics@utoronto) before attempting to enrol in the course.  ROSI will give you a place in the course if one is available, and then send a list of students who lack the prerequsite to the Undergraduate Coordinator. It will be easier for everyone if by the time he receives the list, he already knows your circumstances and does not need to contact you under extreme time pressure during the registration period.

(5)  We have tried to mount as many of the new courses as possible in 2011-2012. For the most part they are replacing courses with "generic" titles such as "Studies in......."

Please contact the Undergraduate Coordinator, preferably by e-mail, if you have concerns.

The final summer 2011 timetable is now available on the Arts and Science Website. Here is the link:

http://www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/timetable/summer/cla.htm