The Classics Club may be an organization focused on old topics, such as the civilizations of Ancient Greece and Rome, but it's just beginning at Elon. The club has not had an official meeting yet but it had a general interest meeting and is looking to plan more events for this year.
"The Classics refers mainly to antiquity studies," said junior Elizabeth Floyd, president of the new club.
She cited Roman and Greek culture as examples of subjects the club might focus on.
Floyd played a major role in creating the club and getting it to the level of an approved student organization. But she also gave credit to Kristina Meinking, professor of foreign languages.
"She is really the driving force behind the club," Floyd said. "She is so passionate about the classics and creating a community of students who are, as well."
She said Meinking inspired her to start the Classics Club.
"It was Meinking's passion for the classics that really pushed me to want to help create this community on campus," Floyd said.
She said the process to make the Classics Club an approved student organization was complex, but also easy in a way.
"The people I talked to in order to get the club approved seemed just as interested as Professor Meinking and I were," she said.
A goal Floyd hopes to accomplish with the club is collaboration with some nearby colleges that also have classical programs, such as the University of North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Wake Forest and Duke, to hold symposiums, speakers and community building events. Floyd also said she hopes the club will host smaller events, such as movie nights.
"I want to help create opportunities and a community for students passionate about the classics," she said.
Floyd also hopes the Classics Club will help to increase student interest in the subsect. She said she believes studying the classics is both important and valuable because students who learn about them will reap the educational benefits in their other classes.
"Studying classics helps so much in every aspect of the liberal education program," she said.
Floyd said it's important that Elon has a Classics Club because of the population of students who would like to learn more about ancient cultures but can't fit such courses into their schedules.
"I have been talking to so many freshmen who cannot fit the classical studies minor into their plan of study, but love classics," she said. "This club allows them to pursue this interest outside of the curriculum."
Floyd also wants to help build the Elon Classical Studies program, and she hopes that creating a community of students passionate about antiquity will help this goal.
"It gives students a historical perspective as they learn how the Western tradition came to look like it does in the modern world," she said.
While the civilizations that shaped the world are long gone, the Elon club that hopes to bring them back into campus consciousness is just getting started.