Greek and Roman influence on the liberal arts is the focus of next week’s Center for Constructive Alternatives “Classical Greece and Rome.” The event runs from Sunday, Feb. 5 through Wednesday, Feb. 8. 

According to the CCA website, the classics are an essential part of education nearly lost in modern schools. This decline in serious study of the classics began with the “influence of historicism” in the late 1800s. 

The program features presentations on Greek and Roman governments, classical literature, and philosophy. Speakers include Professor of History Barry Strauss of Cornell University and Mark A. Kalthoff, Henry Salvatori chair in History and Traditional Values and professor and chairman of History. 

Sophomore Elke White looks forward to diving deeper into philosophical ideas from her Constitution class in the “Xenophon’s Socrates” presentation.

“My professor was talking about the difference in presentation of Socrates from Plato’s perspective and Xenophon’s perspective,” White said. “That presentation caught my eye when I saw it on a poster in the union, and I’m excited to hear more about it next week.”

Sophomore Andrew Klare looks forward to hearing from professors at the faculty roundtable.

“I think it will be very interesting to hear what the different professors and departments have to say about the classical world,” Klare said. “It will provide some perspective on just how wide ranging the impact of the Romans and Greeks have been on all of western development from politics to literature.”

Senior Elizabeth Oxaal’s lifelong interest in classical Greece and Rome inspired her to register for the CCA.

“I became interested in Greece and Rome as a kid because I wanted to be an archeologist, but became interested in the history of those societies as I got older and came to Hillsdale,” Oxaal said. 

Klare’s said he also grew up interested in the classical world. 

“I decided to take the CCA because the classical world has always intrigued me,” Klare said. “Since I was little, I’ve loved learning about the ancient Romans and their contribution to our world today. From the Founding of the Republic to the rise of Constantine, it is amazing what the Romans were able to accomplish in their molding of western civilization.”

Preparing to graduate at the end of the semester, Oxaal said she is looking forward to her final CCA.

“What a great way to round out my Hillsdale education,” Oxaal said. “It’s a week full of interesting lectures about civilizations that founded the liberal arts.”