Program Activities

The Classical Studies program at Bard offers a variety of enjoyable activities for students involved in its courses. We are in the process of expanding these offerings, and are very much open to the suggestions of our students.

Towards the end of Fall semester, students of courses in the program and faculty join to celebrate the Saturnalia. This Roman festival, the ancestor of Christmas, was traditionally a time at which social roles were reversed: slaves were allowed to command their masters, and the latter had to obey. At Bard we have not yet implemented this aspect of the traditional Saturnalia. Our celebration does, however, include copious amounts of food and drink prepared by students and faculty (much of the food is based on authentic ancient recipes), and a variety of entertainment produced by students and faculty together.

The program also annually celebrates the coming of spring with an outdoor party. Here too copious quantities of food and drink are the rule; the spring party also features entertainment provided by students and faculty.

Spring 2005 featured a reading of Sophocles' Oedipus Colonus by Bard and Vassar College students.