Classical Studies Newsletter, Volume VII, Summer 2002

The Arthur and Mary Platsis Endowment Fund in the Greek Classical Legacy

By Anne Shore

Classical Studies is the recipient of a new endowment. The Arthur and Mary Platsis Foundation and George and Barbara Platsis have provided a gift to the University for the benefit of the Modern Greek Program in Classical Studies and Comparative Literature.

The Arthur and Mary Platsis Endowment Fund in the Greek Classical Legacy will serve two purposes. Distributions from the fund will support the annual Arthur and Mary Platsis Symposium on the Greek Classical legacy and the annual Arthur and Mary Platsis Prizes to the best undergraduate and graduate work relating to the Classical legacy.

The creation of the Platsis Endowment Fund was announced this past year at the opening of Hellenic Cultural Month at the Michigan Union on October 12, 2001 before an audience of 150 people. On that occasion, George Platsis expressed that the gift to the Modern Greek Program is a gift to his parents who were modern, American, and Greek. “Mother and Father would be pleased if their Endowment fosters an essentially American view of life based on the lives of Washington, Madison and Lincoln and the best principles of ancient Greek thought and traditions that have served Western civilization so well,” Mr. Platsis said.

“War and Democracy,” the inaugural Platsis Symposium, is being planned for September 22-23, 2002. Three keynote speakers, Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University; Josiah Ober, Princeton University and Michael Zuckert, University of Notre Dame will address the symposium from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. on September 22 in the Vandenberg Room of the Michigan League, with responses by University of Michigan faculty. On September 23, the three speakers will discuss “War and Democracy in the Age of Terrorism” at 4:00 also in the Vandenberg Room. Christopher Logues “War Music” performed by Verse Theater Manhattan, will follow in the evening at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater at 8:00 pm. The winner of the first Platsis Prize will also be announced at the symposium.
The C. P. Cavafy Professorship in Modern Greek Studies is responsible for carrying out the intended purposes of the fund, assisted by the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts in the planning of this inaugural event. 
INDEX of TOPICS
  • Letter from the Chair
  • C.P. Cavafy Inaugural Address
  • Modern Poet, Ancient Artifacts in the Kelsey Museum
  • Ancient Poetry, Modern Poetry - Discussing Cavafy
  • Witchcraft: Reaching Undergraduates in a New Way
  • Intellectual Poets in Theory and On Stage
  • Ancient History Graduate Program
  • Arthur and Mary Platsis Endowment
  • Upcoming Department Events
  • Email Us!