In the face of ongoing protests in Iowa City and the disgraceful actions of our local law enforcement against protesters on the night of June 3rd, we are writing in support of and in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and BLM protesters around the world. The Department of Classics stands with Iowa City protesters in demanding justice for police brutality and for all violations of Black life, including the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others.

The Department of Classics is excited to announce that five Classics students and TAs have received Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards by the Council on Teaching. This award recognizes teaching assistants who have demonstrated outstanding ability as teachers at the University of Iowa.

Homerathon 2020 is organized by the University of Iowa Department of Classics and Eta Sigma Phi, the undergraduate honors society for classics students. Under normal situations, it is read aloud in person in a public spot on UI's campus. Readers sign up to participate in a continuous reading of Homer’s texts. Last year, we read all of the Iliad and half of the Odyssey over the course of 23 straight hours. This year, we're reading just the Odyssey (in English translation, of course!).