Skip directly to main navigation | secondary navigation | main content

Department of Classics

Cornell University Cornell University Cornell Univeristy Department of Classics

News Detail


Red-Figure Bell Krater

Red-Figure Bell Krater

Green Glass Bottle

Roman Glass Bottle

Vessel Lid

Lid of an Etruscan cinerary urn

Tablet

Portrait on a Roman funerary stele

Eagle

Jupiter and eagle

Previous ImageNext Image

Classics competes in Cornell's first ever Life Raft Debate

Imagine there has been an apocalyptic event; a group of survivors have found their way onto a lift raft; and one free seat remains. Competing for this seat are professors from four arts departments (and the devil's advocate who argues that no arts subject is worth surviving). Professors from Classics, Philosophy, Theater, Film & Dance, English, and finally Physics plead for the free seat and argue why their discipline should survive and contribute towards the creation of a new society.

Watch the video (1 hour; the Classics defense starts just after 5:00)