THE OJCL TORCH: FALL EDITION 9
The South OJCL meetup during nationals!!
3. What has already been done?
So far, our biggest project has been the Classicist of the Week Instagram series, which has spotlighted 11 different female, LGBTQ+, and/or BIPOC classicists.
It highlighted their work and featured their thoughts on DEI in classics/antiquity, and I’m really proud of that project because it’s brought awareness to so many incredible scholars and individuals. We’ve received messages from JCLers talking about how glad they are to be learning both about these classicists’ work and about more diverse perspectives in classics. I’ve also represented the OJCL at discussions at Nationals regarding DEI, where I had conversations with the past NJCL President and other state presidents about the OJCL’s work.
4. How does this initiative aim to increase DEI across JCL not only in Ohio, but on a national scale?
This initiative really takes on a national scale because it revolves around an issue that’s so crucial, not just in Ohio but around the nation. Many states held Rent-a-Roman events--extremely problematic mock slave auctions--and the NJCL has recently evaluated its song and creed for white supremacist ties. From the Classicist of the Week project to the recommendations for educators that I mentioned above, the OJCL’s work has attracted national attention and can easily be shared or replicated in other state JCL chapters