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Julie Levy (she/they), the Managing Director of SASA is an independent scholar with multiple higher degrees in ancient Greek and Roman studies, as well as a writer and activist. Their scholarly interests include archaeogaming, comparative history and linguistics, and Greek lyric poetry.  Julie Levy presented their most recent work, titled, "Dice Forge: Agency, Heroism, and the Gods on the Board," at the Celtic Classics Conference , which was held at Cardiff University on July 9-12. Julie presented their paper remotely as part of the ‘ ReConstructing and Narrativizing Antiquity through Contemporary Tabletop Gaming’ panel organized by Charles Oughton and Hamish Cameron. Julie Levy's presentation was the first paper of the session, offering a thought-provoking analysis of their game, Dice Forge,  a unique resource gathering game, within the context of Greek mythology. Below is the abstract of Julie’s paper: Dice Forge: Agency, Heroism, and the Gods on the Board "Board games offer a unique opportunity for asking questions of how players receive antiquity through a fictional lens. Using Dice Forge as an exemplum, this paper will explore questions of player agency, narrative incentivisation, and implied conclusions about the mythology received within the game. Dice Forge is a particularly interesting example for a few reasons.  The players take on the role of heroes in a competition for divine favor in a pantheon resembling the Greek gods, which is an unusually apt take on the ancient Greek view of heroism.  And perhaps most importantly, the main mechanic of the game is rolling dice, and the players can determine not what they will receive, but what the faces will be.  The physical aspect of the dice allows for a tactile recreation of more ancient games, and, as the divine tools of the heroes, those dice are 'forged' in the manner of Hephaestos forging armor for their mythic counterparts. This compares interestingly to other popular board games receiving Greek antiquity.  More often, games evoke the historical setting among the poleis, as in 7 Wonders or Attica.  Such games are often concerned with war or territory control.  Most often, the mechanics are abstracted. Dice Forge thus allows us to ask several meaningful questions about assessing the impact of reception in board gaming.  How does player positioning impact their understanding?  How do the mechanics of the game interact with the messaging of the narrative?  And how do the aesthetics of a game further its narrative?" A Closer Look Into Dice Forge : Dice Forge is a unique resource-gathering board game that seamlessly blends Greek mythology with innovative gameplay mechanics, setting itself apart from its counterparts in the ancient gaming genre. The game's standout feature is the ability for players to customize their dice, akin to the crafting of divine tools by Hephaestus, the Greek god of blacksmiths. By immersing players in a competition for the favor of the gods, Dice Forge swaps out the typical focus on war and territorial conquest for a deeper exploration of heroism and divine intervention. This shift in emphasis prompts players to reflect on the essence of heroism in the ancient world, creating a more thoughtful gaming experience. What truly sets Dice Forge apart is the element of player agency, where heroes actively shape their destinies by navigating challenges and seeking blessings. This engagement not only boosts player involvement but also aligns with the game's thematic resonance, mirroring the autonomy and valor celebrated in Greek mythological narratives. As players make choices, take risks, and reap rewards, they contribute to a cohesive storytelling experience that deepens their connection with the ancient world. Julie Levy’s presentation at the Celtic Classics Conference shed light on the intricate relationship between board games, ancient myths, and player engagement. Through her analysis of Dice Forge, Julie highlighted the importance of player agency, narrative incentivization, and thematic consistency in creating a compelling gaming experience. By bridging the gap between ancient history and modern gameplay, Julie’s research opens up new avenues for exploring and interpreting the stories of the past in a contemporary context. Contact: jlevy@saveancientstudies.org @zyllable on Bluesky and Mastodon Find my most recent writing on archaeogaming and language on Paizomen And my board game media criticism on my YouTube channel, Zylla’s Athenaeum

SASA's Teaching Ancient Studies: Continuing Education Reading Groups are small, informal discussion groups for K-16 educators. These groups offer a platform to earn continuing education units (CEUs) while exploring diverse topics in ancient studies. Each Reading Group is designed by its Group Leader, who curates engaging materials – including scholarly articles, primary sources, and multimedia resources – to foster lively discussion and enrich participants' perspectives. These materials are provided to participants beforehand and hosted on the designated Google Classroom for each course. At the weekly sessions, the Group Leader facilitates the discussion and may provide additional context to enhance understanding. While the first offering of these sessions took place in June, we plan to make them a yearly tradition alongside our text-in-translation reading groups. Description : A slide from Teaching Ancient Egypt. Using a tomb painting as an example, participants explored how to creatively use these works of art in the classroom. In this case, exploring using them to engage with the natural world, or ancient religion.  The blue box indicated educational standards that would apply to these topics. For this summer, we were able to offer 6 sessions this summer due to a grant from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation. These groups were: Pakal’s Legacy : The Boy King of Palenque and His Mythical Narratives (Led by Dr. Catherine Nuckols of Mesoamerican Studies Online) DiscOdyssey : An Ancient Voyage Through Modern Sounds (Led by John Hayden) Imperial Encounters : Material Culture under Roman Rule in Egypt (Led by Louise O’Brien) Sexuality and Power in the Ancient World  (Led by Yentl Love- The Queer Classicist) Decoding the Past : A Guide to Reading Archaeological Maps (led by Habiba Hussein El-Tayeb) Teaching Ancient Egypt  (Led by Paige Brevick) Exciting Additions! For this summer, Google Classroom was a new addition to our reading groups because we wanted a space where people could interact with the material and each other. We also want these groups not only to explore topics covered currently in classrooms, but also to explore teaching strategies and frameworks. -   Examples: DiscOdyssey helped link modern music with the classical world to encourage students to make these connections in their own modern lives.  Sexuality and Power introduced and helped participants apply Queer Theory to the ancient world. Description : Screen grab from the Google Classroom for Sexuality and Power in the Ancient World. Not only did participants have assigned readings, but group leaders were also able to add additional materials that related to conversations that occurred during weekly sessions Description : A slide from DiscOdyssey during a session where participants discussed the classical references in pop music. This slide takes images from Ariana Grande’s God is a Woman music video and explores the different visual references to the classical world including- the Participant Feedback Below is some participant feedback from various people who loved this initiative and their reasons why. “It was an excellent way to learn more about ancient history with specificity and to connect with other people who are passionate about ancient studies.” “The tour of ancient themes in a range of musical genres was expertly presented in a brilliantly informative and engaging way. I highly recommend the leader and course and will happily participate again anytime! Thank you so much for inspiration, discussion and challenge to think more widely and to make connections”. “I really enjoyed embarking on the "DiscOdyssey" lead by John Hayden and hosted by Kara Brown. The "DiscOdyssey - Ancient Voyage Through Modern Sounds" SASA CUE Reading Group allowed me the opportunity to stop and reflect on how the roots of Classical poetry were still actively being used in modern music and performance art. Such discussions allow modern researchers/students/etc., to remember to empathize with the past humans we often study as set data points and static time stamps. Would highly recommend taking the chance to join a SASA CEU Reading Group, or any SASA lecture, regardless if you know nothing or "everything" about Ancient Studies. Everyone deserves the chance to learn something new.”

We are beyond excited to welcome our new interns to Save Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA)! Thank you for choosing to join us in our mission to preserve and promote the study of ancient cultures and materials.  Aanya Agarwal, Access Team Kimberlly Baldwin, Inspire Team Brooke Bentley, Archaeogaming Team Danny Cavanna, Team Major Donor Samantha Dotson, Outreach Team Jayonna Griffin, Grant Writing Team Hannah Herzog, Inter-org Team Ankita Kumari, Fundraising Team Shuhan Liang, Outreach Team Charlotte Quint, Inter-org Team Laila Ramadan, Archaeogaming Team Haley Snyder, Access Team Disha Banerjee, Virtual. Conference Team Tara Bange, Access Team Shahana Begum, Data Analytics/ Executive/ Technical Team Sayantika Biswas, Fundraising Team Alison Cayetano, Virtual Conference Team Esther Cho, Research Team Asli Erem, Archaeogaming Team Hannah Gibbs, Outreach Team Kiersten Guzman, Mentoring Team Jaclyn Johnston, Grant Writing Team Sanket Mahana, Grant Writing Team Saikat Mondal, Access Team Da Hye Oh, Outreach Team Erin Passmore, Continuing Education Team Anne Poole, Research Team Tanya Pough, Inspire Team Madigan Shepherd, Inter-org Team Kavitha Sundaravel, Salesforce Team Madeline Weisbecker, Inspire Team A Closer Look Into Our Fall 2024 Interns: Charlotte Quint - We are pleased to introduce Charlotte Quint, a dedicated and driven third year Classical Studies student at the University of Exeter. Charlotte is apart of the Inter-org Team here at Saving Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA). Her professional experience includes participating in the Future Skills Program at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, where she crafted engaging events for all age groups and gained insight into museum operations. Charlotte's passion for education and cultural exchange was evident during her role as a Monitor and Activity Leader at the Heathfield International Summer School in Ascot, where she nurtured a supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, her tenure as the Publicity Secretary of the University of Exeter Calisthenics Society showcases her adeptness at social media management and event marketing. With a strong foundation in research, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, along with proficiency in Ancient Greek and Latin, Charlotte's academic pursuits reflect her keen interest in exploring the complexities of the ancient world and its societal implications. Her dissertation focus on funerary archaeology further underscores her dedication to unraveling historical mysteries and challenging contemporary perspectives. With her impressive track record and dedication to ancient and cultural studies, Charlotte is sure to make a valuable contribution to our Inter-org Team here at SASA. Sayantika Biswas - Sayantika Biswas, a dedicated history student with a background in India's Lost and Found Heritage, brings a wealth of research experience and a keen eye for analyzing historical topics to the Fundraising Team at Saving Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA). With a strong foundation in content creation, idea generation, and project realization, she is enthusiastic about leveraging her academic journey to make impactful contributions to SASA. Graduating with History Honors from Shri Shikshayatan College and currently pursuing her Masters in Modern History at the University of Calcutta, Sayantika has showcased her expertise by critically analyzing rare heritage sites in India, presenting research papers, and even contributing to published journals. Her proactive involvement in clubs and societies has honed her communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team, making her a valuable asset for SASA. With a focus on high-quality work delivered within set timelines and a strong aptitude for both independent and collaborative projects, Sayantika is ready to embrace the diverse opportunities that lie ahead while showcasing her skills in project management, public relations, teamwork, time management, leadership, effective communication, and critical thinking. Welcome to SASA Sayantika! We are absolutely thrilled to have our new interns with us and look forward to the dedication, fresh perspectives, and innovative ideas each one of you will bring. We are excited to embark on this journey with all of you and to host this wonderful cohort! Welcome to the SASA family!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Outgoing Interns As our current internship program draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible interns. Over the past few months, your dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work have made a profound impact on our mission at Save Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA). Achievements and Projects Olga Nikonenko helped regularize Professional Development and Tech Lesson events. Pemberly Farmer- Helped create the new tiers for recurring donors, helped design the revamp for the bazaar and assisted in developing strategies for increasing donor engagement and attendance. Pemberly has ended her internship in order to attend law school, we wish her all the best!  Lacey Liu- Decided to stay on with us as a volunteer after her internship ended. Lacey helped create and has been responsible for writing up the new donor engagement email that keeps our donors informed of all of the upcoming events that SASA will be holding for the month. These emails have successfully increased attendance at our Reading Groups and Master Classes over the Summer. We are glad to have her continued support! Both interns helped plan and run the fundraising teams' new donor appreciation events and monthly trivia nights. Research Mentoring Fundraising Taha Ahmad Kevin Lopez Cruz Pemberly Farmer Outreach Fundraising Virtual Conference Sarah Knowlton Lacy Liu/Hongyue Liu Andy Llamas Inspire Outreach Research Jade Peters Shasta Power Risha Priyanshi Research Communications Archaeogaming and Inter-org Luisa Short Agnes Tate Shania Winter Executive Yufei Xiong Fundraising Inter-org Outreach Hanna Brighi Arin Edwards Hongyu Guan Inter-org Executive, Managing, Director, Julie, Assistant Communications Caitlin Mann Olga Nikonenko Isabelle Olson Inspire Graphic Designer-Executive Grant Writing Tanya Pough Jason Sadel Sophia Staniunas Mentorship Research Graphic Designer-Executive Jenna Stuebs Kara Stogsdill Bethany Thompson Your time and effort have not only enriched our organization but also helped in preserving and promoting the study of ancient cultures. You have been a vital part of our team, bringing fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and unwavering dedication. As you move on to new adventures, we are confident that the skills and experiences you have gained here will serve you well. Whether you continue in the field of ancient studies or pursue other passions, we know you will achieve great things. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being an essential part of SASA. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and hope you stay connected with us. Remember, you will always be part of the SASA family.

The Save Ancient Studies Alliance is delighted to announce a new partnership with Flyover Zone, the world leading innovative technology company whose pioneering work in virtual reality opens new avenues for experiential learning of the ancient world. This collaboration represents a promising future for our mission to preserve and promote ancient history through cutting-edge technology.  Flyover Zone was founded in 2022 by Dr. Bernard Frischer, a leading figure in the field of virtual heritage and professor emeritus at University of California Los Angeles, University of Virginia, and Indiana University. Flyover’s team of experts creates immersive VR tours of ancient sites, combining modern aerial footage and 3D digital reconstructions. Their work brings wonders of the ancient world back to life, restoring them to the height of their former glory. By revitalizing the bright colors of the Parthenon's Frieze and the white limestone covers of the Pyramids of Giza, the work Dr. Frischer and his team reverses the sands of time to give their users a truly unique experience of the ancient world.  Through their proprietary platform, Yorescape, students take virtual field trips across the world to countries such as Egypt, Greece, and Italy, totaling to 15 locations to visit, and more in the works. Flyover Zone’s immersive VR tours of ancient sites and commitment to the education of its uses with the integrated explanations and lessons taught by experts aligns perfectly with SASA’s commitment to making historical education accessible and engaging for a global audience. This partnership perfectly encapsulates what the study of the ancient world can look like!  Featured in the Google Play store, New York Times, and the Smithsonian Magazine, Flyover Zone is recognized as a trailblazer in the use of VR for educational purposes. In May 2024 Flyover Zone expanded into the K-12 education space, supporting more teaching opportunities with shorter, more classroom friendly tours and audio lessons suitable for a range of students.   It is no wonder they have established partnerships with many colleges and universities across the US, and continue to expand their offerings. We are excited to invite educators, history enthusiasts, and the general public to engage with FlyOver Zone’s VR experiences. Stay tuned for more updates as we unveil how FlyOver Zone’s virtual tours can contribute to our Archeogaming Education Modules. We are grateful for this opportunity to continue our shared mission of safeguarding and celebrating the rich tapestry of ancient history. Links: http://www.flyoverzone.com/ https://yorescape.com/ Yorescape to Be Adapted for Use in K-12 Education

AEM Progress: Ancient Egyptian Religion Currently, we are wrapping up our new AEM on Ancient Egyptian Religion. We are in the final stages of sourcing sound effects and music, as well as assigning video game footage to sections of the script before sending to our amazing video editor from the   Savannah College of Art and Design !   This AEM focuses on aspects of ancient Egyptian religion, told from the perspective of the Sphinx of Giza, overseeing the changes in Egyptian civilization across time.  It  covers stories of Egyptian creation myths, astronomical events and deities, and introduces us to some of the rich characters that make up the Egyptian pantheon. Additionally, this AEM includes discussion on how stories become myth, how stories connect us as people, and where early Egyptian ideas about the world spread.  Our curriculum was built in consultation with Brian Smith , a lecturer in Egyptian religion at the University of Chicago. NEH Spotlight On the Humanities Award Starting in August 2024, the AEM Team will begin work on a new NEH Spotlight on the Humanities Grant , focused on expanding our current 6 AEM program to college-level coursework. This will include new videos for each AEM topic, as well as expanded lesson plans, slides, notes, and discussion activities. Each AEM will align with general Western Civ I courses, but just as with our middle-school AEMs, will be modifiable so that instructors can adapt the curriculum to meet their individual needs.. Moving the AEM program into college courses will also allow us to explore a broader range of topics in the classroom, including current political events, collaborative group projects, and structured field trips to museums both in-person and virtually. We are looking forward to this opportunity to share Archaeogaming's unique contribution to the field of ancient studies with undergrads next year! TEAM UPDATES!   Our AEM Team has expanded this year to include 2 new interns and a volunteer in Fall 2023, 1 new intern for Spring 2024, and we have 2 upcoming interns who are research specialists for Fall 2024 with the potential for more! We are so grateful for the support our interns and volunteers provide. In addition to the new faces, we have also seen growth within the core AEM Team, with last years’ volunteers stepping into grant-funded research roles.    The AEM program would not be possible without the collaboration of archaeologists, historians, educators, volunteers, and interns.  EQUIPMENT UPDATES!   We are happy to share that a portion of our grant supported the purchase of a new computer designated for the Archaeogaming Education Team and the creation of the AEM program. This computer will function as a critical resource for our team, as we now have a device available for continued Archaeogaming research and video production.   The computer is a state-of-the-art MIS Aegis SE 12TA-810US, which was recommended by our current Gaming Researcher, Evan Bowers. It runs on Windows 11, with an Intel Core i5-12400F CPU, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 graphics card, allowing future gaming team members the ability to play-through and record games in high resolution without image lag.

The   Ink of Ages Fiction Prize  is a new, exciting opportunity for short fiction writers with a passion for history and mythology, this contest has been organized by SASA’s long-term, non-profit partner   World History Encyclopedia  and generously sponsored by the largest university press in the world,   Oxford University Press .  The contest has been open for submissions since August 1st and will close on September 15th. All entries are free and accepted in English, for entrants 18 and over, submissions must be between 1,500 words and 2,000 words. For entrants aged 13 to 17, submissions must be between 800 and 1,000 words. The winners will be announced on February 24th 2025 and will receive an incredible range of prizes including online publication and promotion to over 8 million monthly readers around the globe! Founded by Jan van der Crabben in 2009, the World History Encyclopedia is an avid supporter of ancient studies, being the world's most-read history encyclopedia and the largest disseminator of ancient studies to the public. SASA is overwhelmingly excited to promote this contest as in our long, close partnership with WHE, we regularly join to organize, share, and promote events and media campaigns to encourage the study of antiquity at universities and engage young people with ancient history. This year, WHE streamed SASA’s annual 2024 Virtual Conference on their  YouTube,   Facebook,  and   Twitter .  WHE’s mission to engage with and improve historical education worldwide has been SASA’s mission since our beginning in 2020. With the support of publishing powerhouse Oxford University Press, we are confident that future possibilities to further engage a wider international community in our determination to and raise awareness for ancient studies will only continue to expand. It would be incredible to see the submissions from our volunteers, interns, and SASA employees for this contest, so if you are determined to share your short fiction then we highly encourage you to find details for the contest down below …  Enter your story  Contest Rules Email Updates

Alexander Vandewalle, a PhD candidate at the University of Antwerp and Ghent and Team Co-Leader of SASA’s Archaeogaming Live Team presented his research, “A Sense of the Past: Game Feel and Sensory Rhetoric as Medium in Historical and Mythological Games'' on June 4th at the hybrid conference “ New Directions in Classics, Gaming, and Extended Reality ”. Organized, sponsored and funded by Dr. Richard Cole, a lecturer of Digital Classics at the University of Bristol, this conference shines a light on a diverse range of researching perspectives of artistic and architectural culture from Ancient History and its various forms of representation through world building and storytelling in video games. This conference and its initiative to unite the interests of higher education and the gaming industry, for both education and entertainment, was hosted by The Bristol Digital Game Lab and generously sponsored by University of Bristol Faculty of Arts , Institute of Greece, Rome, and the Classical Tradition  and the Centre for Creative Technologies . This conference highlights the passions and goals of these talented practitioners, industry professionals, and the attendees. Using augmented and virtual reality, this conference explores and celebrates the connections between modern academic research, our technology-oriented world, and ancient history. As one of 24 presentations at the event, along with numerous demos and collaborative play sessions, Alexander presented on Tuesday alongside Gillian Marbury of Ohio State University and Victoria Rooney in a session discussing the experience of classics through the medium of Extended Reality and gaming. Alex’s presentation explores the experience of classical/historical reception through the perspective of game feel rather than through audiovisuals, items, or gameplay systems. Alex defines game feel as the way players “sensorially perceive a game and the way in which they control their in-game presence (e.g., their character),” applying it to both mythological/historical characters and the notion of historical lived experience in video games. Alex incites game feel for significant developments in gaming where discerning a sensory rhetoric has potential for connecting us with ancient history on a more intimate level. Alexander has previously collaborated in SASA’s Archaeogaming Education Program, on the module “All Roads Lead to Rome: Making and Maintaining the Roman Empire,'' for middle school. The module explores technologies that allowed for the spread and maintenance of the Roman Empire, as well as their cultural consequences, using games such as Assassin’s Creed Origins , Assassin’s Creed Valhalla , Total War: Rome II , and more.   By using video game footage and supporting materials in an engaging 'let's play' format, this method of teaching history aims to promote a better understanding of infrastructure through engaging entertainment, as described throughout classical history The Bristol Digital Game Lab and Alexander’s involvement have appeared like a lighthouse for us, and no doubt for academics and gaming enthusiasts with a shared interest in implementing ancient history into our present culture. SASA’s shared mission to celebrate and explore the world and mythology of ancient history through accessible, immersive mediums in video gaming and extended reality provides the basis for collaboration between higher education and the gaming industry, where the ability to further educate and excite finds an integral role with endless possibilities. For more details on …  Bristol Digital Game Lab: New Directions in Classics, Gaming and Extended Reality: Ticket Tailor Bristol Digital Game lab SASA’s Archaeogaming Education Program

Through accessible and engaging history, SASA aims to reignite passions for ancient research. It would not be possible to achieve this goal without our incredibly dedicated and talented Educational Ambassadors. SASA would like to take a moment to celebrate two of our ambassadors who have recently earned their PhDs, Catherine Nuckols and Tuhin Bhattacharjee. Catherine Nuckols is an art historian, epigrapher, and Latin Americanist. She specializes in Mayan art and writing, leading her to earn a PhD in Art History and Latin American Studies at Tulane University. Her dissertation, “Sun Gods and Forest Figures: Duality and Complementarity in Copán Stela D’s Full-Figure Inscription,” analyzes and contextualizes 8th century Mayan inscriptions. Nuckols is also the founder of Mesoamerican Studies Online, a blog that focuses on educating the general public about Mesoamerican cultures. Tuhin Bhattacharjee is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University. His work focuses on feminist, queer, Ancient Greek, and Indian philosophy. Bhattacharkjee’s dissertation, “I Killed My Mother: Desiring Mothers in Greek and Hindu Antiquity,” analyzes Ancient Greek and Hindu myths through a feminist lens, connecting it to modern day concerns around surrogacy and artificial insemination. In 2023, he earned his PhD in Comparative Literature from New York University. In addition to being an Educational Ambassador for SASA, Bhattacharjee is also a co-editor for Barricade: A Journal of Antifascism and Translation. As she has done six times before, Nuckols will lead one of our reading groups this summer to share her knowledge of Mesoamerica. Continuing a tradition he has successfully completed twice before, Bhattacharjee will lead a SASA reading group this summer concerning Plato. SASA is incredibly honored to have such talented ambassadors within our organization to assist us in our mission! RSVP NOW! “Entrances and Exits: Erotic Ascent and Descent in Plato’s Symposium” Tuhin Bhattacharjee Tuesdays @ 11am, July 2 - 16 “Pakal’s Legacy: The Boy King of Palenque and His Mythical Narratives” Catherine Nuckols (Mesoamerican Studies Online) Thursdays @ 3 pm, June 13 - July 11

Save Ancient Studies Alliance’s new project to advocate for Ancient Studies departments in jeopardy. As you may know, numerous Ancient Studies departments in universities across the globe are threatened with downsizing or have already shut their doors for good. For example, Howard University and Worcester University have recently terminated certain Ancient Studies departments, while others such as the renowned Archaeology program of the University of Sheffield are currently embattled. In response to this recent trend in closures, Save Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA) is starting a new journalistic project to investigate and report on these departments, shining a light on their histories, staff, and graduates, while reporting on the university funding difficulties and shifting priorities that are often involved. We fully understand that all of these issues have multiple aspects to them, and therefore the goal of this project is to report accurately on the situations from all sides. By developing an accurate, unbiased portrayal of specific cases, SASA aims to bring attention to the factors that lead to pressure on Ancient Studies departments, in the hopes of enabling solutions via compromise. SASA will draw on our collaborations with other Ancient Studies organizations, including the Society for Classical Studies and the Society of Biblical Literature, throughout this project. This project will work in conjunction with SASA’s Research Program to study the downward trend in Ancient Studies. Since there seem to be overarching themes occurring among universities struggling to keep their Ancient Studies departments open, this project will approach the overall issue through in-depth case studies as events are unfolding. At the same time, while discovering and educating the public on the roots of these issues, SASA also plans to bring attention to those affected, including the administrators, alumni, professors, and of course, Ancient Studies students. These unfortunate situations affect real lives, and many dedicated individuals suffer from uncertainty as they pursue their goals of researching and educating others about the ancient world. Together, we look toward solutions, in order to retain and reinvigorate the project that is Ancient Studies - the humanist search for self-understanding of contemporary cultures worldwide through investigation of the myriad forms of past societies. Over the coming months, SASA will dig deeper into the specifics of schools and departments, working to publish articles in appropriate forums. If you are interested in helping with this project or know about departments that are under threat, please reach out to us at daviddanzig@saveancientstudies.org.

This month, SASA held a booth at the 2023 New Jersey Council for the Social Studies (NJCSS) conference. The title of this year’s conference was "Continuity & Change: Social Studies Education in our 21st Century Classrooms". The NJCSS is a statewide association in New Jersey with 1,300 members devoted to social studies education and bringing together educators from all social studies disciplines, including history, economics, geography, psychology, and many more. Their members include educators from elementary to college levels and other professionals that share a commitment and passion for social studies. NJCSS members share the goal of working towards a better understanding of social studies and its importance. This aligns seamlessly with SASA’s mission, and so it was no surprise that our attendance at the conference was a great success! Victoria and Xi, members of the archaeogaming team at SASA, met with attendees of the conference to help share and promote SASA’s mission with educators and like minded individuals. They met with several teachers who expressed a desire to introduce interactive modes of teaching into their classrooms and expressed interest in our Archeogaming Education Modules (AEM). Archaeogaming is a new field of education that utilizes video game footage combined with tailored narration to provide an immersive and engaging learning experience for students. SASA’s Archeogaming Team has produced six modules that each focus on different concepts and societies from the ancient world. Our Archaeogaming Modules are single-lesson, all-in-one packages designed for 4th-6th grade curriculums and can be downloaded from SASA’s Archaeogaming Module Page free of charge! Educators who spoke with Xi and Victoria were receptive towards video games as a method to introduce students to ancient studies as an educational subject and increase their engagement with ancient studies. Xi and Victoria demonstrated the video feature of our AEMs and how this works in the classrooms. Teachers were particularly interested in the activities included within these modules. Each module includes a 10-minute video that explores a historical concept from the ancient world, a pre-prepared teacher’s packet that includes background information and context, quizzes, worksheets, games, translation exercises, and discussion questions! These modules cover topics such as ancient pottery, medieval Ireland, Vikings, medieval medicine, and many more, with more modules to come! During the second session of the conference, teachers returned with their colleagues to share our AEMs with them and spread awareness for our program. This enthusiasm from teachers demonstrated an encouraging interest from educators encompassing a wide range of grade levels, and they were thrilled to hear that the modules are free to use and more will be coming out within the next year. This pointed to an exciting and promising future for SASA’s archaeogaming modules in classrooms! Xi and Victoria also spoke to other professionals, including authors and scholars, who expressed interest in SASA’s more general mission. Overall, this was an exciting day for the SASA team to speak to like minded professionals who are just as excited about promoting ancient studies as we are!

Isegoria (ἰσηγορία) roughly translates as ‘the right to express one’s views freely and equally.’ The UK-based publishing house embodies this name by challenging restrictive elements of the academic world and bridging gaps between scholars worldwide; they aim to provide an accessible, free, and digital platform allowing scholars to both publish and access ancient studies content. Founders Manolis and Stefanos, both classicists and professional editors, carried out years of research to identify barriers in the academic world. They sought to surmount these barriers by establishing Isegoria. Their first project began with the creation of the Pnyx journal: a journal made accessible for both authors and readers alike. The Pnyx is a platform for researchers to present their work without the costs or limitations that restrict so much of the publishing world. The platform makes it possible for scholars around the world to upload resources, papers, and educational materials at no expense. The general public may then access the resources at no additional cost. Diversity is a huge part of Isegoria’s mission. Although The Pnyx is in English, they encourage authors to provide abstracts in their language of choice, allowing them to speak to local and international audiences. They also offer free language editing services to remove language barriers and support colleagues from around the world. This digital, open access journal publishes articles covering the vast chronological span of 700 B.C. to the Byzantine Empire – in varied fields from literature and history to papyrology and epigraphy! As an organization, Isegoria, much like SASA, has grown in the last few years, and our shared efforts to create a more inclusive space for information-sharing and education in Ancient Studies has grown with us. Some highlights of Isegoria’s recent work include introducing the first ever Greek Epigraphy course in Mexico and running courses at three universities in Brazil. They have also held expert-led panels on the future of Classics in sub–Saharan Africa, as their mission to increase scholarly access spans worldwide. At the moment, they are ready to publish their 4th issue of The Pnyx and are in the process of publishing two new edited volumes. Isegoria’s mission overlaps with that of our own at Save the Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA), to make Ancient Studies more accessible and to provide a space for collaboration among like-minded scholars. We are so excited for what the future holds for both Isegoria and our partnership which will support both of our missions and ultimately increase the effort towards dissemination of information about the classics, archaeology, and the humanities.