U. sets up new living learning program

The Ancient Studies/University Museum program will be housed on the 14th floor of High Rise East. Students fascinated by ancient civilizations and museum work will be able to take their interests home with them this fall as a new residential program comes to life on the 14th floor of High Rise East. The Ancient Studies/University Museum Residential Program is the only completely new program to enter the high rises this fall in conjunction with the University's college house plan, which will reorganize all University residences into 12 houses with enhanced programming by next fall. When administrators released the plan in September, they emphasized the new system's ability to support a host of smaller specialized residential programs within the houses. Officials recently confirmed that the community service program, formerly housed in the Castle at 36th Street and Locust Walk, will move to the 12th floor of High Rise North. Both programs will likely displace any current residents who wish to retain their rooms on those floors but do not want to join the programs. Most residents of the 14th floor of HRE said they do not plan to remain on the floor regardless of the new program. Students participating in the Ancient Studies program would participate in trips to museums as well as a "whole range of formal and informal activities," according to Chris Dennis, director of Academic Programs and Residence Life. The Ancient Studies program was developed in tandem with the new, interdisciplinary Center for Ancient Studies and the Ancient Studies minor, which was finalized last fall. Until students begin the room selection process next month, it is difficult to estimate how many people will be interested in the program, which could house about 30 students on the floor. But administrators say that's not a problem. Art History Professor Holly Pittman, who created the program, said it is "open to anybody." If vacant rooms remain, housing officials will fill them through the lottery process. If the program has more applicants than spaces, it could expand to other floors. Pittman, a scholar of ancient Near Eastern art and a curator for the University Museum, said she was seeking a way to involve the Museum in academic programming in the College Houses. Students studying a broad range of subjects -- including anthropology, archaeology, art history, philosophy and classical studies -- may be especially interested in the program, Pittman said. Art History Professor David Brownlee, chairperson of the college house planning committee, said the program is being offered as an "open invitation" for students to mold it into what they want. "It's being advertised as an opportunity," Brownlee said. "It's like putting an advertisement in the newspaper to see if there's a group of people who'd like to form a barbershop quartet." Residents of the 14th floor of HRE who want to retain their apartment for next year can either join the Ancient Studies residential program or be guaranteed the same room type on another floor, Dennis said. The program will house a graduate associate, and several associate faculty members who live off-campus will be available to lend their time to the group. Pittman said at least three of her colleagues have expressed interest in joining her as associate faculty members of the program.