3 min read

End-of-semester news

Hello All,

I am reaching out as President of SAMR to express my thanks to all of you who have likely worked very hard to research, teach, and/or serve our field in recent months. We can be underappreciated folks, even as we keep our field alive and flourishing!

I am also writing regarding a few news items below.

Wishing you a wonderful summer,

Zsuzsa Varhelyi

  1. SAMR joined over 250 scholarly organizations as an endorser of  the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure (https://www.aaup.org/report/1940-statement-principles-academic-freedom-and-tenure). The list of endorsers (https://www.aaup.org/endorsers-1940-statement) includes most of the major disciplinary societies and professional associations in the United States, including the American Academy of Religion, the Society for Classical Studies, and the Society of Biblical Literature, among many others.
  2. We are starting a new syllabus collection initiative! While there is no endpoint to this project, we would like to make a database of sorts available exclusively for our members... which requires that you submit your syllabi before you put them away for the semester. In case you are a perfectionist (like I can be, perfect is the enemy of good... (I always fantasize about changing things around to make the course better...)  So please submit your syllabi at your earliest convenience here: https://forms.gle/5pPwofLHbWPUo3ZNA  
  3. Last but not least, I am excited to update you on the fall conference, The Connected Past: Religious Networks in Antiquity, organized by our colleague (and SAMR member), Megan Daniels, with the support of The Connected Past,  and the UBC Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies, and of course The Society for Ancient Mediterranean Religions. The conference will take place on the  The University of British Columbia's Vancouver Campus from October 3 to 6, with an optional Network Science Workshop from October 2 to 4. For further details, see below. If you have any questions, please contact: Megan Daniels (connectedpast2024@gmail.com)

Details:
Conference Dates: Oct. 4th-6th 2024 + Optional Network Science Workshop: Oct. 2nd-3rd 2024

Schedule:
Wednesday, Oct. 2nd: Optional Network Science Workshop, 9 am - 4 pm Thursday, Oct. 3rd: Optional Network Science Workshop, 10 am - 4 pm
Thursday, Oct. 3rd: Conference Keynote and Opening Reception starting at 5 pm
Friday, Oct. 4th: Conference, Day 1, 8:30 am - 5:30 pmSaturday, Oct. 5th: Conference, Day 2, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday, Oct. 6th: Conference, Day 3, 9 am - 1 pm
Conference fees: $100 regular; $50 concessional
Registration links for Conference and Optional Network Science Workshop coming soon.
Preliminary program coming soon

Travel and Accommodation:Getting to VancouverAirport: Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The next closest airport is Abbotsford, but it is at least two hours away. Seattle is a four-hour bus ride with a border crossing. More detailed information on airport transportation to UBC campus to be sent to registered participants closer to the conference.
AccommodationsHotel on Campus:Rooms have been blocked at Gage Suites, directly on campus, for Oct. 3rd-6th. Registered participants will be sent a booking code for these dates, or you may contact connectedpast2024@gmail.com.Reservations Office at (604) 822-1000, Ext. 3, or toll free at 1-888-822-1030
Alternatives on Campus:West Coast Suites: https://suitesatubc.com/
Carey Centre: https://live.carey-edu.ca
Triumf House: UBC accommodations for researchers using their particle accelerator. Rooms are reserved for those researchers, but they do get openings and cancellations throughout the year, so you could contact them and ask to be added to the wait list: https://triumfhouse.ca/
Green College: a graduate student college with a few private rooms with ensuite bathrooms set aside during the year for guest accommodations: https://greencollege.ubc.ca/guest-accommodations
Alternatives close to Campus:Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfasts, and AirBNB in nearby neighbourhoods:- Point Grey- Kitsilano- Dunbar- KerrisdaleThese would all be about a 10ish minute Uber/Taxi drive
Nearby hostel (with a few private rooms): HI Vancouver Jericho Beach: https://hihostels.ca/en/destinations/british-columbia/hi-vancouver-jericho-beach
Alternatives farther from Campus:Downtown Vancouver - there are a variety of hotels, of all types. For those coming earlier or staying later for tourism, downtown is also much more lively and connected than UBC. Two things to be aware of:- Distance from campus (at least a 25-minute bus ride, possibly longer in rush hour- Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) will be taking place downtown during our conference. It's not as big as the Cannes or Toronto Film Festivals by any means, but hotels will still book up, so do act early. Hotels may also be more expensive due to the VIFF.