Teaching staff from Classics trialled a new look, all in a good cause, on the first-ever Day of the Toga at the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. You’d have been forgiven for thinking that you’d travelled in time on Tuesday, 28 October, when a crowd gathered in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology dressed in togas. Luckily, this was no mass hallucination but the first Day of the Toga to raise money for charity.Madison Bruce and Anna Nimmo – HCA students and organisers of the event – explained, "We wanted to run a fundraiser that was quite light-hearted with a silly but topical incentive to donate. We figured this would be a good way to raise money, involve the wider student body, and create a sense of unity within the Classics department."For each fundraising goal, lecturers’ names or ‘champions’ were drawn from a pool of academic staff who had agreed to take part, and wear a toga or stola, the traditional garment of Roman women, or a himation, an outer garment worn by ancient Greeks. The response was even better than Madison and Anna could have anticipated, with the fundraising goal smashed and real excitement from HCA students, academics and Professional Services staff. Standing: Dr Donncha O'Rourke, Dr Julia Hoffmann-Salz, Dr Louise Blanke, Dr Benjamin Harriman, Dr Nicolette Pavlides, Dr Luke Houghton, Dr Aaron Pelttari, Professor Eberhard Sauer, Dr Calum Maciver, Dr Lina Girdvainyte, Dr Alex Imrie, Dr Yannis Stouraitis; Seated: Professor Andrew Erskine, Professor Lucy Grig, Thelma (CHAS), Professor Gavin Kelly, Professor Niels Gaul, Professor Douglas Cairns; Kneeling (Classics Society Committee Members): Stuart Goldie (Treasurer), Harry (President), Madi and Anna (Charities and Outreach Officers), Livvie Stephens (Social Secretary), Luna Nazir (Secretary) “The effort put in by the lecturers — from figuring out a peplos, a shawl worn by women in ancient Greece, to assembling superb costumes — has been outstanding and has made the day a huge success. And, of course, we couldn't have had the Day of the Toga without the many and generous donations, small or large, from lecturers, students and family members alike.”Day of the Toga raised £1379 for CHAS, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, and CHAS volunteer Thelma was present to join in the togatastic fun. The Society will also donate 10% of the total raised towards subsidising ‘Hadrian’s Ball’, an annual Society event, so that it can be more affordable and accessible for students.Plans are already in place to make Day of the Toga an annual event, a sentiment expressed by everyone involved.Valete until then! Publication date 03 Nov, 2025
