This year, Classics @ Brown held our third annual Button Badge Competition!  We asked all undergraduates in Classics courses to create a design that they felt represented Classics at Brown University.  Each year, the chosen image will be printed on a button badge and stickers as a fun way to show appreciation for the department and identify their fellow classmates. Thanks to a generous donation from a Classics alum, the winning submission was able to receive a $200 gift card to the Brown University Bookstore.  Catherine Nelli and Srinaath Perangur, both class of 2023, co-created this year’s winning design. 

Below is the design inspiration Cartherine and Srinaath submitted with their image:

Our design expresses the connections between the Greco-Roman tradition (represented by the laurel wreath) and the Indian tradition (represented by the Sudarshana Chakra). Both are symbols of battle and victory, and they are here intertwined to depict the shared histories of the cultures. The Classics Department at Brown, forming the third ring, connects the wreath and chakra through the studies of Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin classics.

Congratulations to Cartherine and Srinaath on their beautiful and thought-provoking design!