The Wake

If you ever find yourself banging rocks together or drawing hieroglyphics on your apartment walls, then you may be perfect for the self-proclaimed, “loud, dysfunctional, and eccentric family” that is the Anthropology Club.

The University of Minnesota has the oldest continuously running undergraduate anthropology club in the nation. Though the club is affiliated with the Anthropology Department, they are a close-knit group of about 40 members that like to have fun.

“It’s a very welcoming group,” says co-president Sara Falteseck. “I was made to feel included on my second day here. I really found a home”

Falteseck, with co-president Kate Gardener, plan the year’s events. Their biggest event, going on its 30th year, is the annual Undergraduate Anthropology Conference which will be held during April of 2008 in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The club invites schools from across the Midwest as well as other related departments at the U. The theme this year’s conference is “anthropology of death,” and the keynote speakers include a researcher of body decomposition from the Tennessee Body Farm, and another who studies corpse animation pranks in Ireland.

The second big event sponsored by the club is the Paleolithic Picnic, which will be held on October 13th. At the picnic, students will get the chance to try some of the daily tasks of prehistoric humans, such as making stone tools for processing an animal carcass.

“It is bitching good fun!” exclaims Falteseck, describing the picnic.

The Anthropology Club meets every Tuesday in 385 Hubert Humphry Hall at 5 p.m. They also have a movie night every other Thursday in 105 Blegen Hall at 6:30 p.m. All majors are welcome to attend.