Name: Madeline Anscombe
Hometown: La Grange, IL
Major: anthropology
Favorite TV Show: Veronica Mars
Favorite place to eat in Tuscaloosa: Glorybound
How has your experience been as an out-of-state student? “It’s been pretty interesting, I thought I would be the only kid from Chicago in the south but could not have been more wrong. It’s nice knowing I’m not the only person who has no idea where Duluth is.“
What is it like being an anthropology major? “I love it! The department is super close and I love all of the faculty and students. I am fairly convinced that anthropology majors are the coolest people at this school. What makes anthropology so special is the involvement we have with the club. Everyone knows everyone even if you have not been in class with them.”
What do you love most about your major/research? “Other than everyone being so close, I love that archaeology (which is my subfield of anthropology) is all about solving the mysteries of the past. Our school is so lucky to be so close to Moundville, which is the largest Native American site in the country besides Cahokia. The department owns the land and just this last semester I took a class where I got to dig at Moundville twice a week. Not many people get to do that.”
What kind of research are you a part of? “Last year Sommer Halloquist ’18 and I studied children’s graves in Evergreen Cemetery across from Bryant-Denny. We showed our work in the Undergraduate Research Conference in which we placed second. We are both currently teaming up with Taylor Lawhon ’16 and the head of the anthropology department Dr. Ian Brown on an initiative to go to Greece this summer as part of the first University involvement in the country. We intend on excavating near Philip II’s tomb at the royal burials at Aegae in modern day Vergina.”
Do you have advice for any girls looking to get involved in research? “It’s worth putting yourself out there. Research is time consuming, but there is no better way to get involved.”
What are you passionate about? “I am very passionate about eliminating the threat of campus rape. One in every four girls who get on campus will be a victim of sexual assault or rape, and I want to do everything in my power to change the environment that fosters this behavior. I am passionate about justice and equality, especially where education is concerned.”