One Week Countdown. . .
First, we're wishing all our attendees more direct travel than Mr. Clifford! As you get ready to join us, here are some helpful details and reminders for your planning and packing.
Reading
Put simply, you'll get more out of the conference if you've completed everything before you arrive; the small group discussions form the heart of our intellectual community (You don't want to earn the nickname "Camilla Stanley" - lol).
We strongly encourage you to bring the conference edition of Austen's Teenage Writings (Oxford World Classics) and Lady Susan (Wordsworth Classics) so that we are all on the same page, so to speak. If you are feeling behind on your reading, The Austen-Curious Reader series and coverage of other book clubs on the blog can help bring you up to speed.
Don't forget you can order books from Jane Austen Books (and may still have time to have them delivered to you in Chapel Hill). Your TBR is probably going to be longer after the conference - trust me, you'll want to read Maria Grace, Sayantani DasGupta, and Whit Stillman's adaptations as well as scholarly and historical work by other speakers! - Jane Austen Books will be the perfect resource to find all those titles you're curious about.
You'll also find some select titles at Student Stores, a short walk from Murphey on the UNC campus! Grab some before Saturday's book signing!
Campus Life
The majority of our meetings will be in Murphey Hall on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. Those of us staying in dorms will be bunking in Winston Residence Hall, a convenient walk away. See the interactive map for details. Within Murphey Hall, keep an eye out for clever signage directing you to the proper room for panels, discussion groups, Elevenses (tea with scones and clotted cream!), and other important locations. There will also be JASP interns and volunteers on hand to direct you.
Check-in for dorm lodging will take place from 2 to 4 PM on Wednesday, June 14, at Winston, 301 South Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Associate Director Jennifer Abella will be staying in the dorm and can help any latecomers check in after 4 PM. If you registered for a double-occupancy room and did not list a specific roommate, you have been assigned one. Dorm registrants arriving Wednesday will still need to check in for the symposium at Murphey on Thursday for your badge, tote bag, etc. If you are arriving Thursday, please go directly to Murphey Hall to check in for JASP and lodging.
In this blog, a current student offers some must-see locations on campus.
Packing
If you're staying in the dorms: The dorm has very basic accommodations (bed, desk, chair, etc.) and communal showers/bathrooms. Please bring your own linens, pillows and towels (unless you have rented linens through JASP), as well as toiletries and any other furnishings/items you may require, such as a mirror, reading light, or hangers. You may want waterproof sandals for the shower, and a toiletries caddie of some sort.
For everyone:
As you may know, June in North Carolina is damp. Expect afternoon rain showers and bring an umbrella or rain jacket to keep you dry.
Don't forget chargers for your electronics! You're going to want to be able to snap pictures and look up titles throughout the weekend.
If you prefer old-school notes, make sure to slip a notebook and pen into your luggage.
You'll be glad to have comfortable walking shoes to get you around campus without blisters.
A folding fan may help you keep your cool, and will double as a charming accessory for the Ball.
Sustenance
Grab a new friend and check out one of the local eateries between JASP events! This handy interactive map has local favorites marked. There are more detailed recommendations on this recent blog.
Friday through Sunday, there will be Elevenses served in Murphey Hall - tea, scones, and homemade clotted cream! The dorm will also have a small fridge that lodgers can share if you need to stash something, a la Charlotte Luttrell (please give priority to any medications folks need to keep refrigerated).
Time Management
You'll get a paper copy of the program when you check in, and you can also bookmark it on your device. As you'll see, there is never a dull moment! Keep an eye on the online version in case of last-minute changes (all of which will be announced as well). You can find additional information about most of the workshops on our blog site.
Please note the events from the International Society for Literary Juvenilia (ISLJ), to which JASP attendees are welcome. The ISLJ also issues this invitation:
Please join us for the ISLJ Lunch Roundtable on Thursday from 11:30pm-12:30pm in the Parklands room at Murphey. Feel free to bring your own lunch or pick up lunch from one of our many on-campus options. You may also elect to order one of these options from Panera. By placing a lunch order through us, you will be able to pick up your lunch at the main registration table at Murphey Hall right before the roundtable. (Orders due by noon EST on Wednesday, June 14)
Off Campus Event
On Friday night we'll have a chance for Q & A with Whit Stillman, fellow Austen fan and director of Metropolitan and Love and Friendship (adaptation of Lady Susan). We'll speak with him and then watch Love and Friendship at the Varsity Theatre (find it on the map). If you'd like to watch the film ahead of time, it's available for streaming on Amazon; you can also read more about it in our recent blog.
Dancing
Hopefully no one will have a toothache like Kitty's that prevents them from enjoying the splendors of our Regency Ball, complete with live music from the Syllabub Players. Jack Maus, our Dance Master, will hold practices with us on Thursday and Friday.
For practice and the Ball, flat, comfortable footwear is strongly suggested. Marianne Dashwood is the only person on whom a sprained ankle has ever looked cute. Regency gear is encouraged but not required. Rental garments - gowns, jackets, hats, and miscellaneous pieces of male attire - are available for nominal fees (see program for details on when the shop is open.)
See this blog for more details about the dances and this one about Ball deportment. This page has a gallery of the dance videos.
Jane Austen Summer > Hot Girl Summer
JASP is a wonderful chance to make new friends (there's a reason people slip and call it Jane Austen Summer Camp. . .) - after all, you already have Jane Austen in common! You'll find kindred spirits in your discussion group, in line for scones, and in the dance practices. If you feel the urge to share your adventures on social media, please use the tag #JASP2023.
The JASP PR team will be updating our socials throughout the weekend as well - Instagram Lives, Tiktok Lives, Live-tweets of panels, and Facebook Lives, so if you're following along from home, check the tag to find the latest report on the platform of your choice.
Swag Yourself
There will be a few t-shirts available at the conference. You can also order a customized option here (note: probably will not arrive before you depart for the conference).
You will probably see more than one JASPer sporting Georgie Castilla's 2023 "More Pride, Less Prejudice" design (featured on our socials). You can order your own here (note: probably will not arrive before you depart for the conference).
And, as always, you can find JASP merchandise here.
Above all, bring your curiosity and camaraderie, ready to exchange ideas and learn together.
And if you want a soundtrack while you pack, we've got you covered!
More of a podcast person? We've got you covered there, too! Check out the titles in this blog.