The Core 100 program invites students and faculty from the College to join us for our weekly lecture series. Each week, all of the first-year students participate in lecture-discussions with about 400 of their classmates. We have space in the Center for the arts (Building 1P) Williamson Theatre to accommodate individual guests and can have as many as two additional classes at each of the lectures. No permission is needed for classes to attend, but please notify Donna Scimeca (718.982.3405) if you plan to bring a class.

 

The lectures are 50 minutes and are all in the Williamson Theatre. They meet on the following days/times: Wednesdays at 12:20pm; on Thursdays at 8:00am, 10:10am, and 6:30pm; and on Saturdays at 10:10am.

The Lecture Series Schedule for Week of February 27, 2017:

Wednesday, Mar. 1:

-12:20pm: “The Constitution,” presented by William Fallon

This lecture will provide an overview of the Constitution of the United States of America. It will probe the scope of its powers, its limitations, and also the guarantees afforded to all citizens through the Bill of Rights.

William Fallon is an Adjunct Lecturer in his fourth semester with the Core 100 Program. He graduated with a Master’s degree with Distinction from the College of Staten Island in History in January 2014. His focus is 20th-Century U.S. history and foreign policy.

Thursday, Mar. 2:

-8:00am and 10:10am: “The Constitution, Part 2,” presented by Rosemary McCall

This lecture will discuss the “checks and balances” and “executive power” of the Constitution, citing the Youngstown Steel Seizure Case (1952).

Rosemary McCall is a graduate of Brooklyn College/CUNY. She holds advanced degrees from University of South Carolina and GWU National Law Center. This is her eighth year teaching Core 100.

-4:40pm: “Corelandia,” presented by Victor Miller and Vincent DePaolo

Last week in Corelandia: Students were given the rules and procedures of how the game will be played. They were instructed as to what they can and cannot do in gameplay situations, according to their objectives in their role sheets. Also, a mini Reacting to the Past game was played to provide students with an understanding of what to expect during actual Corelandia game play.

This week in Corelandia: Political factions begin the debate on the formation of the Corelandian government. Each faction will discuss their ideas with all of Corelandia, and the Indeterminates will ask the tough questions to see where their faction stands. Indeterminates are persuadable to other factions’ ideas. So persuade, persuade, persuade.

Victor Miller earned a BA in History at the College of Staten Island in 2005 and an MS in Adolescent Education in 2008. He has been an Adjunct of Core 100 since February 2012 and currently also works for the Center for Advising and Academic Success. Professor Miller is the of author of the “Summer of ’87” Reacting to the Past classroom simulation and also recently served on the Core 100 textbook editing committee.

Vincent DePaolo previously was an Adjunct Instructor at Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus in the History Department teaching introductory world history survey courses. He received his BA in History and MS in Social Science with a concentration in History and Advanced Graduate Certificate in United Nation Studies at Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. He has also received his MSeD in Secondary Social Studies from the College of Staten Island/CUNY.

-6:30pm: “Just How Free Is Free Speech, Anyway?” presented by Donna Scimeca

In the summer of 1905, Mark Twain wrote a short essay, titled “The Privilege of the Grave,” in which he charged that “out of fear, or out of calculated wisdom, or out of reluctance to wound friends,” the living don’t dare to say what they truly think. Such freedom of expression,” he said, “ranks with the privilege of committing murder; we may exercise it if we are willing to take the consequences.” After resting for decades in the Twain archives at the University of California, Berkeley, “The Privilege of the Grave” made its first public appearance in The New Yorker magazine in December 2008. At this lecture, Core students will participate in a reading of this essay,  which will be followed by an open forum discussion where we will try to determine just how free is free speech, anyway?

Donna Scimeca is the Coordinator of the Core Program and Learning Communities, and has been teaching Core 100 since 2003. She has earned an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree, all from the College of Staten Island.

Saturday, Mar. 4:

-10:10am: “Slavery,” presented by Peter Ronalds

Peter Ronalds is a Doctor of Arts Modern World History, St. John’s University. He has taught Core 100 and history classes since 1998.