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 (no permission needed) and can have as many as two additional classes at each of the lectures. Permission is not necessary for classes to attend, but please notify Donna Scimeca at 718.982.3405 if you plan to bring a class.

The lectures are 50 minutes in length and are all in the Williamson Theatre. They meet on the following days/times: Wednesdays at 1:25pm and 3:35pm, and on Thursdays at 8:00am, 10:10am, 4:40pm, and 6:30pm.

In the fall, the Saturday 10:10am lectures are held in the Williamson Theatre, but due to space limitations, we unfortunately cannot accommodate additional classes.

The Lecture Series schedule for the Week of Oct. 26, 2015 is as follows:

Wednesday, Oct. 28:

-1:25 and 3:35pm: Mendez v. Westminster School District,” presented by George Sanchez

This lecture will address how the path to school desegregation, and the overturning of Plessy v. Ferguson, can be traced to a 1946 federal court case decided in the Ninth Court of Appeals, eight years before the pivotal Brown v. Board of Education decision. This case ruled that the exclusion of Mexican American children from California public schools was unconstitutional based on the 14th Amendment.

George Emilio Sanchez is a Professor and Chairperson of the Performing and Creative Arts Department at CSI. This is his sixth year of teaching Core 100.

Thursday, Oct. 29

8:00am: ““Black and Blue Lives Matter,” presented by Niles French

This lecture will examine the question “Does Racism Still Exist?” by looking at the relationship between law enforcement and minority communities. Additionally, hiring practices will be explored. Both sides of the argument will be discussed and analyzed.  

Niles French is a published Adjunct Professor who has presented several papers about various historical topics. In addition to teaching in the Core 100 and American Studies program at the College of Staten Island, he is head of development at the Staten Island Historical Society at Historic Richmond Town.

-10:10am: “Management v. Labor: How Unions Gained Recognition in America by Government and Business, presented by Arthur Cacace

This lecture will discuss the struggle of the labor movement in the U.S., and how both government and business gradually began to modify their views on labor unions, and their right to recognition as bargaining agents for U.S. workers.

Arthur Cacace earned his Master of Science Degree in Social Studies Secondary Education from the College of Staten Island. Arthur has taught social studies in the NYC Public School System and has been an Adjunct Professor for Core 100 since 2008.

-4:40PM & 6:30PM: “’Equal Protection clause’ in the 14th Amendment,” presented by Anthony Casella

This lecture will examine the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment and how its interpretation has changed over time. This lecture will highlight a variety of Supreme Court cases, events,  and laws that have expanded the meaning of “Equal Protection” throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

Professor Casella has been a member of the CORE faculty since 2009. He holds a BA and MS degree from St. John’s University, in addition to a Professional Certificate in Administration/Supervision from CSI/CUNY. Professor Casella has worked for the Deptartment of Education since 1992 and is currently serving as an Assistant Principal at South Richmond HS.