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 Nov. 16, 2015 is as follows:
Wednesday, Nov. 18:
-1:25pm: “The Evolution of Government in the U.S. Economy: Regulation to Deregulation from the 1929 Stock Market Crash to the 2008 Great Recession,” presented by Richard Kotula.
This lecture will provide a cursory overview of the causes of the 1929 Stock Market crash and the financial regulation that was subsequently implemented by our government to prevent another crash. Following the opening segment, there will be an examination of the steady trend of deregulation that led up to the Great Recession of 2008.
Professor Kotula has been a member of the CSI community since 2002. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in History, and a Master’s of Arts in History. He has worked for a number of years in CSI’s Information Technology Department and is currently the Assistant Coordinator of the Remedial Mathematics Program. He has also had a career as a licensed stockbroker, commodities broker, and a financial advisor.
3:35pm: “An Empire of Wealth,” presented by Edward Manganel.
This lecture will examine the reasons for the “success” of U.S. Capitalism and also the persistent problems and failures of a so-called free market economy heading into the 21st Century.
Edward Manganel graduated from Marist College (BA) and the University of Colorado at Boulder (MA). He recently retired from Monsignor Farrell HS where he served as Chair of the Social Studies Department and taught Advanced Placement U.S. History and Advanced Placement American and Comparative Government. He has taught at CSI for 20 years and has been teaching Core 100 for ten years.
Thursday, Nov.19:
8:00am and 10:10am: “The Economy and the Government’s Role: Part 2 – The Modern Economy,” presented by John Lentine.
From Marx and Rand in theory to the Progressives and Libertarians in practice, this lecture examines the economic trial and error of the United States from the post-World War II era to the modern day.
John Lentine graduated from the Pennsylvania State University – Capital College with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Studying just outside of the State Capital, he had the distinct honor of working for two of Pennsylvania’s State Representatives. Upon his return to Staten Island, he worked on a City Council campaign management team. He currently works in the Center for Advising and Academic Success and teaches Core 100 at the College of Staten Island. Recently, with many of his esteemed colleagues, he has also served on the Core 100 textbook editing committee.
4:40pm: “The Great Recession,” presented by Joseph Frusci.
The Great Recession of the late 2000s has been the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. This lecture will examine the similarities and differences between the Great Depression and the Great Recession of 2008 by understanding the actions of the U.S. government and Federal Reserve during a deflationary economy.
Joseph Frusci is a prior service Army National Guardsman who earned a BA and MA in History and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree (EdD) at Northeastern University. He has been teaching with the Core program since 2012, and is the author of “2008 Bailout,” the newest Reacting to the Past game, which engages students in the complexities of the economic crisis of 2007-2008. He also teaches American History and Economics for the New York City Department of Education.
6:30pm: “The Great Depression: Causes of the Worst Financial Crisis in Our Nation’s History,” presented by John Comfort.
The lecture will discuss the causes of the Great Depression, and how President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to end this financial crisis.
John Comfort earned his MA in History from the College of Staten Island in 2003 and has taught at CSI for the Core Program and also the American Studies program since 2006.
