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. 30, 2015 is as follows:

Wednesday, Dec. 2:

-1:25pm: “What is the Proper Role of the Government in our Economy?” presented by Deborah DeSimone.

This lecture will continue to explore the question of what is the proper role of the government in our economy. Building upon the previous lectures’ introduction of government regulation of the financial industry, this lecture considers the impact of deregulation of that industry on the populace and country at large. Using the film Capitalism: A Love Story, we will look at the economic policies of the last 20 years and how they resulted in the Great Recession.

Professor Deborah DeSimone is an Associate Professor of Education in the School of Education at CSI. She has been on the CSI faculty since 1993 and was a member of the cadre of professors who designed and first implement Core 100. Her specialty areas are social studies education and U.S. history. Her undergraduate degree is from Brown University and her graduate degrees are from Columbia University Teachers’ College.

-3:35pm: “Homelessness in New York City,” presented by Stephen Zuckermann.

A profile of the homeless population, the major causes of homelessness, research on those likely to become homeless, and the City and community responses to the needs of the homeless will be discussed. Co-presenters will be Deacon Paul Kosinsiki, Director of Community Outreach for Project Hospitality, and a client who has been helped by Project Hospitality.

Steven Zuckermann, PhD is a Professor Emeritus (CSI) and is a licensed Psychoanalyst (NY). He has been teaching Core since Feb. 2012.

Thursday, Dec. 3:

-8:00am and10:10am: “Government Policy on Poverty through the 20th Century,” presented by Sean Doyle.

This lecture will examine government policy on poverty and the poor from the early 1900s to the present. We will discuss the shift from a hands-off approach (Laissez Faire) from the pre-Depression era, to a more proactive approach during the New Deal in the 1930s. Evolving attitudes through the 1960s will be discussed, and the lecture will conclude with current policy and attitudes to poverty in the United States.

Professor Doyle is a retired high school social studies teacher, who taught at John Dewey High School Brooklyn for 18 years. He became a teacher at age 42 after returning to school (CSI) when he was 38. Professor Doyle earned a GED, BA, and MA at the College of Staten Island. This will be his eight semester teaching Core 100.

-4:40pm: “Inequality and Economics:  A Dynamic of Everything.” presented by David Loncle.

This lecture will feature a review of the role of the citizen in the U.S. during global crisis. Particular emphasis will be put on the meetings in Paris regarding climate change, the scale of the problems, and what we can do as individuals.

David Loncle has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching studio art for the since 2010.

This is his first semester with the CORE.

-6:30pm: “The GI Bill,” presented by Donna Scimeca.

This lecture discusses the creation of the GI Bill, and its tremendous impact on the economic recovery and society of the post-WWII U.S.

Donna Scimeca earned  BA and an MA degrees in History from CSI. She is currently the Coordinator of the Core 100 Program and has been teaching the course since 2003.