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 12:20pm 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 Feb. 8, 2016 is as follows:

Wednesday, Feb. 10:

-12:20pm: “A Call to Arms for Liberty’s Sake,” presented by William Fallon

This lecture will examine how the Enlightenment thinkers helped lay the groundwork for the American rebellion; also, it will present all of the Acts legislated by the British Parliament upon the colonies. These Acts were the catalyst for the revolution and the eventual Declaration of Independence from England. Lastly, the lecture will look at some key conflicts of the war, and the eventual peace treaty.

William Fallon received his Master’s degree from the College of Staten Island in January 2014. His focus is American History, specifically 20th century and foreign policy. This is William’s second semester teaching Core 100.

Thursday, Feb. 11:

8:00am: “The First Phase of American Abolition (American Revolution),” presented by Steven Kaufman

This lecture will look at the three historiographical origins of New World abolition in the 18th century and the results of these arguments for both whites and blacks as a result of the American Revolution.

Steven Kaufman graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA and MA from CSI. He has been a tutor in Academic Support since Summer 2009, specializing in Core. He has also been a tutor in the SEEK Program since Fall 2015, specializing in Core. He has taught five Tutor Intensive groups during Winter and Summer Immersions.

10:10am: “John Locke and the American Revolution,” presented by Michael Batson

This lecture will provide an overview of John Locke’s Social Contract theory and examine the role his ideas played in the American Revolution and in shaping this nation’s political, legal, and economic systems. The lecture will place Locke in historical context, as both an Enlightenment figure and as a witness to the political upheaval of the English Civil War in the mid-17th century, to see where and how his ideas formed.

Michael Batson has been a Professor at the College of Staten Island since fall 2000.  He teaches history, women’s studies, and Core 100.  He earned his Master’s degree in Liberal Studies. Professor Batson specializes in social history (the history of ordinary people and historically marginalized groups).

4:40pm: “American Revolution-Battle of Trenton,” presented by Michael Matthews

This lecture will focus on the importance of the Battle of Trenton in the American Revolution. This lecture will include clips of the film The Crossing that depicts the Battle of Trenton.

Michael Matthews earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at Brooklyn College/CUNY. He also has a Master’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from Fordham University.

6:30pm: “The American Revolution,” presented by Vincent DePaolo

The American Revolution was a fight for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The Revolution was an intellectual as well as a physical fight to form a new country and a government the world had never seen before.

Professor DePaolo is teaching CORE 100 for the fourth semester. He 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.