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 Mar. 28, 2016 is as follows:
Wednesday, Mar. 30:
-12:20pm: “Civil Rights in America over the Years,” presented by Annette Marks-Ellis
This lecture will demonstrate how the Civil Rights Movement has expanded in the 20th and 21st centuries beyond the struggle of African Americans. In addition to the journey of African Americans, the interactive discourse will include an overview of the struggle of women, Asian Americans, the Gay and Lesbian community, Native Americans, and others who have been under-represented and underserved in U.S. history. An assessment will be made as to how much each group has gained by their continual struggle.
Annette Marks-Ellis earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Columbia University. She has been at CSI and teaching Core 100 since 1999. She has published several articles on African American history, women’s issues, and Caribbean culture.
Thursday, Mar. 31:
-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: “Rocking Civil Rights,” presented by Richard Gid Powers
In “Civil Rights and Popular Music” we will be exploring how popular culture and race have been intertwined throughout U.S. history, and how rock ‘n’ roll came to play a role in integrating the U.S. during the Civil Rights Era.
Richard Gid Powers has been teaching history at CSI since 1971 and was one of the people responsible for creating Core and having it be a required course at CSI (please restrain emotional demonstrations). He has written books on J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI, U.S. Anticommunism, and the FBI in popular entertainment, and has just published a religious thriller, The Mystery of the Trinity.
-4:40pm and 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 century.
Professor Casella has been a member of the CORE faculty since 2009. He holds BA and MS degrees from St. John’s University, in addition to a Professional Certificate in Administration/Supervision from CSI/CUNY. Professor Casella has worked for the Department of Education since 1992 and is currently serving as an Assistant Principal at South Richmond HS.
