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 and can have as many as two additional classes at each of the lectures. No permission is needed for classes to attend, but please notify Donna Scimeca (718.982.3405) if you plan to bring a class.

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

The focus of the Core Lecture Series, this semester, will be to directly link the program’s curriculum to current events.

The Lecture Series Schedule for the Week of Oct. 23, 2017:

Wednesday, Oct. 25;

-1:25pm and 3:35pm: “LGBTQ Rights Today,” presented by Jeremiah Jurkiewicz

LGBTQ Americans are undoubtedly more respected than in years previous, but what are the issues and struggles still affecting the community across the country? In this presentation, we will explore what is happening nationwide and what the impact is on the LGBTQ community.

Jeremiah Jurkiewicz is the Coordinator of the LGBTQ Resource Center, part of the Office of Student Life. Jeremiah is a graduate of the College of Staten Island ’12 with a degree in Dramatic Arts and a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. He has been in his current position at the College for four years and received a Dolphin Award for his commitment to the campus and its students.

Thursday, Oct. 26:

-8:00am: “Free Speech and the First Amendment on College Campuses,” presented by Sean Doyle

The election of Donald Trump has fractured political debate and polarized political opinions across the nation. As the traditional “safe space” for divergent ideas, the college campus has traditionally provided a platform for all shades of opinion. Unfortunately, this role as neutral facilitator of public discourse has eroded under pressure from a variety of organizations and groups. This lecture will examine the present situation in regard to free speech at U.S. universities.

Sean Doyle retired from teaching high school in 2012, and has been teaching Core for six years. He received a General Education Diploma (GED), a BA in History, and an MA in Liberal Arts, from the College of Staten Island in the early 1990s.

-10:10am: “U.S. Healthcare Reform,” presented by Arthur Cacace

This lecture will discuss the role that the federal government has played in attempting to achieve healthcare for all Americans. In particular, it will explore the history of government healthcare from its beginning in the early 1900s, and include a discussion of F.D.R.’s Economic Bill of Rights, Truman’s Fair Deal, L.B.J’s Great Society, Bill Clinton, G.W. Bush, and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Additionally, the lecture will present a comparison between Obamacare and Trumpcare in light of the attempt to either repeal or revise the Affordable Care Act.

Arthur Cacace earned his MS in Social Studies Secondary Education from the College of Staten Island. He has taught history in the NYC Public School System and has been an Adjunct Professor for Core 100 at CSI since 2008.

-4:40pm: “Illegal Immigration,” presented by Natalia Brennan

The lecture will focus on the issue of illegal immigration in the United States. It will discuss President Trump’s proposals on DACA, building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and finally a temporary ban on Muslims entry into the country.

Natalia Brennan earned a BA in History from Moscow University and an MA in History from the College of Staten Island. She has been teaching history at St John Villa Academy High School since 2004. Professor Brennan became a member of the Core faculty in 2011.

-6:30pm: ”Worker’s Rights in the 21st Century,” presented by Vincent DePaolo

Since the late 1970s, union workers and union members in the public and private sector’s rights and protections have been under attack. This lecture will examine what many states and the federal government have done through regulation or law to decrease the amount of unions and union members in the United States. In particular, we will examine the upcoming case on the Supreme Court docket Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31. This case may have an overwhelmingly negative effect on people, families, and communities as a whole.

Vincent DePaolo 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.

Saturday, Oct. 28:

10:10am: “Hamilton vs Jefferson,” presented by John Lentine and Victor Miller

When we look back on the struggles facing the U.S. in the 18th Century, no two Founding Fathers had more influential, or polar opposite, opinions as to how the young nation should function than Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Not only did their writings and rhetoric shape the early Republic, their debates and ideals have maintained their truth and resonance to this day. Both Professors Lentine and Miller will play the roles of Jefferson and Hamilton, respectively, and attempt to recreate the debate between these two Founders on the proper direction of the Republic, in the immediate and in the future. Many topics will be discussed, including, but not limited to, the Articles of Confederation, Federalist/Anti-Federalist, direct democracy, the U.S. economy, and individual liberties. In addition, this debate will apply each argument to the modern U.S., in order to identify whether the vision of the Founders has been realized.

John Lentine graduated from the Pennsylvania State University – Capital College, with a BS in Public Policy and an MPA in Public Administration. Studying just outside the State Capitol, 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 served on the CORE 100 textbook editing committee.

Victor Miller earned a BA in History at the College of Staten Island in 2005 and an MS in Adolescent Education in 2008. He has been an Adjunct of Core 100 since February 2012 and currently also works in the Center for Advising and Academic Success. Victor is the of author of the “Summer of ’87” Reacting to the Past classroom simulation and also recently served on the Core 100 textbook editing committee.