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. Please note, Saturday lectures meet in the smaller lecture hall and have limited space.
The lectures are 50 minutes and are all in the Williamson Theatre, except for the Saturday lecture, which meets in 1P-119. They meet on the following days/times: Wednesdays at 11:15am; on Thursdays at 8:00am, 10:10am, 4:40pm, and 6:30pm; 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 Thursday 4:40pm lecture will be playing “Corelandia” this semester.
The Lecture Series Schedule for the Week of Feb. 19, 2018:
Wednesday, Feb. 21:
-11:15am: “America and the Gun: A Look at Gun Ownership and Violence,” presented by Robert Grosso
Due to the recent tragedy that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Professor Robert Grosso will provide a frank discussion on guns and the ties guns have to U.S. culture. The lecture will explore our roots with guns from a legal standpoint, as well as federal and local policies regarding firearm restrictions, active use of militia groups, gun violence statistics, and the social and economic impact that guns have in U.S. society.
Robert Grosso has been teaching with the Core Program since 2014. He also teaches at Union County College in New Jersey, mostly on the subject of Western civilization.
Thursday, Feb. 22:
-8:00am: “The 2018 Midterm Elections,” presented by Edward Manganel
The much-anticipated November 2018 “midterm elections” will determine which party will control Congress until the 2020 Presidential Election. The contentious debate in Congress over DACA, immigration reform, gun control legislation, the economy, and just about any issue currently occupying the attention of Americans, is already affected by the upcoming elections, as politicians on both sides of the aisle begin to consider their future in politics. The resolution of these issues, and the policy agenda for the 2018 -2020 period will be controlled by the party with the majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Edward Manganel received his BA fom Marist College and his MA from University of Colorado. He is former Chair of the Social Studies Department and APUS History teacher at Monsignor Farrell HS, teaching at CSI for 25 years and Core 100 for ten years.
-10:10am: “North Korea: Rational Enough to Intimidate or Too Irrational to Negotiate?” presented by Peter Galati
U.S. foreign policy toward North Korea has shifted from diplomatic overtures and attempts at negotiation to a more belligerent policy of force and intimidation. This raises the question: Is North Korea too irrational with which to negotiate or rational enough to intimidate? This lecture will briefly explore the issues facing the United States with regard to North Korea and also address the shifting positions of U.S. foreign policy. Finally, the lecture will give students the floor to pose questions and express their views on the North Korean situation.
Peter Galati received his BA in Political Science from Stockton University. He earned an MA in History at the College of Staten Island. In the summer of 2016, Professor Galati joined the Core faculty and also became the Assistant to the Core 100 Program. He also teaches in the English Department and is a member of the Immersion Program faculty.
-4:40pm: “Corelandia,” presented by Victor Miller and Vincent DePaolo
Last week in Corelandia: Students were given the rules and procedures of how the game will be played. They were told what can and cannot be done in situations according to their objectives in their role sheets. Also, a mini short RTTP game was played to give students a understanding of what to expect during RTTP game play.
This week in Corelandia: Political factions begin debate on the formation of the Corelandian government. Each faction will discuss its ideas with all of Corelandia, and the Indeterminates will ask the tough questions to see where their faction stands. Indeterminates are persuadable to other faction’s ideas. So persuade, persuade, persuade.
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.
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.
-6:30pm: “The Bill of Rights,” presented by Anthony Casella
This lecture will examine amendments within the “Bill of Rights,” particularly free speech and freedom of religion in the First Amendment, and the “right to bear arms” in the Second Amendment. Professor Casella will lead a discussion on whether these Amendments are, as currently written, “fitted to the times” in which we live or should our government modify these amendments to better meet the challenges that we face in the U.S. today.
Anthony Casella has been a member of the Core faculty since 2009. He received both a BA in History and an MS in Science in Education from St. John’s University. Professor Casella also received an MA in Administration and Supervision from CSI/CUNY. He is currently an Assistant Principal at PS 25R South Richmond HS on Staten Island.
