The College of Staten Island will host “Re-Membering Italian Immigration: A Textual Retrospective,” on November 5
in the Campus Center Green Dolphin Lounge from 8:30am to 1:00pm. Cutting-edge presentations will be presented
concerning a variety of immigration issues and the experience of being Italian that both excited and haunted the
arrival of droves of Italians who emigrated from political and social oppression during the late 19th century.
Upon arrival in the U.S., Italian immigrants were often confronted with fear, misunderstanding, and sometimes with
violence. Despite these difficult circumstances, like immigrants who arrive in the U.S. today, they strove to
become part of U.S. society and make better lives for themselves and their children.
Speakers at the event will include the following leading scholars in Italian American Studies: Anthony Tamburri,
Dean of the Calandra Italian American Institute of CUNY; Prof. Fred Gardaphe, a Distinguished Professor of Italian
American Literature and the author of numerous publications; Prof. Robert Viscusi who is based at Queens College;
and Prof. Robert Viscusi of Brooklyn College, the Director of the Wolfe Institute, and a renowned author and poet
who is also the President of the Italian American Writers Associiation.
In addition, four CSI students (Laurie McLoughlin, Stan Burdman, Nicole Sanicola, and Christopher Jones) from the
Themes in Literature course–the Italian American Experience in Literature–will read at the event. Professor
Maryann Feola, who is teaching the course, will introduce the event and moderate it.
This CLUE-certified event is co-sponsored by CUNY’s John D Calandra Italian American Institute, CSI’s Office of the
President, The English Department, and the Office of Pluralism and Diversity.
The event program is as follows:
8:30am – 9:00am:
Light Breakfast
9:00am:
-Greetings from CSI President Dr. Tomàs D. Morales
-Prof. Maryann Feola: Introduction of event and student speakers: Laurie McLoughlin, Stan Burdman, Nicole
Sanicola, and Christopher Jones
-Prof. Fred Gardaphè: “Saying Yes to Nonno: Rediscovering My Grandfather”
-Dean Anthony Julian Tamburri: Slide Presentation: “How They See Us: Italians in the Print Media since 1870”
-Prof. Robert Viscusi: Poetry Reading: “An Oration upon the Most Recent Death of Christopher Columbus”
-Film Screening: Pane Amaro (Bitter Bread): The Italian American journey from despised immigrants to honored
citizens.
