This Week in Core 100

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 1:25pm 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 Sept. 14 is as follows:

Wednesday, Sept. 16:

-1:25pm and 3:35pm: Robert A. Grosso, Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: The First Divide

The division of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists will be examined in several different ways. The lecture will introduce key founding fathers involved with the Federalist and Anti-Federalist movements, their arguments, and what they were able to accomplish. There will be discussions over the arguments, and how both sides would eventually come together to formulate the basis of the Constitution of the United States. Finally, the lecture will show that both sides still exist as the modern day political parties of Democrats and Republicans, at least in their ideals.

Robert A. Grosso is new to the Core 100 faculty. He has previously worked for the NYC DOE as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher, and is now teaching as an adjunct lecturer at both Union County College in Elizabeth, NJ, and at the College of Staten Island.

Thursday, Sept. 17:

-8:00am and 10:10am: John Lentine and Victor Miller, Jefferson vs. Hamilton

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 more 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, at that present time and in the future. Many topics will be discussed, including, but not limited to, the Articles of Confederation, Federalist/Anti-Federalist, Direct Democracy, the American 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 BA in Public Policy and a Master’s degree 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 a MS in Adolescent Education in 2008. He has been teaching as an adjunct lecturer in the Core 100 program since Spring 2012 and currently also works for the Office of Academic Support.  Victor is the author of the “Summer of ’87,” Reacting to the Past classroom simulation and also recently served on the Core 100 textbook editing committee.

-4:40pm: Vincent DePaolo, Madisonian versus Jeffersonian Democracy

The battle for the core of the United States is still in play even in the 21st Century. Is the United States supposed to have a strong Federal Government with certain limitations and protections in the Bill of Rights as Madison envisioned or a weak central government prescribed by the Articles of Confederation and supporters?

Vincent DePaolo is new to the Core 100 faculty. He previously served as 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.

-6:30pm: Donna Scimeca, Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: The First Divide

This lecture has been created by Robert Grosso, but will be presented at this lecture by Donna Scimeca.

The division of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists will be examined in several different ways. The lecture will introduce key founding fathers involved with the Federalist and Anti-Federalist movements, their arguments, and what they were able to accomplish. There will be discussions over the arguments, and how both sides would eventually come together to formulate the basis of the Constitution of the United States. Finally, the lecture will show that both sides still exist as the modern day political parties of Democrats and Republicans, at least in their ideals.

Donna Scimeca earned a BA and MA in History from the College of Staten Island. She is the Coordinator of the Core Program and of Learning Communities.