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. 12, 2018:
Wednesday, Feb. 14:
-11:15am: “Freedom of the Press – An Ongoing, Evolving Issue,” presented by William Fallon
This lecture will provide some historical backdrop on the issues regarding freedom of the press, putting the topic into a historical context. Examples provided will be the trial of John Peter Zenger for Sedition in 1735, The Alien and Sedition Act of 1798, and the Supreme Court case of The New York Times Co. v. United States in 1971–the famous Pentagon Papers trial of Daniel Ellsberg. The lecture will then turn its focus to more contemporary issues–mainly the recent siege that the mainstream media outlets find themselves up against when wanting to report political or otherwise newsworthy stories. Students will have the opportunity to answer/pose questions on this very important issue we face here in the U.S. today.
William Fallon has been an Adjunct Lecturer in CSI’s Core Program since 2015. He was awarded his MA in History from CSI in 2013. Additionally, in January 2018, Professor Fallon became the first student ever at CSI to be awarded a Certificate in Public History.
Thursday, Feb. 15:
8:00am: “FISA Warrants and the Nunes Memo Debate,” presented by Rosemary McCall
Beginning as early as 2013, the Obama Administration had a U.S. Naval Academy graduate in its sights as a potential security threat. Fast forward to the 2016 Presidential Election and the FISA warrants that resulted in wiretapping private citizens associated with candidate for President Donald Trump’s campaign workers. This lecture will discuss this activity and the recent release of the Nunes memo by Congress, and how they may relate to anticipated executive response and the Constitution of the United States.
Rosemary McCall received her BS degree from Brooklyn College, graduating cum laude, with Honors in Geology. She earned her MS at the University of South Carolina. She was a successful exploration geologist and consultant before graduating from the National Law Center at George Washington University. Ms. McCall then utilized her scientific and legal skills to consult, lecture, and represent clients. Currently she pursues her passions as an educator and cantankerous scriptwriter.
-10:10am: “First Amendment Rights – The Foundation of Our Liberties,” presented by Arthur Cacace
This lecture will examine two current First Amendment cases, one of which is pending before the Supreme Court. The lecture will also provide an overview of the role of the First Amendment in protecting civil liberties, and include a discussion other landmark Supreme Court cases.
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: “Corelandia,”presented by Victor Miller and Vincent DePaolo
This week in Corelandia, the lecture will focus on ‘What is RTTP and its purpose?” The lecture will then examine the rules and procedures of the game and review the factions, characters, and game points. Students will also play the mini-pizza game to provide them with an understanding of what to expect during actual “Corelandia” game play.
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: “Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists,” presented by John Comfort
The lecture will challenge students’ understanding of how the struggle between Federal and States’ rights are still relevant in the contemporary U.S. A discussion of the major differences between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists and their different views on the government of the US. will provide the historical background necessary to understand today’s challenges.
John Comfort earned his MA in History from the College of Staten Island in 2003 and has taught classes at CSI in the Core Program and also the American Studies Program since 2006.
Saturday, Feb. 9:
-10:10am: “Constitutional Law,” presented by Peter Ronalds
This lecture will begin with a short history of the issue of constitutional law in U.S. government from ratification to the present. It will examine how the U.S. Supreme Court has historically viewed the subject. Then it will compare and contrast how the two political parties influence the U.S. Supreme Court.
Peter Ronalds earned his Doctor of Arts in Modern World History from St. John’s University in 1998. He has been teaching Core 100 and history classes since 1998.
