Although the junior faculty present at these colloquia, the
meetings are open to ALL faculty. We met usually on the first
Thursday of the month in the Writing Center Conference Room from
12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
February 5
Anne Galvin: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, St. John’s
College.
“Remaking Men: Kingston-Based Community Development
Initiatives and the Challenges of Jamaican National
Development.”
This paper ethnographically explores the effects of development
initiatives designed to encourage the “empowerment” of Kingston
ghetto residents through remedial education and small-scale income
generating projects. I argue that such community-based
development projects, while encouraging young men to become
self-actualized citizens and independent entrepreneurs, have failed
to address the immediate employment needs of the urban poor.
Through this oversight, the programs encourage the strategic
deployment of the “good citizen” identity and normative models of
masculinity as a means toward acquiring additional resources to
meet short-term needs, rather than creating adequate alternatives
to participation in illicit activities and entrenched community
resource networks.
March 5
Caroline Fuchs: University Libraries
“Reasons to Celebrate: New York and the Opening of the Erie Canal,
1825.”
From October 26th to November 4th, 1825, thousands of New Yorkers
from Buffalo to the island of Manhattan participated in a
celebration that was unparalleled in the size and scope. The
celebration marking the opening of the Erie Canal was the biggest
party that New Yorkers—and Americans—had ever thrown. Why? A closer
look at the celebration events and a brief examination of the
history behind the building of the canal reveals multi-layers of
intent, purpose and politicking: an intricate local, national and
international agenda on the part of the organizers underlay the
ten-day program of activities.
April 2
Felix Germaine: Department of History, St John’s College
“Henri Salvador and Race”
This paper will discuss how Henri Salvador, a black artist in
France, played an important role in changing race relations during
the postwar period.
April 30
Fiorentina Russo: Department of Languages and
Literatures
Further Information will follow.