Intersections Seminars 2006
Washington D.C. - January 11, 2006
REVOLUTIONS!
Social revolutions can occur in a number of venues: in the home, at places of worship and on the street. Which revolutions have been the most significant, and how have they changed the United States and the world? What novel ideas and methods were used to bring about change? How have race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexuality, gender and class shaped them? Linking history and theatre, this session offers a glimpse of revolutions that have shaped our lives and the lives of citizens around the world. Active participation in this seminar will be encouraged!
Dolita Cathcart, assistant professor of history
Stephanie Burlington '97, assistant professor of theatre
Florida - February 1, 2006
POVERTY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
Today over 40 percent of the world's population lives on less than two dollars a day, and in the United States, the country we like to think of as the most advanced in the world, at least 12 percent of the population (or about one in every eight people) live below our official poverty line. They say the poor have always been with us, and by implication, always will. Nevertheless, as we enter the new millennium these are unsettling figures from several perspectives.
From an ethical perspective, it isn't clear this befits the global village of which we are all proud to be members. From a security perspective, these figures are cause for concern. John Maynard Keynes, the great British economist, once declared, "The poor don't starve quietly." Since September 11, 2001, intellectuals and government officials have begun to appreciate this more fully, and some now view poverty as a security issue.
What do we know about the extent of poverty in America and the world today? What are we doing about it? What can we expect the future to bring if policy makers continue on the same path? These are some of the questions on the table for us to explore.
Gordon Weil, professor of economics and associate provost
Philadelphia - March 29, 2006
THE DARWIN CONNECTION: REAL INTELLIGENT DESIGN
When students sign up for Wheaton's Biology 111 course, Evolution and Ecology, they may not bargain on reading Frankenstein or discussing Tennyson's poetry. But they're no more surprised than the students in English 235, a Victorian Literature course in which students find themselves doing labs and reading Darwin. The connection between the two courses, in which a biologist and a literary critic collaborate in course design and in teaching, has proven to be both popular and successful. Professors Kricher and Krebs will share their experiences with encouraging students to cross over between biology and English as part of The Darwin Connection.
John Kricher, professor of biology
Paula Krebs, professor of English
New York City - March 30, 2006
NATION OF IMMIGRANTS
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
America has long prided itself on being "a nation of immigrants." The "melting pot" image is one that has been trumpeted for centuries. In fact, the United States remains the most diverse nation on earth. Yet the celebration of American diversity has always been tempered with other concerns-racial, religious, and ethnic. Each wave of immigration has brought with it concerns about how the newly arrived "others" will fit in to or change the society that awaits them. And no place has felt this more than New York City.
Together we will discuss the historical, religious, and cultural meanings of the immigration experience, and show how interdisciplinary connections enhance our understanding of these questions.
Alex Bloom, professor of history
Barbara Darling-Smith, assistant professor of religion
Josh Stenger, assistant professor of film studies and literature
Back to Intersections home
Schedule
Intersections faculty
Register online
This page is maintained by Office of Alumnae/i Relations and Annual Giving. Last updated on 1/25/06.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.