Experts in the humanities speak at Union

Union College will host three guest lecturers as part of the New York Council for the Humanities' Speakers in the Humanities program from Oct. 25 through Nov. 3, 2005.

The first lecture in the series will be given by Roland Dollinger, associate professor of German at Sarah Lawrence College. "Jewish Life and Culture in Postwar Germany" is the topic on Oct. 25, at 1:45 p.m. in Union College's Old Chapel.

Born in Augsburg, Germany, Dollinger studied at Augsburg, the University of Pittsburgh and at Princeton University, where he received a Ph.D. in literature in 1989. He is currently an associate professor at Sarah Lawrence, teaching German language, literature and cultural studies since 1990. He is the author of several books and articles on 18th, 19th and 20th-century German literature and culture.

The second lecture features Steven P. Scalet, visiting assistant professor of philosophy at State University of New York at Binghamton, who will speak on  "Corporate Social Responsibility" in Hale House on Nov. 3 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Scalet will address the question: Do corporations have responsibilities beyond maximizing profits and obeying the law?

Scalet posits that some corporations say they do not, and to expect more is to misunderstand the business system, while others contend that they do. He will present both perspectives.

The third lecture brings Sherrie Baver, associate professor of political science at City University of New York, who will speak on "Ciudad y Suburbia: The Changing Nature of Latino Immigration," Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in F.W. Olin Center Room 115.

Baver teaches political science and Latin American studies at City College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, focusing on the Hispanic Caribbean and mainland diasporas. She will examine Latino immigration, especially in New York and the Northeast. In the past, Baver said, Latino immigration meant establishing roots in cities. Today, many immigrants stay in cities for a short time or bypass them completely by moving to the suburbs. 

These programs, which are free and open to the public, are made possible through the support of the New York Council for the Humanities' Speakers in the Humanities program.

Launched in 1983, Speakers in the Humanities is a series of more than 200 lectures by a renowned and diverse group of some 150 scholars. Guest speakers are made available to hundreds of cultural organizations and community groups across the state, an exciting program open to not-for-profit organizations, including high schools.

October is Humanities Month in New York state.

"This is a great opportunity to bring regional expertise to Union College and our area," said Jill Salvo, director of government grants. "It gives our students the chance to hear about a range of topics in the field of humanities from faculty across the state."

Each lecture is connected to a course taught at the College this term. Faculty memebrs selected the speakers. This is the first year Union will participate in the series.

Any not-for-profit organization in New York State is eligible to apply for the Speakers in the Humanities program. Each host organization may host up to four different speakers programs in a single calendar year.

Since 1975, the New York Council for the Humanities has actively nurtured the role of the humanities in the intellectual and cultural life of New York state. As a not-for-profit, independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Council works with more than 4,000 cultural institutions such as libraries, historical sites, museums, art galleries, colleges and universities, and community centers to bring innovative, thought-provoking programs to more than a quarter of a million New Yorkers annually.