We are excited to announce our Spring 2017 event schedule. We will cover a wide range of topics: fake news, the American Revolution, race & oppression, artists, banking, and more.
All events are free and open to the public.
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The Meaning of the Trump Presidency
Tuesday, January 24th, 2017, 11am – 12:15pm, Library Lounge, Building L
This panel is a follow up to the discussion leading into the 2016 presidential election. The polls and media called it wrong as Donald Trump shocked the establishment. Inauguration day is January 20th. This event will follow. What comes next? How will Trump keep his campaign promises? What will be the key legislative initiatives?
“Quiet mouse don’t get fed:” race and oppression today
Thursday, February 9th, 11am-12:15pm Library Lounge, Building L
We will discuss the impact of the last presidential election, micro-aggression, black lives matter and the meaning of race in today’s society. We will also look at racial discrimination and immigration as it is playing out in our world today. This part of our One Book series on Hamilton.
Hamilton: Social Justice Lessons from Critical Race Theory
Wednesday, February 15th, 11am-11:50am Library Lounge, Building L
Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a lens and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton as the context, we can begin to understand the importance and impact of Social Justice. The success of Hamilton as performance art, popular culture phenomenon, as well as a successful business franchise lends opportunity to identify, discuss, and perhaps even embrace the spirit of Diverse forms of expression along with better utilizing the cultural, political, and economic benefits of more Inclusive practices. This part of our One Book series on Hamilton.
Fact, Fiction, or Something Else: What Does the Artist Owe to History?
Thursday, February 23 11am-12:15pm, Library Lounge, Building L
The musical Hamilton draws directly from the historical record, but it clearly is not a documentary, which many historians have noted. Writers and artists such as Shakespeare, Dan Brown, and Anne Rice dramatize historic settings, characters, and famous events in their works. Sometimes they bring history to life and sometime they perpetuate historical myths. What does it mean to be “true” to the historical record? How do artists get it right? How can they get it wrong? What do they owe to the record? A panel of history and literature faculty will come together to explore these questions. This part of our One Book series on Hamilton.
Forgotten History: Myths & Oddities of the American Revolution
Tuesday, March 28th, 12:30pm-1:45pm, Library Lounge, Building L
As a part of the college’s year-long engagement with Hamilton, Moraine Valley History Professor Jim Mc Intyre will de-bunk some of the myths and share some of the lesser-known facts about the American Revolution, the War of Independence, and the Founding Fathers. This part of our One Book series on Hamilton.
50 Years of Women’s Voices: Oral Histories of Moraine Valley
Wednesday, March 29th, 11am -noon, Library Lounge, Building L
As part of its 50th Anniversary, Moraine Valley has collected oral histories from the people who have helped make it into the quality institution it is today. Meet some of the women behind those recordings and hear them tell the college’s story through their own experiences.
Playing the Fake News Game: An Interactive Event & Discussion
Thursday, April 6th, 11am-12:15pm, Library Lounge, Building L
Join us in playing our own news game that is in the tradition of NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. Can you separate fake news from actual news stories? Fabricated news stories spread across the internet like wildfire impacting how we understand our world and how we make decisions as citizens. This event will discuss ways we can prevent ourselves from falling victim to online falsehoods.
Challenges to the U.S. Banking and Financial System: What would Hamilton Do?
Tuesday, April 11th, 11am-12:15pm,Library Lounge, Building L
The financial crisis of 2008, rooted in the over-borrowing and over-lending of bad mortgages which resulted in a credit crisis after various financial institutions failed, has led to a rancorous debate about the role of the Federal Reserve. The purpose of this lecture is to highlight the current status of the U.S. Banking and Financial System and the challenges faced by the Federal Reserve. The significance of this lecture is to better understand the current debate centered largely on the impact of Wall Street bailout and the national debt. What would Hamilton do to reform our financial system? This part of our One Book series on Hamilton.
The Big Fake Out: Why Do we Fall for Fake News?
Tuesday, April 18th, 12:30pm-1:45pm, Library Lounge, Building L
Our world of seamless information sharing and low-attention spans make it easy to spread news stories that are entirely fabricated. An entire industry of fake news sites has emerged generating advertising revenue for their owners. How do preexisting beliefs make us fall victim to outrageous stories? Why can’t we make rational decisions when it comes to evaluating information? How do our Why can’t we resist sharing articles that confirm our views? A panel of faculty members from philosophy and psychology will discuss these questions.