Tag Archives: Allbritton Talks

EVENT
Allbritton Talks: Gentrification

What do we mean when we talk about gentrification? Look closely at the history of any urban area and one is bound to find some demographic flux, yet there are elements of neighborhood change that are particularly problematic or harmful, namely the displacement of lower-income residents. Alongside the severe social costs, however, there may also be benefits to an influx of wealth.

Join us for an open discussion on the causes and effects of gentrification, as well as possible solutions: how can we, as citizens, neighbors, and consumers, ensure affordable housing and an equitable urban future?

Find more info and some suggested readings here. There will be pizza.

Date: Friday, April 24
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Place: Allbritton 311

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Allbritton Talks: College Sports

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As more Division I athletes and their supporters call for payment for players and even consider unionizing, it raises the question of the purpose of college athletics and perhaps of institutions of higher education themselves. Is it exploitative for universities to profit off of their student-athletes if it is indeed to the detriment of their education, finances, and health? Are athletically-based admission and scholarships unfair – if so, for whom? – or are they a means of expanding college access and diversifying student populations?

In this session of Allbritton Talks, we’ll examine  controversies surrounding Division I athletics while also pondering what compels us – as a University, as a society, and even as a species – to care about sports. Athletes, fans, and NARPs are all welcome. There will be pizza!

Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 12 – 1 PM
Place: Allbritton 311
Cost: Free

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Allbritton Talks: Do-Gooders Abroad

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Many people, particularly Westerners, travel to the developing world each year to volunteer with NGOs and assist communities in need. However, critics of “voluntourism” warn that the self-satisfaction, thrill, and social media attention gained through service may come at the cost of real progress and make a spectacle of poverty. Others defend the good intentions and positive impact of volunteers, arguing that the trips also promote cross-cultural understanding, support local economies, and inspire participants to keep fighting poverty at home and abroad.

Under what circumstances might we find voluntourism beneficial and fair, or counterproductive and unethical? Does it matter whether volunteers are motivated by self-interest if their work does indeed make a difference?

Bring your experiences with and concerns about international service work (or service in general) to the table on Friday for the next session of Allbritton Talks! There will be pizza.

Date: Friday, February 13
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Place: Allbritton 311
Cost: Free!

EVENT
Allbritton Talks: Unpaid Internships

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Are unpaid internships exploitative, or is free labor a fair trade for a learning experience? Why do businesses and organizations hire unpaid interns, and should students accept these positions? Who wins and loses in a society where unpaid internships are permitted?

We will consider these questions and more over pizza tomorrow at Allbritton Talks, a new conversation series addressing current events, controversial issues, and the enduring questions of public life. If you’ve got a hot-button issue or ethical quandary you’d like to pick apart as a group, send your suggestions to scapron(at)wesleyan(dot)edu.

This series is sponsored by the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life.

Date: Friday, January 30
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Place: Allbritton 311