Tag Archives: panel

Complete Video: Panel on Guns and Gun Violence

Back in February, just before winter storm Nemo crippled most of campus, the CFA Hall hosted “Guns and Gun Violence: Crisis, Policy and Politics,” a panel discussion featuring various visiting scholars. Chaired by Wesleyan’s own Professor of History and African-American Studies Leah Wright, the discussion involved professors Saul Cornell, Kristin A. Goss, and Matthew Miller from Fordham, Duke, and Harvard, respectively—a rather stacked lineup of experts. The room was packed, but in his reflection on the discussion that ensued, Wesleying’s justice described it as an echo chamber of predominantly left-leaning views:

While I will happily advocate for the liberal solution for many issues (with appropriate data as backup), I would also like to hear what people with “non-traditionally-Wesleyan” opinions have to say, especially with an issue as explosive as gun control. And this event would have been a perfect opportunity to bring in a panelist with a non-liberal perspective. But we didn’t. And we can tell ourselves all we want that this was because the “other side” simply isn’t correct, but in the end, that’s the real problem—we’re just talking to ourselves.

If you missed the event but remain interested, the Allbritton Center for Building Names That Sound Like Robots has only recently managed to post the entire thing on YouTube. Judge for yourself—watch it below, or at this link.

Recap and Ruminations: “Guns and Gun Violence: Crisis, Policy and Politics”

“I grew up around guns. I like guns. But I was there. And something’s got to change.”

The U.S. likes guns.

The CFA Hall was packed on Wednesday as faculty, students, and Middletown-area residents gathered to hear what three of the nation’s leading experts in gun violence had to say about the United States’ gun violence epidemic. The panel was chaired by Wesleyan’s very own Leah Wright and consisted of professors Saul Cornell, Kristin A. Goss, and Matthew Miller from Fordham, Duke, and Harvard, respectively (you can read up on the participants here). Each professor gave a ten minute lecture on their particular field followed by a Q & A led by NPR’s John Dankosky. I’ll give a summary of each lecture, then some of the important points from the Q & A, and end with a summary of my thoughts on the whole event. Let’s get started.

Professor Cornell: Professor Cornell gave an abbreviated history of the Second Amendment and Second Amendment interpretation. He detailed the current state of affairs, where many people have a “Second Amendment Tourette’s Syndrom.” He explained that our society talks about the amendment like it’s “monolithic and its meaning has never changed,” when in fact it’s been reinterpreted just as much as any other section of the Constitution. Professor Cornell also described the “three myths” of gun control:

Exclusion and Consequences: A Two-Part Series

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Evan Okun ’13, Chantaneice Kitt ’13, Manny Rivera ’14, and Mckenzii Webster ’13 bring you a super awesome two-part series on diversity and inclusion:

Join us on Friday, January 25th for the screening of “Color Outside The Lines”, a documentary film by artist Miya Bailey and Director Artemus Jenkins. This film looks to provide a deep look into the history, culture, and lives of the world’s top black tattoo artists. From Atlanta to Amsterdam, the film in an important document of stories that will surprise, entertain, and educate. There will be a Q&A with Director Artemus Jenkins and featured artist Made Rich of Think Before You Ink Studios. Free dinner provided.

Date: Friday, January 25th
Time: 6pm
Place: Daniel Family Commons
Cost: Zero moneyzzz (plus FREE dinner)
Facebook: Hurrrr

Read about the awesome/crazy/coolio Part II of this event after the jump.

“Not In My Backyard is Beautiful!” Panel Discussion

We actually didn’t get an e-mail about this, but this panel today with the College of the Environment Think Tank 2012 seems semi-relevant to the current battle that is taking place over the Centerplan development:

NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) environmental protests are usually associated with images and rhetoric of selfish, parochial communities who engage in violent clashes with authorities.  Most social science literature thus far has focused on what policy makers and businesses can do to avoid this kind of opposition.  This panel takes a different view.  Examining NIMBY environmental protests in Germany, China, Russia, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, the four panelists will argue that although they may begin with narrow goals, NIMBY protests can often have positive and lasting influences on environmental policy and governance. 

Campaign Finance, Political Communication, and the 2012 Elections

From Matt Motta ’13:

With the support of the Knight Foundation, CSPL, Baldwin University Lectures, and the Government Department, the Wesleyan Media Project will be bringing several prominent scholars and national media representatives to Wesleyan’s campus for an election conference on Nov 30 (details here).

Please RSVP to Laura Baum (lbaum(at)wesleyan(dot)edu).

If you can’t make it in person, the day’s events will be live webcast from 9am to 4:30pm (link will be available on the Project website). We will also be tweeting and you can send questions to us @wesmediaproject or through hashtag #WesElectionConf.

Date: Friday, November 30
Time: Panels throughout the day, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Place: Usdan 108

Complete Video: Faculty Duke It Out Over Need-Blind, Financial Aid

Just call it Skillman v. Glenn and get your popcorn ready.

Last Thursday after class, I moseyed over to Shanklin 107 (stirring fond memories of freshman year Biodiversity class) for what I took to be a faculty panel discussion on “Transparency, Admissions Policy, and Financial Aid”more succinctly, need-blind. When the discussion began, Professors Lim, Rouse, and Long, representing varying views, also seemed to interpret it as a cordial panel discussion on the issues surrounding need-blind. Seated at the far end of the panel, though, Professors Glenn and Skillman took it to be a full-throttle, boisterous debatesparring over the meanings of a need-aware policy, university transparency, and whether or not Wesleyan can afford to remain need-blind (Glenn says yes, Skillman no). Both presented articulate and passionate positions (taking opposite positions), and both got pretty riled up. Suffice it to say audience members (my estimate would be 40 or 45 students) benefited from witnessing this direct confrontation of competing narratives.

Continuing Wesleying’s recent tradition of ‘Posting Videos of Important Shit Filmed By Ben Doernberg ’13,’ we’ve got video footage of the entire conversation below or on the YouTubes. Scroll past the jump for a more detailed rundown on who said what.

As Professor Glenn opened his remarks, “I guess reasonable people can disagree.”

Panel: What Does it Mean to be ______-Caribbean?

Marjahn Finlayson ’15 invites you to join in defining the meaning of Carribean identities:

 In conjunction with Latino Affirmation Month, the Carribean Students Association and Ajua Campos present a panel on what it means to be Carribean and Latino/American/etc.

Date: Thursday, November 15
Time: 7 pm – 8pm
Place: PAC 004
Cost: Zilch.

Professor-Student Conversation on Transparency, Admissions Policy, and Financial Aid

Em Trambert ’14 goes out on a Lim:

While this semester has been filled with debates, discussions, and protests about the impending change to a Need-Aware admissions policy, the impacts of this change—both positive and negative—are enmeshed in much larger issues. These include the financial health of our university, the value we place on welcoming a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives on this campus, administrative transparency with both faculty and students, and access to a Wesleyan education. Dr. Glenn, Professor Lim, Professor Long, Professor Rouse, and Professor Skillman will help us think critically about what a Need Aware policy might mean. The goal of this panel is not to propose an “ideal policy” but to create a foundation on which further conversation can be had. Feel free to come and engage these professors in conversation, or just sit back and listen!

If you have specific questions for the panel, feel free to submit them to ProfessorPanel@gmail.com. See you there!

Date: Thursday, November 15
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Place: Shanklin 107
Cost: Free

“Diversity University:” In Theory and In Practice

From the super awesome Izzy Rode ’14:

Join us for a community forum about the racial climate on campus in the wake of offensive ACB posts, the recent Public Safety alerts, and incidents of racial profiling and brutality.

The forum will feature a panel of speakers:
President Michael Roth
Public Safety Director David Meyer
Chantaneice Kitt ’13
Dorisol Inoa ’13
Evan Okun ’13
Jalen Alexander ’14
Professor Liza McAlister
Professor Alex Dupuy

This event will be moderated by Wesleyan’s Chief Diversity Officer. Sonia Manjon. If you have any questions for the panel, please submit them here. The moderator will pose questions and concerns submitted anonymously, and field questions and concerns directly from the audience.

SEE YOU THERE.

Date: Monday, November 12
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Beckham Hall
Cost: Zero

Sustainability Coordinator Advisory Panel Seeks Members

Marj “Not Marge” Dodson ’13 seeks members for a student panel on sustainability:

This year, Wesleyan University has a new sustainability coordinator Jen Kleindienst. Maybe you went to the potluck welcoming her to campus or have heard of some of her first initiatives. Maybe you have some ideas of how she can make sustainability at Wesleyan rock.

I’m leading a student advisory panel to help Jen out—keep her in the loop as to what students are up to and help set goals for the semester and year. If you’re interested in being apart of this group, please shoot me a quick email by Thursday at noon and let me know why you’re interested. My email: mdodson(zat)wesleyan(zot)edu.

Deadline: Thursday at noon
Contact: mdodson@wes