Tuesday, March 1
Documentary: “The Central Park Five” Runtime: 119 minutes
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem were arrested and later convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park. They spent between 6 and 13 years in prison before a serial rapist confessed that he alone had committed the crime, leading to their convictions being overturned. Set against a backdrop of a decaying city beset by violence and racial tension, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE tells the story of that horrific crime, the rush to judgment by the police, a media clamoring for sensational stories and an outraged public, and the five lives upended by this miscarriage of justice.
10:10 to 12:00 pm, KHRC&A Classroom, Seat limit: 70, 24 seats reserved for John Talbird’s class
Wednesday, March 2
“An Overview of the Innocence Project and Innocence Work”
Guest Speaker: Olga Akselrod, Senior Staff Attorney with the Innocence Project
The Innocence Project’s groundbreaking use of DNA technology to free innocent people has provided unquestionable proof that wrongful convictions are not isolated events. They, instead, arise from imperfections in our criminal justice system. The Innocence Project’s mission is to free the overwhelming numbers of innocent people who remain incarcerated and to bring reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment.
12:10 to 1:00 pm, M136, Seat limit: 270
Thursday, March 3rd
Documentary: “The Central Park Five” -- Runtime: 119 minutes
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem were arrested and later convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park. They spent between 6 and 13 years in prison before a serial rapist confessed that he alone had committed the crime, leading to their convictions being overturned. Set against a backdrop of a decaying city beset by violence and racial tension, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE tells the story of that horrific crime, the rush to judgment by the police, a media clamoring for sensational stories and an outraged public, and the five lives upended by this miscarriage of justice.
2:10 to 4:00 pm, LB14 -- Seat limit: 73 --27 seats reserved for Jean Murley’s class
Friday, March 4th
Documentary: “After Innocence” -- Runtime: 95 minutes
This documentary tells the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated – innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. Focusing on the gripping stories of seven men, including a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father that were sent to prison for decades – in some cases death row – for crimes they did not commit, this documentary explores the emotional journeys these men face when thrust back into society with little or no support from the system that put them behind bars. While the public views exonerations as success stories – wrongs that have been righted – this documentary shows that the human toll of wrongful imprisonment can last far longer than the sentences served, raising basic questions about human rights and society’s moral obligation to the exonerated by placing a spotlight on the flaws in our criminal justice system that lead to wrongful conviction of the innocent.
10:10 to 12:00 pm, M344A-- Seat limit: 64 -- 25 seats reserved for Tammi Rothman’s class
Friday, March 4th
“Stolen Years: Stories of the Wrongfully Imprisoned” -- Guest Speaker: Reuven Fenton
Join us as author, and New York Post reporter, Reuven Fenton speaks about his recent release, “Stolen Years: Stories of the Wrongfully Imprisoned.” In this book he profiles ten men and women, telling their harrowing stories of imprisonment, how they were set free, and the triumph of the human spirit.
1:10 to 3:00 pm, LB14 -- Seat limit: 73
Monday, March 7th
Documentary: “The Central Park Five” -- Runtime: 119 minutes
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem were arrested and later convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park. They spent between 6 and 13 years in prison before a serial rapist confessed that he alone had committed the crime, leading to their convictions being overturned. Set against a backdrop of a decaying city beset by violence and racial tension, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE tells the story of that horrific crime, the rush to judgment by the police, a media clamoring for sensational stories and an outraged public, and the five lives upended by this miscarriage of justice.
8:10 to 10:00 am, LB14 --Seat limit: 73 -- 31 seats reserved for Kat Alves’ class --23 seats reserved for Ben Miller’s class
Monday, March 7
“Journalism Class Presentation: Eye Witnesses, Credible Sources, and Effective Crime Reporting”
A workshop led by Prof. Cercone and her journalism students on the challenges journalists face when reporting on a crime. Presented by: Alisa Cercone and her students.
12:10 – 2:00 pm, LB14-- Seat limit: 73--26 seats reserved for Alisa Cercone’s students--24 seats reserved for Noelia Diaz’ class.
Tuesday, March 8
Joan Dupre’s Class…
12:10 – 2:00 pm, LB14 --Seat limit: 73--33 seats reserved for Joan Dupre’s students
Tuesday, March 8
“Dance Performance and Discussion on Forgiveness”
Students will perform a works in progress piece that they are working on for the May 12th & 13th Spring Dance Workshop Concert. They will use Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption, inspiration from attending other Common Read events, additional research on forgiveness, and their own personal investigations on a process of forgiveness to create the dance piece. Their performance will be followed by a discussion and an opportunity for questions to discuss their process and discoveries.
2:30 – 4:00 pm, RFK214 --Presented by: Emily Berry and her students--Seat limit: 50
Wednesday, March 9
“What Can (and Can’t) Our Genes tell us About Someone?”
Our genome encodes all of our traits, but even identical twins are not “identical.” We will talk about what our genes do encode, how identical information can produce different traits, the potential flaws in DNA fingerprinting, and unusual modes of inheritance of some traits. (Poster format)
10:10 – 11:00, M253-- Presented by: Sara Danzi Engoron and her students
Wednesday, March 9
“Myths: Who are we to Judge?”
12:10 to 1:00 pm, LB14--Presented by: Georgina Colalillo and Janice Molloy--Seat limit 73-9 seats reserved for Georgina Colalillo’s class-9 seats reserved for Janice Molloy’s class
Wednesday, March 9
“Self, World and Poems that Ask Forgiveness: An Interactive Event”
In a world in which acts of violence seem to occur with ever-increasing randomness and magnitude, what, some may ask, can poetry offer? Though Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet was speaking of imprisonment when he wrote, “It’s this way: / being captured is beside the point, / the point is not to surrender,” his words may apply to our collective refusal to surrender to the many forms of violence we face in our contemporary world. Whether poems address the violence of climate change, of interracial strife, or of gender inequalities, they offer not only resistance to violence, but also act as fields in which forgiveness is forged from a naming of violence and the potential of renewal that can result. Come hear how poetry represents violence and offers forgiveness in its stead.
12:10 to 2:00 pm, S111--Presented by: Richard Tayson, Benjamin Miller and Danielle Izzo Buckner--Seat limit: 186 -- 33 seats reserved for Richard Tayson’s class--23 seats reserved for Benjamin Miller’s class
Wednesday, March 9
“An Interactive Presentation on Sexual Violence on College Campuses and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)”
One in four women experience sexual violence while attending college. Join us as we discuss the risk factors, consequences (including PTSD) and follow-up care. What is PTSD? What causes it? What are the symptoms? What treatment is available? We will discuss these issues as well as possible symptoms experienced by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino.
1:10 to 2:00 pm, LB14--Presented by: Barbara Rome and Janet Franzese --Seat limit: 73
Thursday, March 10th
Movie: “Conviction” Runtime: 103 minutes --
Two-time Academy Award Winner Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell deliver unforgettable performances in this incredible true story that co-stars Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis and Peter Gallagher. Swank plays Betty Anne Waters, a young woman whose world is shattered when her beloved brother Kenny (Rockwell) is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Steadfastly convinced of his innocence, Betty Anne embarks on an 18-year journey to set Kenny free, using state-of-the-art forensic technology. The unshakable bond between brother and sister, at the heart of this real-life drama, will stir your emotions and inspire
10:10 to 12 noon, M13--Seat limit: 270 --37 seats reserved for Kathleen Wentrack’s class
Thursday, March 10
Exploring Forgiveness
The proposed events will be based around a curated collection of Genocide survivor testimony video clips, followed by a facilitated discussion led by KHRCA director, Dr. Dan Leshem. Testimony examples will portray the varying attitudes of survivors towards their perpetrators and will explore the idea of forgiveness and hate after atrocity. Possible mass atrocities may include: the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Rwandan Genocide, and War Crimes in East Asia.
Session I: Denial and the Search for Justice
2:10 – 4:00 pm, Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives Classroom--Seat limit: 70--29 seats reserved for Danny Sexton’s class.
Monday, March 14
Documentary: “The Central Park Five” --Runtime: 119 minutes
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem were arrested and later convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park. They spent between 6 and 13 years in prison before a serial rapist confessed that he alone had committed the crime, leading to their convictions being overturned. Set against a backdrop of a decaying city beset by violence and racial tension, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE tells the story of that horrific crime, the rush to judgment by the police, a media clamoring for sensational stories and an outraged public, and the five lives upended by this miscarriage of justice.
8:10 to 10:00 am, LB14--Seat limit: 73--33 seats reserved for Richard Tayson’s class
Monday, March 14
Documentary: “The Central Park Five” Runtime: 119 minutes
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem were arrested and later convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park. They spent between 6 and 13 years in prison before a serial rapist confessed that he alone had committed the crime, leading to their convictions being overturned. Set against a backdrop of a decaying city beset by violence and racial tension, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE tells the story of that horrific crime, the rush to judgment by the police, a media clamoring for sensational stories and an outraged public, and the five lives upended by this miscarriage of justice.
10:10 to 12 noon, LB14 --Seat limit: 73--33 seats reserved for Richard Tayson’s class-- 31 seats reserved for Elise Denbo’s class
Monday, March 14
“Forensic Drawing and the Common Read: An Exploration of the Process and the Ronald Cotton Case”
This event will examine the intricate process of forensic drawing (often termed “police sketches” or “mug sketches”) to better understand its improper use in the Ronald Cotton case. The audience will interactively learn about procedures and techniques used by professional forensic artists, as well as participate in exercises highlighting the fragility of eyewitness testimony and how successful forensic artists interpret and apply that testimony. Presented by: Carey, Lane, Ph.D., a professional forensic artist who teaches developmental English at QCC and forensic drawing at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
2:10 to 3:45 pm, M136--Seat limit: 270-17 seats reserved for Noelia Diaz’ class
Tuesday, March 15
Diversity and Genetics: There is No Genetic Basis for Race -- 12:10 to 1 pm, LB14- Presented by: Sara Danzi Engoron and Larisa Honey --Seat limit: 73
Tuesday, March 15
Exploring Forgiveness
The proposed events will be based around a curated collection of Genocide survivor testimony video clips, followed by a facilitated discussion led by KHRCA director, Dr. Dan Leshem. Testimony examples will portray the varying attitudes of survivors towards their perpetrators and will explore the idea of forgiveness and hate after atrocity. Possible mass atrocities may include: the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Rwandan Genocide, and War Crimes in East Asia.
Session II: Healing and Moving Forward 2:10 – 4:00 pm, Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives Classroom
Seat limit: 70 -27 seats reserved for Jean Murley’s class
Wednesday, March 16
“The Criminal Justice System by the Numbers”
12:10 – 2:00 pm, S111- Presented by: Mercedes Franco and her students-- Seat limit: 186
Wednesday, March 16th
Documentary: “After Innocence” Runtime: 95 minutes
This documentary tells the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated – innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. Focusing on the gripping stories of seven men, including a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father that were sent to prison for decades – in some cases death row – for crimes they did not commit, this documentary explores the emotional journeys these men face when thrust back into society with little or no support from the system that put them behind bars. While the public views exonerations as success stories – wrongs that have been righted – this documentary shows that the human toll of wrongful imprisonment can last far longer than the sentences served, raising basic questions about human rights and society’s moral obligation to the exonerated by placing a spotlight on the flaws in our criminal justice system that lead to wrongful conviction of the innocent.
2:10 to 4:00 pm, LB14--Seat limit: 73--17 seats reserved for Noelia Diaz’ class
Thursday, March 17
“Forming and Retrieving Memories”
In the book, “Picking Cotton”, a person is convicted of a crime he never committed. At the time of trial, the victim is certain of the defendant’s guilt and makes an eyewitness identification. Years later, DNA evidence exonerates the defendant, implicating another, but leads the victim to question her memory of events. This series of events not only relates to other cases the justice system has encountered, but highlights a general feature of human memory, our memories of people, events, and objects are influenced not only by the manner in which they are formed but can be affected by the way in which they are retrieved. Dr. Jankowski will discuss not only how memories are formed but how they are retrieved, and factors that can impact their accuracy. (40 min lecture/10 min Q&A)
2:10 to 3:00 pm, LB14--Presented by: Jeffery Jankowski--Seat limit: 73
Friday, March 18th
Documentary: “After Innocence” Runtime: 95 minutes
This documentary tells the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated – innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. Focusing on the gripping stories of seven men, including a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father that were sent to prison for decades – in some cases death row – for crimes they did not commit, this documentary explores the emotional journeys these men face when thrust back into society with little or no support from the system that put them behind bars. While the public views exonerations as success stories – wrongs that have been righted – this documentary shows that the human toll of wrongful imprisonment can last far longer than the sentences served, raising basic questions about human rights and society’s moral obligation to the exonerated by placing a spotlight on the flaws in our criminal justice system that lead to wrongful conviction of the innocent.
12:10 to 2:00 pm, LB15-Seat limit: 40 -24 seats reserved for Noelia Diaz’ class- 21 seats reserved for Tammi Rothman’s class
Friday, March 18th
“Investigating Forgiveness in Picking Cotton and Life”
Join English Composition and CUNY Language Immersion Program students as they share their experiences reading Picking Cotton and present their analysis of quotes from the memoir that illustrate the theme of forgiveness.
1:10 – 2:00 pm, LB14 Presented by: Beth Counihan and Lauren Most’s students Seat limit: 73 --26 seats reserved for Beth Counihan’s class--28 seats reserved for Lauren Most’s class