Diversity Lecture Series at HCCC

January 27, 2010

Herkimer County Community College’s Diversity Committee announces five presentations to be held throughout February, March and April celebrating diversity on campus. All presentations will be held in room 288 in the Robert McLaughlin College Center and are free and open to the public.

The first presentation of the series will be held Wednesday, February 3 at 1 p.m. when Thomas Barthel, Associate Professor of English, presents “The Negro Baseball Leagues.” Barthel will discuss the history of the leagues and how the leagues were businesses run by African Americans, for African American customers, with African American players, coaches and managers at both the major and minor league levels. He illustrates how, beginning in the 1920’s, the leagues parallel the rise in black consciousness as best exemplified by the Harlem Renaissance.  Barthel has published several books, most recently, Baseball’s Peerless Semi-pros: The Brooklyn Bushwicks of Dexter Park. Additionally, Barthel had an article on General Abner Doubleday run in Memories and Dreams, the official, members-only magazine of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.

On Wednesday, February 24 at 2 p.m. Matthew Powers, English Instructor, will present “The Horror of Race: HBO’s True Blood.”

Jason Rathbun, Head Baseball Coach, will present “Team Dynamics and Diversity: Principles of Sports Psychology” on Wednesday, March 3 at 1 p.m.

Lisa Elwood-Farber, Assistant Professor of English, will present ““Hatred and Violence Perpetuated Against Women in the Name of Tradition” on Tuesday, March 30 at 10 a.m.

Dr. Matthew Hawes, Dean of Students, will present “Differently Abled vs. Able Bodied: A Cultural Immersion Experience” on Monday, April 19 at 1 p.m.