School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the College of Charleston

Tomorrow (11/29), the final film of the semester for the RELS Reels series will be shown at 7 pm in ECTR 116. The film is Life of Brian, and Dr. Huddlestun will guide the discussion afterward. As always, we are providing snacks, and all are welcome. Life of Brian is a Monty Python movie, so it should be a real hoot.

In the latest episode of the podcast, Speaking of … College of Charleston, Gibbs Knotts , dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Amanda Ruth-McSwain, associate professor of of communication, look back on the Bully Pulpit Series and all of its speakers over the years. 🇺🇸

On Oct. 3, 2007, the College of Charleston started a political communication lecture series called the Bully Pulpit Series, inviting presidential candidates to campus to speak to students and the public about their political vision and communication plans, should they be elected president of the United States.

Over the last 15 years, 32 politicians have participated in the series. Some of the more memorable candidates include then Senator John McCain, former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report at the time, who delivered the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally” in the Cistern Yard.


https://today.cofc.edu/2023/11/27/cofc-podcast-celebrating-15-years-of-the-bully-pulpit/

Article by Amy Stockwell in

Excited for our next event . This should be interesting.

Join the CofC Department of Religious Studies for a public lecture by Dr. Jolyon Thomas, University of Pennsylvania, on “How Japanese Buddhists Tried - and Failed - to Make Kids Good”! Thursday, Nov. 16, 4pm, in RSS 235.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Japan faced concerns about youth behavior due to post-war issues like drugs and po*******hy, addiction and criminality. Some suggested the solution was “more religion” and thus introduced Buddhist teachings in public schools. This talk will explain how this effort ultimately proved unsuccessful but how “moral panic” spurred some of the most doctrinally innovative Buddhist thinking of the twentieth century.

Political Science Major Is Fraternity of One, Force of Many Vice President Kamala Harris had been answering questions in Sottile Theatre for more than an hour during her “Fight for Our Freedoms” campus tour in October, when the last questioner, junior Tyler Gadson, posed one about climate change. “This is a wonderful question,” Harris said, “and th...

We recently hosted the 35th Annual SEWHA Conference. History major Francesca Gibson received the award for Best Undergraduate Paper! Check out our latest blog for details about her research. Congratulations, Francesca!
https://blogs.cofc.edu/history/2023/11/07/history-major-wins-sewha-award-for-best-undergraduate-paper/

College of Charleston Walking Tours, Classes Share Untold Stories Through Heritage Interpretation - Holy City Sinner By: CofC Media The College of Charleston is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. That legacy is visible in iconic sites on campus such as Porter’s Lodge, Randolph Hall and the birthplace of Septima Clark. In 2020, College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu cr...

College Plays Major Role in Literary Festival The College of Charleston is proud to once again be the official academic partner of the Charleston Literary Festival. The festival, which runs Nov. 3–12,2023, will feature a host of world-class writers and thinkers exploring today’s most pressing issues and ideas. This is the third consecutive ...

CofC Walking Tours, Classes Share Untold Stories Through Heritage Interpretation The College of Charleston is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. That legacy is visible in iconic sites on campus such as Porter’s Lodge, Randolph Hall and the birthplace of Septima Clark. In 2020, College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu created the Colle...

Please join us for the 17th annual Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival (NCIFF 2023). From November 2nd -5th at the Queen Street Playhouse, prepare for an unforgettable journey through the best of contemporary Italian cinema.

All screenings are free for students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, all films will be in Italian with English subtitles.

Heath Hoffmann, professor of sociology ,will serve as the inaugural Faculty Development Online Coordinator beginning Jan. 1! 🛜 🤩
Dr. Hoffmann brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role and was the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Teaching Award.
We know Dr. Hoffman will ensure the highest quality of online classes for CofC students, working “bit by bit!” 👏👏 💻

College of Charleston Speaker Series on Public Discourse and Civility with Author Dave Barry - Holy City Sinner By: CofC Media The College of Charleston’s Speaker Series on Public Discourse and Civility, hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post journalist Kathleen Parker, aims to highlight the value of civility when sharing opposing ideas. On November 2, 2023 at 7 pm, Parker will host a discussion w...

Join us for this free event in the Public Discourse and Civility series!
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and musician Dave Barry will join Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker for Exploring the Role of Humor in Public Discourse! 🗣️😂
Sottile Theatre, 44 George Street, Thursday, Nov. 2, 7pm

It’s that time of year again, Charleston’s annual Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival is back for its 17th year this weekend, November 2nd-5th!  explores the latest and greatest contemporary Italian cinema, showcasing Italian culture and voices through some of the best modern Italian filmmakers.

This year, visiting filmmakers include director Elia Moutamid and screenwriter Simone Brioni of the film Maka, and director Sophie Chiarello of the film Il Cerchio! Director of Good Morning Tel Aviv, Giovanna Gagliardo, will also be speaking about her film virtually.

Also, introductions for certain films will be made by a variety of College of Charleston faculty members including Film Studies’ very own Dr. Colleen Glenn, Professor Robert Sapp, Professor Rebekah Compton, Professor Lauren Ravalico, and Dean Aimee Arias!

The event is free for CofC students and faculty, check out the full schedule of films + speakers linked in the bio!

Join the Department of Philosophy College of Charleston on Thursday, November 2nd at Alumni Center (86 Wentworth St) at 3:15 PM for Prof. Krasnoff's sabbatical lecture: Kant as Comprehensive Liberal.

Abstract: In a well-known essay, Thomas Pogge argues that Kant’s political philosophy is not comprehensive in Rawls’ sense, since it is independent of his moral philosophy. However, Pogge understands Kant’s comprehensive liberalism as the view that his moral philosophy entails his political philosophy. I question whether this is the best way to understand comprehensive liberalism in Kant. I argue that Kant’s comprehensive moral philosophy is not an independent argument for the moral truth of liberal ideals, but rather a liberal way of justifying an independent commitment to politically liberal values, given that we all have values that are not political.

What an amazing time at the speaking about my new book (OUT IN THREE WEEKS 😝),my journey in journalism, facing sexism through out my career, overcoming mental health battles, and the power of female friendships and fans 🫶🏻🫶🏻
And the best part… meeting the amazing women in who showed up for me after.
I met women between the ages of 18 and 70 who were all fans of and it was just incredible ☀️☀️
Plus they got me two “ferns” at the request of 🤣🤣🤣
AND my husband surprised me with a few of my besties from KC 😭😭🩷🩷
I love you all so much.
Thank you for the support and encouragement as I begin this era of my life 🩷😭
And HUGE thanks to Heath Hoffman for hosting me. You were amazing.
Stay pesky ☀️☀️
Can’t wait to see y’all tonight at the 🦩🦩
🥂🥂

This Friday evening, the Halsey Institute will host “Everything is Us,” a conversation between English Prof. Johnson and Dr. View in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

TODAY, Dr. View is in the House! He will guide the in a collaborative process of listening and incorporate his Hip-Hop scholarship at 3:15pm in RSS 235 on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Can’t make it today or just want MORE?!
Dr. View will be speaking tomorrow with our own Dr. Johnson in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. Dr. View and Dr. J will discuss Hip-Hop’s past, present, and future as well as Black art, Tulsa, Fire in Little Africa, and more. Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30pm, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, 161 Calhoun St.

Very proud of Ashley Cafasso ‘14, College of Charleston Sociology and Anthropology alumna! 👏👏⭐️

Ashley Cafasso ’14 will be honored with the Young Alumna Award during the 2023 Alumni Awards Gala on Saturday, Nov. 18, for her outstanding achievement and leadership in the field of medicine. https://bit.ly/CofCAAGala23

Ms. Cafasso is being recognized for her work as both a project lead and manager of business administration (Nursing) at New York Presbyterian Hospital where she developed corporate health programs for 26 Fortune 500 companies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While at the College, Ms. Cafasso majored in anthropology and minored in linguistics and French and Francophone studies. She served in multiple leadership roles with her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and today works with Theta headquarters as a member of its National Risk Management Committee. Ms. Cafasso earned her Master of Public Health from Tulane University in 2015.

Outside of work, Ms. Cafasso gives back to her community by volunteering with several organizations, including iMentor, the Junior League of New York, and Radio Lollipop.

Join on Thursday, October 19th for a lecture by new faculty member, Prof. Nicolas Delon! His talk is entitled, "Why Urban Wildlife Matters, Yes, Even Rats." – A wide range of overlooked animals live among us—in our streets, our backyards, even our houses, right in our midst, at the edge of town, or underground. Until recently, urban critters had met only sparse academic interest, including in animal ethics. But they were hiding in plain sight. This talk will discuss: What do we owe rats, pigeons, raccoons, and coyotes? Is there anything morally distinctive about urban animals? What implications do they have for urban design and infrastructure?

is thrilled to announce our fall visiting scholar, Stevie "Dr. View" Johnson! Dr. View will be here on Thursday, October 26th. Join us in RSS 235 at 3:15 for his talk, Hip Hop at 50: The Epistemology of Listening & Hip Hop Sensibilities to Develop Trust & Community Inside & Outside the Academy.

Swipe left to learn more about our esteemed scholar.

Thank you to our sponsors

Congratulations to Dr. Mike Lee on being named the inaugural director of the Civil Discourse Initiative! 👏👏
The initiative was established to highlight the value of civility when sharing opposing ideas and how these civil conversations could help the bridge political divides.
A panel discussion titled “Is Civility under Siege?” will feature Brian Jones of New Paradigm Media and Communications, David Mayorga of the US Department of Energy, and Patty Tucker from the Treehouse Council. This first event will be held in the Stern Center Ballroom, Oct. 25, 3pm, and is free and open to the public.
Go to the link in our profile to learn more!

The W.N Looper Award is a great opportunity for students interested in interning on Capitol Hill! See the flyer above for details!

Join for the first annual Advocacy and Policy Change Panel Discussion next Wednesday, Oct. 18th, at 3:30 pm to hear from local and state representatives of the public sector field! Held at 202 Calhoun St (School of Sciences and Mathematics Building room #129! See you there!

On Wednesday, a group of students served as Press Volunteers during Kamala Harris's visit to CofC. The students got a behind the scenes look at everything it takes to cover a large-scale political event. Liv Lott (COMM ambassador for ) said, "I witnessed the immense care it takes to manage press outlets at such a high-profile event...the entire White House team's leadership and passion made the experience unforgettable. The event reinvigorated my intention to work in media that promotes social change!" Thanks for being such wonderful representatives of !

Don't let these crucial application deadlines slip away! Apply now! 📄 🐾
⁣👉 cofc.edu/apply
👉 finaid.cofc.edu

Join the Department of Philosophy College of Charleston on Thursday, October 19th at 4:15PM in the Alumni Center at 86 Wentworth St. for a lecture by new faculty member, Prof. Nicolas Delon!

His talk, "Why Urban Wildlife Matters, Yes, Even Rats." – A wide range of overlooked animals live among us—in our streets, our backyards, even our houses, right in our midst, at the edge of town, or underground. Until recently, urban critters had met only sparse academic interest, including in animal ethics. But they were hiding in plain sight. This talk will discuss: What do we owe rats, pigeons, raccoons, and coyotes? Is there anything morally distinctive about urban animals? What implications do they have for urban design and infrastructure?
We hope to see you there!

Join us for the first annual Advocacy and Public Policy Change Panel Discussion next Wednesday, Oct. 18th, at 3:30 pm to hear from local and state representatives of the public sector field! Held at 202 Calhoun St (School of Sciences and Mathematics Building room #129! See you there!

Learn about the film studies program TOMORROW. The open house is at 7 p.m. in Maybank 100.

Elana White ’24 is currently an intern at MUSC’s National Crime Victim Center, where she attends prolonged exposure therapy workshops, sits in on phone screenings and meetings, and has completed Victim Assistance Training and certifications. In Summer 2023 she completed two internships. At APTMetrics, a human resources consulting organization, Elana wrote white papers on tools, methods, and models for identifying and developing high potentials in organizations. At Joyntly Human Capital Labs, Elana contributed to translating scientific research into tangibles workplace applications by conducting literature reviews and statistical analyses that she plans to present at the annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Elana has conducted research with several CofC PSYC faculty. She examined the impact of a writing intervention on anxiety with Dr. Sarah Robertson, and presented her as first author at the 2023 CofC EXPO conference and as co-author at the 2023 Annual Convention of the South Carolina Psychological Association. She conducts research with Dr. Anthony Bishara on baseline slope neglect, interrupted time series data, graph judgment, and the feature present effect, and she examines the effect of romantic nostalgia on relationship strength with Dr. Chelsea Reid and plans to present her research at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in the Spring. Elana also conducts research with Dr. Lisa Ross examining links between personality and academic hassles, which she plans to present at the annual meeting of the Society for Southeastern Social Psychologists in the November. Also in Summer 2023. Elana was a fellow at the Dr. Shawn D. Long Organizational Science Institute, a graduate school preparatory program for members of populations that are underrepresented in graduate school and fields of organizational science.

Elana is a member Mortar Board, National Society of Leadership and Success, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Psi Chi (Treasurer), and Psychology Club (Social Media Coordinator). She volunteers as a supplemental note taker for psychological statistics course, contributing 60 hours of note taking services, and volunteered for CofC Cougarthon 2022.

After graduating, Elana hopes to attend an I-O psychology Ph.D. program to pursue a research career.