Two virtual discussions addressing current national events—the presidential inauguration and the Capitol riots—will feature Worcester State faculty experts, who will add insight and context based on their academic specialties.
Assistant Professor Anthony Dell’Aera, Ph.D., of the History and Political Science Department, will talk about the significance of Inauguration Day at a pre-Inauguration forum at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20. U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern will give the opening address at the virtual event, which is sponsored by the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts. In addition, Worcester State students contributed reflections in a presentation called “What Are Our Hopes for the Next Four Years.”
Pre-registration is required: http://bit.ly/3bGmLWe [1]. A link will be emailed once registration has closed.
In the second event on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 4 p.m., the Department of History and Political Science will host a discussion of the broader historical and political context for understanding the storming of the Capitol Building and attempted coup on Jan. 6. Panelists will discuss Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, the United States in the 1870s, social media and research skills for teens, and online indoctrination into white supremacy.
According to organizer Professor Charlotte Haller, Ph.D., “This event is particularly focused upon the ways that we can teach about these events, whether within formal classrooms or more informally within our communities and families.”
Participants include:
- Associate Professor Erika Briesacher, Ph.D., who will discuss “Europe in the 1920s/1930s and the United States in 2021: Parallels and Comparisons.”
- Professor and Department Chair Charlotte Haller, Ph.D., who will talk about “Teaching Reconstruction and White Supremacist Violence in 2021.”
- Ally Mabardy, a history graduate student in and social studies teacher, who will discuss “Social Media Response to the Capitol Insurrection & Teaching Teens Responsible Research Skills.”
- Assistant Professor Catriona Standfield, Ph.D., who will talk about “Recognizing the Signs of White Supremacist Indoctrination Online.”
A discussion and question-and-answer session will be moderated by Professor Aldo Garcia-Guevara, Ph.D., and Professor Tona Hangen, Ph.D.
Registration is required for the event, which is open to the public: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teaching-and-learning-from-the-attempted-coup-of-january-6th-registration-136433340795 [2]. For more information, contact Haller at challer@worcester.edu [3].