Cultural Studies Conference

Teachers College Students for a Cultural Studies Initiative (TCSCI)
Threat-n-Youth: Cultural Studies Responds to Violence and Education
March 31st-April 1st, 2006
Teachers College, Columbia University
525 West 120th Street New York, NY 1002

As part of the ongoing effort to create and promote cultural studies work at Teachers College, Columbia University, TC Students for a Cultural Studies Initiative (TCSCSI) is sponsoring a Graduate Student Conference. This year’s conference is entitled “Threat-n-Youth: Cultural Studies Responds to Violence and Education.” The purpose of the conference is to bring together an international group of faculty and graduate students, along with educators and K-12 students from the New York City area in an effort to address various issues of violence and education that include, but are not limited to the following: We draw our definition of violence from the Freire’s assertion that “Any situation in which some individuals prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence,” (Paolo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1970). Based on this broad conception of violence, we welcome proposals that address topics including, but not limited to:

Projects will be presented over the course of the two days. The conference will consist of graduate student panels and presentations along with various workshops run by students and educators in the New York City area.

In addition to workshops, the conference will include graduate student panels, and the following keynote speakers:

All submissions should include the following: name, mailing address, e-mail address, institutional and departmental affiliation, and degree program. The deadline for all submissions IS NOW Friday Feb 3rd . All paper, PANEL AND WORKSHOP proposals should be sent to Ms Jessica Lee at the following e-mail address threatnyouth@gmail.com.

Paper presented at the conference will be considered for publication in Subject Matters, A Journal of Cultural Studies, Education, and Subjectivity.

We would like to highlight some of the work teachers and students do together toward education around these issues within classrooms and after school settings. Therefore, we are calling for workshops that address efforts of teachers and students to transform education through classroom projects, student activism and extra-curricular activities that respond to violence, document violence or serve as an alternative to violence.

The deadline for all submissions is Friday, February 24th. All proposals should be sent to Ms. Jessica Lee at the following e-mail address threatnyouth@gmail.com. You may attach your proposal as a Word document or send in the text of an email.

To submit a proposal, please include the following information in no more than 3 pages:

If your proposal is accepted, we will work with you to finalize your workshop outline and accommodate your multi-media needs.
Although we welcome you to include any existing information, including web links, pamphlets, samples of student work, etc. that may provide context, it is not necessary to your consideration. You will be contacted via email by March 3rd regarding your participation.

Registration Options and Instructions:
Registration will be handled through Teachers College, Continuing Education Center for Outreach and Innovation (CEO&I) and is available by phone, or internet. Registration includes admission to all conference events including panels, workshops, keynotes, film festival and reading, breakfast and lunch for 2 days and conference resources. If you have questions regarding these fees, please call 800-209-1295.

Course Opportunity: As part of the conference there is an opportunity to earn degree or professional development credit through participation in the following class: Special Topics in Arts and Humanities: Youth Violence and the Violation of Youth information on the course, please contact Mark Hrastar at Hrastar@exchange.tc.columbia.edu.

In appreciation of your participation, a $15 reimbursement for part of the registration fee is guaranteed to anyone submitting a proposal for the conference - whether it is accepted or not - on presentation of a valid student I.D. at the office of CEO&I during the conference.

The Lucerne (subway to TC)
201 West 79th Street at Amsterdam Ave
Phone: 800.492.8122 or 212.875.1000
http://www.thelucernehotel.com/

Hostel International New York
HI-NY, 891 Amsterdam Ave. between 103rd and 104th streets (walk or bus to TC)
T: +1 (212) 932.2300
http://www.hinewyork.org/

Location: 121st Street bet. Amsterdam and Broadway
Phone: (212) 678-3235
Price: for three nights, estimate of $105 per night
Note: to stay over a weekend, you must pay for Friday- Sunday nights.

East Campus House
Location: Columbia University Campus (2 blocks from TC)
Telephone: 212.854.0365
Description: Each room is air conditioned and has two double beds, color cable TV and a private full bath. VIP suite available which has a bedroom with 2 double beds, a living room area with pull out sofa and a private bath.
Price: $150; rooms can accommodate up to 4 people with no additional charge

Union Theological Seminary - Landmark Guestrooms
Location: 3041 Broadway Avenue (122nd Street—about 2 blocks from TC)
Telephone: (212) 280-1313
Fax: 212.280.1488
Description: 20 Guest Rooms
Price: $145 for double occupancy (4 rooms available)

International House
500 Riverside Drive at 122nd Street (about 5 blocks from TC)
Telephone: (212) 316-8473
Price: $110 single/$125 per night ; Suite $135

From LaGuardia
Exit on the baggage claim level to the airport transportation platform. You can take the MTA (public) bus M60 to 120th Street and Broadway. You will need a MetroCard or $2 in change. The ride takes about an hour in New York City Traffic and is a scenic ride down Harlem’s 125th Street.

You may also wish to take The New York Airport service bus from LaGuardia, which is about $12 one way. This bus drops off at Grand Central Station (East Side of Manhattan) or Port Authority Bus Terminal (West Side). To go to Columbia, exit at Port Authority to get the subway (take the 1 train to 116th street).

From JFK
AirTrain is a monorail run by the MTA and LIRR. Look for signs for AirTrain on the baggage claim level. Take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station and then transfer to an LIRR train to Manhattan—Penn Station. You will need to purchase an additional ticket to do this, available from machines outside the AirTrain. This option will cost you around $11.

From Newark
Take the AirTran to New Jersey Transit (signs in baggage claim) to Penn Station—New York; you will have to transfer from the AirTrain to the New Jersey Transit. Important note: there is also a Penn Station in Newark—do not go there! Tickets are about $15 one way. From Penn, take the 1, 2 or 3 subway from Penn Station to 116th Street to reach Columbia.

You may also take the New York Airport Bus Service (see LaGuardia for details and link).

Columbia is located on Manhattan’s upper west side and the “Columbia Stop” on the subway is 116th and Broadway on the 1 Train line. You may wish to take the 2 or 3 express train to 96th street and then walk across the platform to transfer to the 1 train. Exit at 116th and walk 4 blocks north to TC at 120th and Broadway. The main entrance is in the middle of the block between Broadway and Amsterdam.

Taxis in New York City are abundant, though usually the most expensive option in terms of travel. However, if you are going from Midtown—Penn Station, Grand Central or Port Authority—and have 4 riders, it may be only slightly more expensive per person to take a cab. From JFK and LaGuardia, a cab is about $30 to Columbia; from Newark it is at least $50.

Asking for directions
Contrary to legend, most New Yorkers actually love to tell people how to get around their city. If you are not sure about directions, ask someone; he or she will probably be glad to help you. If your chosen person is not that friendly, someone else will likely come up to you and just start telling you the best way to get where you are going. Multiple participants may even engage in a lively debate about your route.

Please send all questions and requests for further information to the following e-mail address c/o Jessica Hochman: jlh76@columbia.edu.