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News
Dowling College Shakes Up 2007/08 School Year with New Annual Theme -
'Globalism: One World' and Presentation 'U.S. Aids Messina Earthquake Victims'
Dowling College will kick off a year-long lineup of special events on the theme 'Globalism: One World' with a provocative and quite striking discussion contrasting the 1908 Messina post-earthquake experience and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This event, featuring historian Salvatore LaGumina, is free and open to the public and will take place on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 from 2:30 - 4:30 in the Fortunoff Hall Hunt Room, located at Dowling College's historic Rudolph Campus in Oakdale.
When Europe's most powerful earthquake shook southern Italy on December 28, 1908, those who survived the quake faced the bleakest of realities. The United States Navy Mission of Mercy to the Messina earthquake victims truly demonstrated America at its finest. Estimates of the Messina tragedy list up to 200,000 victims with countless cities and homes destroyed. The U.S. Navy played the most prominent role in the international effort utilizing ships and thousands of personnel over a period of many months to build shelters, schools and hospitals to aid victims. The U.S. answered human needs in a time of immense disaster in a commendable fashion. Critics may see this as a striking difference to the response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The United States assumed the foremost role of extensive aid to people in other parts of the world during the Gilded Age and this will be discussed in detail at this event. Presenter Salvatore LaGumina will also discuss how the Messina tragedy was pivotal in the increased influx of Italian immigrants to the United States as well as the mobilization effort by the Italian American community, and Americans in general, to raise funds for the rebuilding endeavor. President Theodore Roosevelt himself even paid a visit to the stricken area which demonstrated sincerity and elicited heartfelt gratitude.
"This year's theme of Globalism offers our students an important opportunity to enhance their knowledge about timely issues impacting our world. We are looking forward to a series of interesting and informative discussions on a variety of subjects presented by distinguished speakers," said Provost Linda Ardito. For additional information or directions, please call 631-244-3000.
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at
its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre
Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk
border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor′s, Master′s, and Doctoral degrees in several
disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.
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