History Department at Union College

Happy Pride Month from the Union College History Department!

Remember: Change only happens when people make it happen, so don't be afraid to demand a better world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWDPqrr2aZ0
Students recently went behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Sean Belair, a Union alum and associate conservator in the department of Arms and Armor. ⚔️ Hear from history professors Sarina Kuersteiner and Joyce Madancy about the valuable visit for their classes, HST 144 - Global Medieval World and HST 285 - Samurai: Lives, Loves & Legacies.

Union College at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Arms and Armor Students recently went behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Sean Belair, a Union alum and associate conservator in the department of Arms...

Please join us Monday in Karp 005 for Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine's very important talk co-sponsored by History 4U and LACS!

"Is Guyana Headed Towards the Resource Curse?"
April 22, 5:30pm
Karp 005

Happy Easter to the members of the Union College Community who celebrate! We wish you a wonderful holiday!

Proving you never know who you will see in NYC! History Professor Joyce Madancy and two alum History majors, Matt Giarratana '23 and Dana Donati '16 at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, where both work. Dana is the Director of Volunteer and Intern Operations, and Matt is working to recruit more veterans to the volunteer force at the museum. She said it was fantastic to see them, and they had an incredible tour!

To our Union community members that observe Ramadan, the History Department wishes you “Ramadan Kareem.” Have a generous Ramadan.

Today we celebrate our faculty, students and staff who identify as women. Today is a day to stand in solidarity with women's right movements world wide, to amplify women's voices, acknowledge their experiences, and focus on the importance of collective action in advancing gender equality. Here we recognize the women faculty/staff that make up the History Department at Union: Prof. Sohini Chattopadhyay, Prof. Nicole deSilva, Prof. and Dept. Chair Andy Foroughi, Prof. Sarina Kuersteiner, Prof. Joyce Madancy, Prof. Elena McGrath, and Admin. Assistant Laurie McGill.

History Professor Sohini Chattopadhyay joins her colleagues in promoting gender equity! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

History Professor Andy Morris brought students from his HST 336 class, the Roosevelt Era, down to Hyde Park to visit Franklin D Roosevelt, Museum, library, and historic site. This is one of his favorite activities that he does with his students at Union and once again, they had a great time!

HST 269: Epidemics and Empire is coming to the History Dept. Spring 24. This course will be taught by Prof. Chattopadhyay and it is a great chance to learn about the history of epidemics such as cholera, bubonic plague, influenza, HIV/AIDS across modern empires. You will learn why some diseases and deaths mattered more than others, and why did these differences become so enduring that we saw them in 21st century exposures to pandemics and mass deaths. Hope to see U in class!

Hey, Union Students!! Here are two more exciting offerings from the History Department for SP 24 term taught by Professor Mc Grath! If these classes are half as cool as these poster designs I bet they are going to be great! Add HST 270: Popular Culture in Latin American History or HST 175: Radical Change in Latin American History to your schedule today!! See U in class College

Will you just look at these happy faces from the History Department?! Some of the most inspiring discussions take place when faculty and students take time out to get together!! Not only do they build great connections, but they share dinner, and discuss history. This evening topics included Marvel, Partitions, India, Pakistan, shrines, mosques, and the many ways which history matters.

Looking for a history course where you get to watch movies? Look no further - Here it is! Professor Cramsie will be teaching HST 366 British Cinema. Explore the development of British cinema tracing its roots from music halls at the turn of the century to the multiplexes of a globalized culture dominated by Hollywood. This class will explore various genres of British cinema spanning from humor to horror and everything in between. You will gain a greater understanding of the complex and diverse character of British cinema by analyzing actual films and engaging with critical studies of them. I wonder if he allows popcorn? There is only one way to find out! Add this to your schedule today!

Happy Lunar New Year 🧧 🪵 🐉 to those who celebrate 🎊! 2024 the year of the wood dragon.

The History Department is one of several co-sponsors of two upcoming, not to be missed Templeton Institute events. The first is a free showing of Oppenheimer (bring your Union ID) on Tues. Feb. 13th at 7PM at Proctors GE Theatre. Buses will run from 6:30-7:00pm from Old Chapel to Proctors. The second event is a panel review of Oppenheimer that will feature our own History Professor Mark Walker along with several professors from various departments of the college (see image). This panel will be held on Thursday, Feb 15th at 12:55PM at the O'Brien Center. We hope to see you there!

Please join us on Thursday, February 15th at 5PM for dinner and a discussion with Professor Chattopadhyay about the mini series Ms. Marvel and how it intersects with India's anti-colonial history! This event will be held in Lippman 101. We hope to see you! Union College

Hey Union students, Professor Madancy is teaching two great courses during the Spring 24 term! Add HST 284 to your schedule to experience a class with this very enthusiastic professor! Here is your chance to learn about women in China and Japan. Learn about the limitations they have had to endure under patriarchal structures. And if for some reason that doesn't appeal to you, check out HST 285: Samurai: Lives, Loves, and Legacies. This course explores the evolution of the samurai as a caste and the realities of samurai lives compared with the many meanings the samurai have acquired over time.

Attn: History Majors - This Friday, Feb 9th at 1PM the Career Center is holding a virtual event with one of our own! Destiny Hallenbeck a recent grad, from the class of 22 who was a History Major, will be holding a virtual lunch session with Union students. Please register on Handshake by using the QR code to attend! I am sure she would love to have lots of history majors as part of her audience! Learn about her time at Union and what it is like for her now that she's graduated. She is the current director of Outreach for the campaign of Pat Ryan (NY), and she was the Executive Vice President for the NYS Young Democrats. Destiny was elected to Chatham's Town Council when she was a student here at Union! Don't miss this great opportunity! Union College

Wow! Did you see all the great history course offerings for the Spring 24?? While history may be in the past, Union College History Department is offering many great courses NOW! It's like a time travel machine! You can go from the Middle Ages to the Second World War to learning about the Renaissance all in a day! Don't miss your chance to add one or more of these great courses to your schedule! Can't wait to see U in class! Union College

We put out the call for students wanting to become more involved in the History Department and we had these 4 history majors step up to the plate! Meet the History for U Steering Committee! These students will work closely with our history faculty members and their peers in their major to help plan events of interest to the students and faculty of the department. They hit the ground running and are already coming up with some great plans! Pictured here from left to right: Aliyah Hoffman '25, Gabriella Baratier '25, Sarah Flannery '24 and Ari Rogowski. We are grateful to have such a great bunch of students to work with and are excited to plan events with them!

Pictured here is Senior History major and work-study student Alex Morin. Alex works in Lippman Hall in the History Department and Political Science Department office. Alex is eager to assist with office related tasks. He doesn't mind helping with work for either department and puts his best effort into whatever task he is assigned to. Alex likes that the office is a busy place where he gets to see lots of people. He especially enjoys working in close proximity to all of the history professors. Thank you Alex for being an eager helper. Both departments (and of course the Administrative Assistant 🙂 appreciate the work that you do!

Have you ever thought about becoming a history major or minor? Here is your opportunity to learn more! Please mark your calendar and plan to join our wonderful faculty and students to learn more about what makes the History program so great! See you on Friday, Feb. 2nd during common hour (12:50-1:50) at Hale House in Everest Lounge for lunch! We can't wait to meet you!!

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. , may we continue to seek ways to add peace and light in our world.

Welcome Back! We hope your Winter 24 Term is off to a great start! Before your calendar fills up, you'll want to save the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 13th to attend a FREE (w/ your Union College ID) screening of Oppenheimer to be held at Proctors GE Theater. The Templeton Institute in collaboration with Proctors Theater is showing the movie. This event is Co-Sponsored by Film Studies, Physics & Astronomy and the History Department. Busses will run between Old Chapel and Proctors from 6:30-7:00PM. The screening is from 7PM-10PM and refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!

Happy Kwanzaa to those who celebrate!

We are happy to report that this whole crew made it back to the USA! Here we share one last reel of their amazing adventure to South Africa as part of a Mini-Term under the direction and supervision of History professor Andy Morris. I would imagine taken this crew is taking some time to adjust to the cold weather of the Northeast!! Enjoy the rest of the break world travelers!

Wishing the members of the Union Community who celebrate, a
Happy Hanukkah. Wishing you a meaningful Festival of Lights! From the History Department.