Genesee Community College continues its Civil War Initiative, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the war, with two talks planned at its campus centers in Orleans County. The Albion Campus Center will host Don Burkel on Wednesday, October 9 at 7 p.m. The Medina Campus Center will welcome Professor Tim Palmer on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 p.m. Both lectures are free and open to the public.
Don Burkel is a historian and executive director/downtown manager of the Batavia Business Improvement District. His talk “Upton: Days of Challenge, 1861-1881” will focus on General Emory Upton. Upton was an outstanding leader, a brilliant tactician, and was dedicated to reforming the U.S. military and its policies. Visitors will hear about several of his ideas to improve the U.S. military that are still in effect today. Burkel will speak at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at GCC Albion, 456 West Avenue, Albion.
GCC professor Tim Palmer will speak on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 p.m. at the Medina Campus Center, 11470 Maple Ridge Road, Medina. His talk is entitled “A Unique Paradigm for Understanding the Civil War.” Professor Palmer offers a way to understand and appreciate the Civil War through this paradigm, which focuses on four turning points of the war, including Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg and the fall of Atlanta. “This is a simplified way of helping students begin to understand what was a very complex event,” said Prof. Palmer. “It’s been very beneficial in helping students understand the strategic and tactical ramifications of war.” Prof. Palmer is one of the college’s longest standing adjunct professors, having taught at GCC for more than 20 years.
GCC’s Civil War Initiative offers many additional programs to inform students and the community about different aspects of the war that shaped the nation. From September 16, 2013 – October 26, 2013, people are invited to visit the Alfred C. O’Connell Library on the Batavia campus to view the exhibit “Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War.” Developed by the National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine, the exhibit explores the impact of the war through the experiences of the many soldiers who lost limbs in the battles. Go to http://guides.genesee.edu/lifeandlimb for complete information.
Provided information
9/22/13
