The invitation read: “Pre-registration event, Thursday October 27, Noon. ALANA multi-purpose room.”
The Department of Geography’s pre-registration event began with discussion and questions about the next term’s course offerings for current students in the concentration and students hoping to join the concentration. Faculty were there to answer any questions about the courses they would be teaching next term, as well as any student concerns about the concentration.
Following the opening of the pizza boxes, Professor Maddy Hamlin gave an informal 20-minute talk, titled “Stuck in Place: A Small-Space Geography of Chicago’s Public Housing Elevators.” The talk examined various difficulties of maintaining the elevators in Chicago’s public housing as a microcosm of perception of public housing in Chicago — as a way of talking about the amount of money spent on what is small-seeming problem, the poor reputation and perceptions of low chances of utility, and the difficulty of providing for security. It touched on Professor Hamlin’s research in urban studies, urban planning and policy, housing justice, policing, the U.S. carceral state, public space, public and affordable housing, race/ethnicity, and poverty in U.S. cities.
After the talk, there was a quick raffle for a few remaining geography department black hoodies, with all new concentrators given the department long-sleeve t-shirt of Colgate crimson.
The event was well attended, providing some food and food for thought.