From Politics to Fashion: The Kennedy Conference at Marist

John F. Kennedy. Photo by History in HD on Unsplash

Historically fascinating, culturally iconic and politically energizing, the Kennedy-era is regarded as a fascinating turning point in political and social history.

This is exactly what the “J.F.K., Famine to New Frontier” First Year Seminar aims to analyze. But this year, the course is educating more than the classroom. They are putting together a conference of both former and current student work to create exhibits on the politics, fashion, religious background and legacy of the Kennedy era.

The “J.F.K., Famine to New Frontier” course was created by Dr. Sally Dwyer-McNulty six years ago. Combining an analysis of pre-presidential life, cultural significance and civil rights interactions within his presidency, students are able to “examine J.F.K.’s family history, opportunities, obstacles, politics and style, as well as the people and initiatives he embraced,” as per the course syllabus. For Dwyer-McNulty, Kennedy was the perfect person to center a course around.

“[Kennedy is] coming through politics at a time of lots of social movement, cultural and political upheavals and he is a person who has lots of flaws. But, at the same time, he is this iconic figure. And so, he is a fascinating person to explore,” said Dwyer-McNulty. “All of these…events and movements that are happening, that I love to teach about, and I find so compelling and J.F.K. is alive during most of them.”

This isn’t the first conference of it’s time, however. Four years ago, the “Famine to New Frontier'' course did a conference. The conference originated from the realization that many people in the Poughkeepsie area had connections to the Kennedy campaign back in the 1960s, including former Marist President Murray, who was involved in both Robert Kennedy and John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaigns. Dwyer-McNulty wanted to bring these human sources together to present classroom learning to students directly and give them an opportunity to interact with questions or comments.

“I thought, we have a person who was on the ground at the time. Present at the creation, as they say,” said Dwyer-McNulty.

For a first year seminar, Dwyer-McNulty felt as though a student-organized conference was a perfect opportunity to employ skills that are typically expected of college level students, including interviewing, timing and planning, public relations and writing. “The first year seminar invites students to take on challenges that are associated with college. This is a great opportunity to kind of dip their toe into the idea of a conference to help plan it to see how it works,” said Dwyer-McNulty. “By the time they're seniors, they may very well be presenting at a conference.”

As for this year's conference, the “Famine to New Frontier” course is pulling together a collection of student work to present to the public at large some of the topics that the class has analyzed over the past four years.

The conference has brought upon another unexpected moment for current and former students alike, the opportunity to reconnect with a course they had previously taken and aid in the first-year process. With this, the intermixing of current first year students with upperclassmen who were once in their shoes are creating an exciting educational moment.

“I think that that too will be instructive [to current students in the course] that it's hard to know where you're going to be in three or four years and to see that growth and to see all their interests flourish,” said Dwyer-McNulty. 

As for Dwyer-McNulty, the reconnection with former students and seeing the growth from their first year to now is something she is excited about. 

“I'm so impressed with them. I didn't even anticipate all the variety and all of the impressive activities they've done, the clubs they've joined,” said Dwyer-McNulty.

From exhibits on the fashion of Jackie and John F. Kennedy, to Cold War era politics, to even a game that visitors can play to test their Kennedy-era knowledge.

“I think people will be excited to learn what these students are presenting,” Dwyer-McNulty said.

The “J.F.K, Famine to New Frontier” will be taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 12:30p.m. to 1:45p.m. in the Murray Student Center outside of the Nelly Goletti Theatre.