Evan is a young man with Down Syndrome who lives with his mother in a poor, working-class town hit hard by the recent economic recession.  When he unexpectedly comes into a large amount of money, Evan uses it to romantically pursue Candy, a girl from town whom he has loved since high school.  Candy, now a barely-employed single mom, is facing financial debt, possible eviction, and the inability to rid herself of Russ, her abusive and volatile ex-boyfriend.

Put your back into it.  Show some spine.

A talk by Tobin Siebers (Department of English, University of Michigan) with a response by Elizabeth Leake (Department of Italian, Columbia University)

This panel will explore the the conflicts and common ground between two fields that have often been in tension with one another.  Speakers will be asked to share their insights into this tension, identifying spaces of possibility where the two might intersect/collaborate/learn from one another. 

We begin our project with a panel of students, faculty, and staff who discuss the ways the university has both accommodated and excluded people with disabilities.  What are some of the surprising and innovative ways that Columbia has sought to include people with disabilities in its community?  Conversely, how has it managed to maintain ADA compliance, while creating an unwelcoming environment for people with disabilities?  Our campus will serve as a starting place for a broader discussion about disability, access, and higher education.