Manhattanville's English Writing Professor Mark Nowak to speak at "When the Smoke Cleared: Attica Prison Poems and Journal" Conversations with Dr. Celes Tisdale & Mark Nowak April 18 ∙ Ossining Public Library
Professor Mark Nowak teaches Writing for the Media, Senior Writing Portfolio, and Poetry Workshops at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY.
Join the Sing Sing Prison Museum, in partnership with the Ossining Public Library, to celebrate National Poetry Month. The event will take place on Thursday, April 18th from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Burdarz Theater. Dr. Celes Tisdale and Mark Nowak will be in conversation about the role poetry played in the prison reforms of the 1970s.
This event is recommended for audiences 12 years and up. Registration is preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
Dr. Tisdale was the first African American to teach a poetry class in an American prison. He began this work a year after the Attica uprising in 1971. Recently, Nowak discovered a book published by Dr. Tisdale in 1974, filled with poetry written during the class and Tisdale’s journal about teaching the class. The book was out of print, but Nowak recognized the significance of the text and shared it with Duke University Press, leading to its republication in 2022.
This illuminating conversation will delve into Dr. Tisdale's personal experiences, prison conditions at Attica and in NY State during that time, and why these writings and reflections are still relevant today. Join us to celebrate National Poetry Month and learn more about the important role poetry played in prison reform during the 1970s.
The event will feature scholars, three students from Ossining High School, and three previously incarcerated individuals from Sing Sing Correctional who studied poetry through Rehabilitation Through the Arts. Each of them will read a poem from "When the Smoke Cleared: Attica Prison Poems and Journal", which explores the themes of freedom and oppression, as well as the humanity of those in the carceral system.
For more information and to register, visit the Ossining Public Library calendar.
View the full Sing Sing Prison Museum Press Release
Prepare for Fulfilling and Creative Professions at Manhattanville
Welcome to Manhattanville College’s English Department, where our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing degree programs, and convenient accelerated dual degree formats are shaped to your talents, interests, and goals.
Choosing to pursue a degree program in English literature or creative writing at Manhattanville builds skills and experiences that translate to a vast range of disciplines and careers. Located in the greater New York City and Westchester County areas, our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs provide access to a wealth of field experiences and resources spanning the Tri-State Area and New England, where some of the country’s best writers have made their mark.
On campus, students hone their skills and receive individualized feedback from experienced faculty and mentors through the Bodenrader Writing Center. Whether you are interested in publishing or journalism careers; writing poetry, fiction, or nonfiction; or something else entirely, find your home in the creative spaces of Manhattanville’s English and writing programs.
About Manhattanville
We Are Valiant
Since 1841, Manhattanville College has provided a transformative educational experience. As a private liberal arts institution, Manhattanville roots its education in a rich history of academic excellence and innovative programs. With more than 55 undergraduate programs, 70 graduate programs, and a doctoral program, we empower every student to cultivate their intellectual curiosity, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and strive for a more just world.
Our History and Legacy
Since its origins as a Catholic boarding school to its present day as a non-denominational, co-ed private university, Manhattanville College has evolved to meet the needs of students who seek a more just world. A haven for independent thinking and socially conscious values, our interdisciplinary education is rooted in the liberal arts and experiential learning.
Founded in 1841 in New York City as a boarding school and parochial school for women, Manhattanville College has consistently strived to expand higher education to all sectors of society. Under the visionary leadership of President Grace Dammann, R.S.C.J., Manhattanville College voted to admit African-American students in 1938 and we have continuously worked to create a more inclusive student body. Today, over a third of our students identify as first-generation, and even more consider themselves BIPOC. We are also a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, a reflection of our increasingly diverse community.
We have also grown in other ways. When Manhattanville College officially took over the former estate of diplomat Whitelaw Reid in Westchester in 1952, we cemented our role in the educational development of the region. The U.S. News and World Report named us as the #1 private college for social mobility in New York. Students volunteer over 30,000 hours of community service through the Clark Center for Social Justice. The School of Education offers the highest number of programs and additional support through the Changing Suburbs Institute’s network of Professional Development Schools. Nursing candidates complete clinic hours in local organizations, providing patient-centered care to the area.
We are proof of how academic excellence, a commitment to social justice, and a global outlook can transform students and, by extension, society.
Location
Manhattanville College benefits from both the peaceful beauty of Westchester County and the vibrant, non-stop energy of New York City. The 100-acre campus provides a safe and comfortable environment where every student’s intellectual life can blossom with the unparalleled professional opportunities of a world-class city, only 30 miles away.
Reid Castle, a 19th-century architectural gem, anchors the campus and houses the Welcome Center, Admissions, Financial Aid, and several event spaces. Designed by famed Central Park architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the picturesque green quad hosts our academic buildings and centers, the college library, four performance facilities, and fifteen new or renovated science and nursing labs.
The campus also boasts two historic chapels. The architect Maya Lin restored one, Lady Chapel, to include a glass roof, located near the new Ohnell Environmental Center, a non-invasive structure that reflects Manhattanville College’s commitment to sustainability. Our newest building, the Richard A. Berman Student Center, received a LEED gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
In addition to our four residence halls and dining hall, students enjoy amenities like a campus market and store and comprehensive athletic facilities, including a fitness center, tennis courts, an ice rink, a baseball and softball field, and an indoor turf facility.
We are a short car, train, or bus ride from New York and the city’s main airports. We are also easily accessible by car from anywhere in the TriState area and can also be reached via the Metro-North Railroad from NYC Grand Central Terminal or Westchester’s Bee-Line bus.
