Scholars from across the world gathered at Cornell June 16-17 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the School of Criticism and Theory (SCT), a six-week summer program that serves as a hub for interdisciplinary inquiry in the humanities and social sciences.

Founded in 1976 by literary critics Murray Krieger, professor at the University of California, Irvine, and Hazard Adams, professor at the University of Washington, SCT was created to allow scholars working across different “theoretical camps” related to literature and culture to engage in sustained dialogue. Fifty years later, that founding mission continues.

Begun at Irvine, the SCT moved to Northwestern University and Dartmouth College, but has been housed at Cornell since 1997. The SCT offers seminars, public lectures and colloquia that bring together between 60-80 faculty members and graduate students each year from fields ranging from literature and philosophy to anthropology and political theory.

“The School of Criticism and Theory has made Cornell a center of inspiration and innovation in the humanities for a half century, and its participants consistently attest to their experience here as pivotal for their intellectual lives,” said Derk Pereboom, senior associate dean for arts and humanities in the College of Arts & Sciences and the Susan Linn Sage Professor of Philosophy and Ethics. “The College of Arts and Sciences is very pleased to provide funding stability for SCT into the future.”

Read the full story on The College of Arts & Sciences website.