Courses
This course will explore the legal history of gender and the law, understanding gender in its broadest sense including sex, sexuality, and gender identity. We will discuss sex discrimination doctrines under the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution as well as under federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. By focusing on US Supreme Court decisions and gender equality advocates, we will explore the relationship between law and justice in many areas that affect gender minority lives, including employment, schools, health care, family, and beyond. The work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Brenda Feigen, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Pauli Murray will be discussed. Some film clips will be used in class.
October 3 - November 7
Explore the peacebuilding stories behind the headlines. Within the broad field of peacebuilding, the scales are decidedly tipped to study the phenomena around conflict resolution, transitional justice, and third-party interventions - most of them at the hands of diplomats and politicians. While these areas represent legitimate efforts to negotiate treaties and monitor compliance, history has shown the Sisyphean nature of these approaches in terms of implementation and securing sustainable peace. What has drawn far less attention are the valiant and courageous efforts of peace builders on the ground who are working in unimaginable circumstances, and in many cases in partnership or cooperation with sworn enemies. This course will examine the elements of a construct known as “positive peace,” which can and does exist, even in areas where conflict continues, through the lens of peace activists working on the ground. This six-week program will include a mix of background reading, video, faculty presentations, and small-group interaction.
October 1 - November 5
“Introverts are hermits. Introverts don’t like people. Introverts can’t hold a conversation.” These are some of the myths associated with introversion, the highly misunderstood personality type. In a society where the most extroverted are celebrated and rewarded, how do introverts fit in? For those who acknowledge and embrace their introversion, they know how to create a space for themselves. For those who are masquerading as extroverts, they are exhausted because they haven’t mastered how to be their true, authentic selves. For others, they don’t even realize they are introverts because of the stigma attached to the word - - who wants to be associated with such negative descriptions? In this course we will unpack this together and discuss the power of introverts, the beautiful balance of relationships with extroverts, how we support and honor both personality types, and much more.
October 2 - November 6
American writer Patricia Highsmith first published The Talented Mr. Ripley in 1955. The story is told from the point of view of Tom Ripley, a man who is young, clever, and has a knack for fraud. A case of mistaken identity earns him a ticket abroad to a scenic coastal village in Italy, a far cry from his hardscrabble life in New York City. He soon becomes obsessed with Dickie Greenleaf, heir to a shipbuilding fortune, and embarks on a series of deceitful and sinister acts that beget more of the same. Highsmith’s story builds its suspense as the reader traverses Tom’s physical and psychological journey through an affluent world too obtuse to recognize the extent to which he is a threat. The Talented Mr. Ripley has been adapted from book to screen multiple times, with the most notable being the 1999 film directed by Anthony Minghella, starring Matt Damon and Jude Law. Such is the influence of the story that it has invited comparison to the 2023 film Saltburn, whose main character commits a similar subterfuge on a wealthy British family over the course of a summer in their country castle. As stories of frauds and scammers endure across popular media, Tom Ripley’s is one that confronts the reader to examine how far they would go to gain access into a world whose entry requires reinventing oneself to the point of moral collapse. In this course, we will study the Highsmith novel as well as the 1999 film adaptation. We will close out the course with a discussion of Saltburn, which is indebted to the novel.
October 11 - November 15
Did John Adams listen to Abigail? Was Mary Todd Lincoln depressed? Did Eleanor advise Franklin? Did Edith Wilson really take over for the president? Was Hillary really a co-president? These are questions frequently asked about the First Lady. She has no job description and her position is unpaid. There is nothing she is required to do, but much that we expect. From the birth of our country through the present, this course will explore the evolution of the role and the Office of First Lady. In addition to biographical information, we will explore topics and themes related to the women behind the men. We will examine how they helped shape history and how they left lasting legacies that impact many of us today.
September 30 - November 4
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of medieval scientific thought, encompassing various disciplines such as medicine, astronomy, and geography. We will delve into the groundbreaking insights and theories proposed by influential figures like Alhazen and Hildegard of Bingen. Through in-depth analysis and interactive discussions, we will uncover the complex network of scientific inquiry that defined the medieval era. This journey into medieval science promises intellectual enrichment. Additionally, it offers a unique opportunity to engage with historical methodologies and scientific concepts, fostering a deeper understanding of the medieval worldview. Join this enlightening exploration, as we discover the wonders of medieval science.
September 30 - November 4
This course explores mental, spiritual, and physical health and wellness through interactive discussion, brief meditation, creative writing, reading aloud, and plenty of humor. The workshops explore universal human issues while offering valuable techniques for enhancing both written and oral communication. Classes are low-tech, focusing on meaningful interaction, and a satisfying shared experience. Topics include managing stress, creative self-expression, the power of words, the value of self-care, adapting to change, and establishing healthy boundaries.
October 8 - November 12
This course explores mental, spiritual, and physical health and wellness through interactive discussion, brief meditation, creative writing, reading aloud, and plenty of humor. The workshops explore universal human issues while offering valuable techniques for enhancing both written and oral communication. Classes are low-tech, focusing on meaningful interaction, and a satisfying shared experience. Topics include managing stress, creative self-expression, the power of words, the value of self-care, adapting to change, and establishing healthy boundaries.
October 8 - November 12
As the world watches the best athletes on the planet at a veracious rate during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, learn what it is like to cover those competitors from the proverbial press box. What research do sports reporters need to have at the ready to understand the psychology and business of the best teams in the NFL, MLB, or NHL? Where do journalists get it right or wrong when writing or editing features in a rapidly changing gender dynamic of college athletics as Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Women's Basketball team proved? How do we understand from outside the ropes the familial and financial dynamics at play when talking about controversies like the PGA vs. LIV saga which is lighting the world of golf on fire? Answer these questions and more with Professor Annie Krall, a sports and news broadcaster. This course is for those who are regularly glued to their sports channels and those who simply like knowing who to root for during the big games. Yes, in the world of heroes and villains, there is always more at play on and off the court.
October 5 - November 9
Navigating the online marketplace can indeed be challenging. Unfortunately, e-commerce tips the advantage away from the consumer and towards very sophisticated marketers. Whether dealing with a small business on Main Street or a giant firm on Madison Avenue, it is difficult to know who to trust or how to discern a true bargain from a real rip-off. How do you sort fact from fiction and take control of your purchasing power? Most importantly, how do you protect yourself from being duped out of money or having your identity or account information stolen by hackers? In this course, we will cover critical aspects of being both a transactional and a relational shopper. We will discuss factors that can affect information perceptions and good buying decisions. And we will offer a variety of resources to enhance your ability to make safe, sharp, and savvy purchasing decisions with sellers you can trust. We will hear from expert speakers, learn about valuable resources, and engage in helpful discussion. Being a Capable Consumer will change how you respond to social media messages and how you approach online shopping experiences for products and services big and small. You will gain confidence and clarity through six enlightening discussions.
October 10 - November 7
“Eskimos have many words for snow.” “A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.” “Aborigines speak primitive languages.” “English has the world’s richest vocabulary.” “Children learn languages more easily than adults.” “Languages die because they are not fit enough for the modern world.” “Animals speak their own language.” You may hear many of these statements, but are they actually true? In this course, we will examine these and related beliefs about language. We will investigate what aspects of these statements are true and what aspects are false or even nonsensical. In doing so, we will explore topics including language diversity, language history, children’s language acquisition, adult language learning, animal and human communication, and much more. We will also consider where language myths come from and why they persist despite all the scientific evidence to the contrary.
October 14 - November 18
Famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted has been called the most important historical figure that Americans know the least about. This course aims to change that by introducing the multi-faceted life, career, and legacy of Olmsted who was not only a landscape architect, but also a journalist, conservationist, farmer, and public servant. Five experts will lead us in an examination of the work of Olmsted and his firm, that over 100 years, literally designed the American landscape. From Olmsted’s birth in 1822 to his death in 1903, we will travel his fascinating life and career as he gathered experiences before finally settling down at the age of 43. We will travel to England with Olmsted on his influential visit to Birkenhead Park; learn more about his groundbreaking work as an undercover reporter for The New York Times; examine his design philosophy; and zero in on specific work at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and the West. We will also learn about the Olmsted firm, which operated for nearly 50 years after Olmsted’s death. There, Olmsted’s sons, John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr, carried on their fathers work and professionalized the field of landscape architecture. 2024 marks the 125th birthday of the American Society of Landscape Architects which they founded.
October 2 - November 6
The 20th century was a time of social and political changes that brought about varied responses in the art world. The social changes manifested during World War I and its aftermath were felt in the cutting-edge art movements that questioned the existing world order. Through the broken planes of Cubism to the jazzy images of the Harlem Renaissance, artists found their voices through varying degrees of despair in an attempt to capture the awakening spirit of the 20th century. In the aftermath of World War II, artists rallied to make sense of the changes brought about through post-war shifts in society to a new prosperity in consumerism. Through the confusing images of the Abstract Expressionists to the playfulness of Pop Art, we will explore how artists challenged and knocked down the walls of not only traditional art but the heretofore avant-garde art forms of the earlier 20th century.
October 8 - November 12
Would you like to better understand crosswords, have greater success in completing them, increase your enjoyment of the process, and impress your friends as a cruciverbalist? Besides being fun, crosswords have been shown to improve cognitive reserve and mental flexibility. We will introduce other benefits of solving puzzles and explore the highlights of crossword history and culture. We will learn about different types of crosswords, discuss solving strategies and techniques, explore online sources and applications, and introduce the process of constructing crosswords. During each session, we will also solve and discuss crosswords as a group to improve our skills.
October 17 - November 21
This course presents case studies in the history of architecture, civil and structural engineering, and industrial design. Specific design and building types will be discussed and include: computer aided design; skyscrapers; airports and aircraft factories; space craft and launch facilities, sci-fi dreams and reality; and museums and exhibitions that deal with those and related tech subjects. In each session we will explore the past, present, and future possibilities. Those case studies will refer to design and construction technology of their eras and place them in socio-cultural and political contexts. Sessions will generally be in a pro-seminar format with each lecture followed by discussion. The course will examine instances where architecture, design, and engineering are impacted by technological advances catalyzed by rivalry and conflict -- military, political, or economic/commercial -- and overall motivations related to wealth and power as much as to design, scientific, or engineering advances.
October 2 - November 6