Winter 2017 Classes (January 4 to February 24)
Link to Registration and room assignments at bottom of page.
Wednesdays
9:30 a.m. ClassesCORE VALUES IN POPULAR MOVIES
Frank Casper, BA Philosophy, MTS Theological Studies “Core Values” generally refers to the values most people claim to live by, such as truth, courage, and fidelity. We will explore how these values are depicted in an array of American popular films, using the films to search inwardly on how we do/do not live them out, and why. Clips will be shown from various films, including Gran Torino, The Hours, A History of Violence, Husbands and Wives, Glengarry Glen Ross and many more. GREEK TRAGEDY Lynn Cherry Grant, retired Associate Professor of English, Georgia Perimeter College. Member, SUGA The class will study a variety of Greek tragedies of the greatest of the writers of the time – 5th century BCE Athens -- Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. We will cover the following plays plus others as time permits: (1) Aeschylus’ “The Oresteia,” (2) Sophocles’ “Oedipus, the King” and “Antigone,” and (3) Euripides’ “Medea” and “Hippolytus.” The translations that we will use are available online and permission has been granted to download them. While reading the play in advance is a good idea, it is not required. I will provide the site information after the first meeting of the class through your email address. HOW DID THEY DO IT — SURVIVE THE MIDDLE AGES IN BRITAIN? Susan Pillans, retired English teacher, Marist School. Member, SUGA Taking a time-travel journey we will return to the Middle Ages of Britain with stories of city and country life, lords, knights, and serfs, archbishops and monks, writers and artists. What you will discover are many golden moments and colorful personalities in these so-called Dark Times. 11:00 a.m. Classes
THE FABULOUS FIFTIES
Bill Fisher, Business Consultant and retired BellSouth senior manager. Member, SUGA The “Fabulous Fifties” – a decade we all think was better than today! Class will be a review of the post-war 1950’s in America, and how technology, business, and social trends changed American lifestyles forever. THE A, B, Cs OF INTERIOR DESIGN Allan M. Hing, Professor of Interior Design (including at Art Institute of Atlanta, Virginia Commonwealth University, Atlanta College of Art, Auburn University) The focus of the course is how the practice of interior design that began as a domestic art form developed through the years into an interesting and multi-faceted profession. This transformation is due to the demands of a changing society and its social, political, and economic needs. The class will begin with an overview of the profession, both residential and commercial, and concludes with the future of the profession THE SCIENCE AND ART OF DECIDING Bob Sullivan, Ph.D., Chemistry from Georgia Tech, 35 years at Coca Cola in management. Member, Senior University. Any decision involves a comparison of the values of alternatives. We'll consider theories of assigning these values--and how they "should be,” and how they are, in fact, employed in making choices. In the process, we'll treat some famous paradoxes. We'll seek to apply all this to peacemaking, business strategy, politics, voting, military strategy, labor negotiations, trade, sports, gambling, etc. Class discussion is encouraged. |
FridaysJan. 6, 13, 20, 27
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 9:30 a.m. ClassesEXTINCTION EVENTS THROUGH DEEP TIME
Charles Hill, freelance geologist in the environmental consulting Industry There have been many extinction events but in the last 500 million years there have been eight major events! These events have cleared the environmental ecosystems within which species thrive, to allow new species to evolve--and through random mutations to thrive, in those same ecosystems. In the process over Deep Time, amazing species from trilobites, ammonites, brachiopods, dinosaurs, birds, primates, whales and more, have been evolved. THE OTHER EUROPE IN EAST-WEST POLICY Sandra W. Thornton, retired, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech. Member, SUGA The Other Europe consists of the land located roughly between Germany and Russia, Sweden and Turkey and is referred to by different names: Eastern Europe, Central Europe, the Successor States, New Europe. The countries are an ethnic, linguistic, religious and political admixture whose boundaries are impossible to establish in a way that satisfies the cultural and historical experiences of all of them. What a playing field that has made for the great powers! This area has moved between empires, split into different states, shifted state boundaries, fought among themselves, served as a cordon sanitaire and an iron curtain between major powers, sparked wars and currently is a focus of dangerous East-West power politics. It is a fascinating place to study and talk about! MORAL MATTERS III: Analyzing Modern Society’s Most Pressing Ethical Challenges Coordinator: Paul Root Wolpe, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Bioethics and Director, Center for Ethics, Emory University In this course, the Faculty of the Center for Ethics at Emory University will present their work examining some of the most pressing ethical challenges of our time. Potential topics will include ethical and social complexities in health and medicine (end of life, rationing, access, obesity, transplants, etc.); science and biotechnology (emerging neuroscientific challenges, cloning, genetic engineering); the natural world (animal morality, environmental ethics, sustainability); social relationships (philanthropy, poverty, conflict), and social institutions (business, law, social welfare, education). Issues will be examined through many ethical lenses, including philosophy, social science, religion, literature, and the arts. 11:00 a.m. Classes
DUBLINERS
Joe Baird, Retired Administrative Law Judge. Member, SUGA Dubliners, published in 1914 is a collection of fifteen short stories by James Joyce, the acclaimed Irish author. In clear, beautifully written prose, Joyce describes events in the lives of various residents of Dublin during the beginning years of the Twentieth Century. The characters in the various stories do not know each other, but the stories are united by common themes such as isolation and social paralysis. Dubliners contains none of the complexities in structure and language found in Joyce’s later novels. Students should purchase a paperback copy of the Dubliners before the first class. Dubliners is perhaps the most influential collection of short stories in English EPIDEMICS AND DISASTERS Bill Stanhope, Adjunct professor, Institute for Biosecurity and Disaster, St. Louis University, School of Public Health Topics about epidemics, such as smallpox, Ebola, and influenza, and disasters --including natural, weather-related ones, plus chemical, transportation, and plant disasters are the focus of this class. Highlighted will be the evolution of public health responses and disaster planning. WHAT'S IN YOUR HEAD Tom Hawkins and Art Slavin, Members, SUGA Back again for another eight weeks of fun, testing your knowledge of history, literature, music, geography, sports, movies, and all sorts of trivia. Groups of six work together, pitting their efforts against six other teams in a rollicking rendition of Senior University's favorite game show. Whether you want to dig deep down into your brain to remember some things you've forgotten or just find out what your team members know, join us in laughing while we learn. First come/first served, as we are limited to 36 players |
The fee for new members joining us for the Winter Quarter
is $140.00 for individuals and $250.00 for couples.
is $140.00 for individuals and $250.00 for couples.