Courses for Spring 2013
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This course is an introduction to the structure of Latin and the Romans who spoke it. Students will learn how to identify nouns, verbs and adjectives and how to translate Latin phrases and quotes. Ancient texts such as Virgil, Catullus and the vulgate Bible will be studied and there will be discussions about the literature relevant to Latin such as Homer and the lyrics of Verdi’s “La Traviata”. Cost of text to be announced. Instructor: William Trowbridge See this instructor's bio | ||||
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In 2010 the Court ruled in Citizens United that corporations – as persons – were entitled to the 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech. This ruling struck a significant blow at campaign reform efforts of Congress. Now the Court is considering another challenge to campaign reform, one that could further enhance the scope of corporate personhood. This course will examine – through readings and visual material – the relationship between modern corporations and the United States Constitution and the role of the United States Supreme Court in the development of that relationship. Instructor: Laurance Rand See this instructor's bio | ||||
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In this course we will not argue whether Richard Strauss (1864-1949) was a first-or-second-rate composer. We will let our ears decide as we listen to some of his most glorious music which he preferred to call "tone poems’" but which are in fact one-movement orchestral works on a symphonic scale. These works are "programmatic," that is, they deal with descriptive subjects: Don Juan; A Hero’s Life; Death and Transfiguration; and many others. Also included will be a few songs, especially Strauss’ "Four Last Songs," arguably the most beautiful ever written for soprano and orchestra. Most of the program will be on video. Instructor: See this instructor's bio | ||||
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This course will explore one of the most perplexing and fascinating figures to become President of the United States. The course will begin with his impoverished childhood in central Texas and carry through to his withdrawal from politics, disillusioned and defeated. The main emphasis will be on the vast amount of social legislation passed during his presidency and the impact those laws have today. Session #1 -- Making of a politician -- Class one will explore from his growing up in Texas to his years as U.S. Senate Majority Leader. . Session #2 -- National politician -- This class will look at his selection as Vice President, the roles he took in that position, and how he completed John Kennedy’s term after JFK’s assassination on November 22, 1963. Session #3 -- President Johnson -- The third class will investigate the impact of the election of 1964 and the successful passage of the "Great Society." This becomes one of the most intense periods of reform in U.S. history. Session #4 -- The fall of a President -- Starting in 1966 and intensifying in the 1968 election season, a series of events leads to the end of the Johnson era. Session #5 -- Retirement Years, Death and the Johnson Legacy--With the release of thousands of LBJ’s White House tapes, and the declassification of tens of thousands of documents and interviews, we can look at the Johnson years in a new way of understanding the last great burst of liberalism in America. Instructor: See this instructor's bio | ||||
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Note new Start Date This course will examine the history and the current state of genetically modified (GMO) organisms and foods, including the status of first Genetically Engineered (GE) salmon application currently pending at the FDA. It will also offer an update on Connecticut legislative and other GMO/GE labeling initiatives. We will also look at domestic and international health studies documenting health risks related to GMO consumption and exposure, current food labeling, and tips to avoid GMO/GE foods for a healthier diet. Aaron Zweig, Food Studies teacher and columnist, will guest lecture, and the award-winning documentary "Genetic Roulette - The Gamble of Our Lives" (it just won top award for most transformative documentary film in 2012) will be shown. Instructor: Leila Baroody See this instructor's bio | ||||
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Using input from students in the last class and a host of new developments, this class takes a fresh look at the expanding universe of gadgets around us. From bar code scanners to smart phones we will explore the technologies that underlie our modern lifestyle and look at how some of them work. Topics covered include cellphones, the internet, wireless networks, GPS, cloud computing, LED lighting, computer architecture and how integrated circuits are made. Prerequisites are a good sense of humor and extreme tolerance of TLA’s (Three Letter Acronyms) and jargon - all of which will be decoded. Instructor: Richard Paddock See this instructor's bio | ||||
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Instructor: Lynn Whelchel See this instructor's bio |
