Courses & Events

This course will explore events leading to WWI and how western society, so full of progress and optimism, became embroiled in the most horrific conflict in history. We will discuss pre-war tensions and diplomatic maneuvering, how the nations of Europe were drawn in, the failure of rival plans for quick victory, the resulting stalemate and the evolution of extensive trench systems. We'll identify the main personalities and battles, which determined the outcome along with the factors that led to the Allied victory, including U.S. involvement. We'll examine the individual soldier and the"psychology of war," the misery of life in the trenches and how soldiers adapted.

In this course we will explore the music and lives of some of the great composers of classical music. We will track their careers from their early work, through influences that impacted their musical styles, to the late work that culminated their careers. Each class will explore one or two composers in detail, with many musical examples. Composers will range from Johann Sebastian Bach to Philip Glass and several in between.

Long before Kansas womenobtained the unfettered right to votein 1912 (a full eightyears before the 19th Amendment established that right nationally), they foundother ways to affect policy in publicspheres dominated by men. The same indomitable spirit that enabled pioneer women to withstand the rigors of frontierlife infused their efforts to shapethe society in which they lived. Sara Robinson, Julia Lovejoy, Clarina Nichols, Carry Nation, Annie Diggs, Mary Lease, and Lilla Day Monroe, among others, took on such struggles as those toabolish slavery, repel demon rum,improve the lot of farmers and secure more rights for women.

Few places in the world have experienced as much historical drama as the world's longest river. For more than 4,500, years the Nile has witnessed sweeping events of discovery, conflict and engineering. It's been the stage for larger-than-life characters, remarkable edifices and far-reaching ideas. Join us for a sampling of stories that illustrate the geography, cultures and history of that primeval waterway, the Nile River.

The Great Depression of the 1930s was the longest period of "hard times" in U.S. history. However, not every family had the same experience. We will cover various personal situations and national trends, as well as events in Kansas, including the Dust Bowl. We'll examine President Hoover's efforts and Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs like the Works Progress Administration and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. We will also view the New Deal's legacy, including the FDIC and Social Security. Finally,we'll listen to 1930s music and share family stories from this tumultuous era.

George W. Bush and Donald Trump won recent presidential elections despite getting fewer popular votes than their opponents. They owed their victories to the role of the Electoral College, a unique institution mandated by the American Constitution. Why was the Electoral College included in the Constitution? How did it work initially? How does it work now? What prompted the changes in its functioning over the course of American history? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Can it be eliminated or reformed? What are the leading proposals to change the method by which we select our presidents? This course will address these questions.

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