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Alumni Discount Codes

We offer discounts for our three alumni association partners: KU, K-State and Washburn. These discounts are only available for paid alumni association members and can only be applied to courses; they cannot apply to special events:

KU Alumni Association Member Discount - KUAAFALL2021
KSU Alumni Association Member Discount - KSUAAFALL2021
Washburn Alumni Association Member Discount - WUAAFALL2021

Courses Donation Special Events

Courses & Events

Aging: A Time of Transition and Self-Discovery

Just like a teen, older adults face big transitions. Hormones, a changing body, shifting relationships, and big questions like Who Am I? and What Do I Want? leave many uncertain about what comes next. Using personal reflections, small group discussions and engaging activities, we will take you on a three-part journey to rediscover and embrace your aging self. Questions explored include: What are my attitudes about aging and what are others telling me about intimacy, touch and older adults? How does my family impact decisions about how I manage my life, where I live and whom I date? Life has sculpted my body. What messages have I received about its strength, beauty and capabilities, and what do I believe?

Instructor Bio: An educator in the Our Whole Lives sexuality education program, Judith Galas has guided hundreds of people across the age span in open, informative and fun activities that nurture self-esteem and healthy intimacy.

September 15-29, 2021, Senior Resource Center for Douglas County (Lawrence, KS)
October 5-19, 2021, Northland Innovation Center (Gladstone, MO)

Alfred Hitchcock: Terror and Suspense

No one has captured contemporary fear and paranoia better than the legendary "Hitch." His films and his personality (not to mention his enormous bulk!) literally loom "larger" than ever before. John C. Tibbetts has extensively researched, published, and taught the life and work of a man whose career began in the 1930s with The Thirty-Nine Steps, and continued through the 1960s and beyond with his television shows and movie masterpieces Vertigo Psycho, and The Birds. Films will be screened and discussions will be encouraged.

Instructor Bio: John Tibbets is Emeritus Professor at the University of Kansas, where for more than 25 years he taught courses in film history, media studies, and theory and aesthetics. He is an author, educator and broadcaster, as well as an artist and pianist. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in Multi-Disciplinary Studies. As a broadcaster, journalist and scholar he worked as a news reporter for CBS Television and National Public Radio; produced classical music programming for Kansas Public Radio; and wrote and illustrated 20 books, more than 250 articles and several short stories. He was awarded the Kansas Governor's Arts in Education Award, presented by Governor Kathleen Sebelius, in 2008.

October 28, 2021 to November 18, 2021, Edwards Campus KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall (Overland Park , KS)

Anna Akhmatova: Russian Poet

Anna Akhmatova is said to be one of the greatest poets in Russian literature. Her life was filled with poverty, sorrow and unhappiness, yet it was from her life experience that she created her poetry. She suffered, both personally and professionally, under the Stalinist regime. Through it all she wrote poetry, giving voice to her own experience and that of the Russian people. This course will examine the various aspects of her life and delve into the poetry she wrote during those different stages. We'll discuss how what she experienced contributed to her poetic voice.

Instructor Bio: Renee Neff-Clark has a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Kansas and has been a lover of all types of literature since she learned to read.

November 15-29, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) & the Fourth Industrial Revolution

In this course, we will examine the creation and growth of artificial intelligence. Emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies were designed to save time and energy, make jobs simpler and allow employees to work more efficiently and productively. Can AI be controlled? We will examine how computers are coded to mirror capabilities of the human brain and how AI has and will impact the future work, healthcare, industrial automation, and engineering, design and construction. We will also investigate how AI has and may impact the capabilities of global military autonomous weapons. Many economists and scientists believe this will result in a fourth industrial revolution within the next decade.

Instructor Bio: Tom Coleman holds a bachelor's degree in Business and Economics from Washburn University and is a retired Federal Contracting Officer.

September 15-29, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Battle in the American Civil War: The Evolution of Tactics, Command, and Generalmanship

The three-class session will examine the evolution of tactics and command by focusing on six Civil War battles or campaigns: three in the Eastern Theater and three in the Western Theater. The first class will examine the 1st Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Shiloh, battles of enthusiastic, yet untrained soldiers led by officers unused to handling large bodies of men. The second class looks at the Battle of Gettysburg and the Vicksburg Campaign. This class follows the transformation of leaders schooled in Napoleonic tactics and command that are beginning to appreciate that weapon technologies are making longstanding methods of battle obsolete. The final class focuses on the twin sieges of Petersburg and Atlanta, which were a preview of warfare to come. The employment of trenches and field fortifications are a foretaste of tactics and doctrine witnessed on the Western Front during World War I.

Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, PhD, is the Director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU, and has published numerous articles on military history.

September 13-27, 2021, Washburn University Henderson Learning Center and Online (Topeka, KS)

City and County Governments in Kansas, What Do They Do and How are They Financed?

Ever wonder about your City and County government? In this course we will explore how Kansas Counties are different from Cities, what each does, and who pays for what. Students will learn about the history of these local governments and study their own city and county. We will cover budgets, taxation, planning, zoning, economic development, public health, and other major policy issues. Come discover the often-unknown inner workings of the most impactful government in your daily life?local City and County governments.

Instructor Bio: Hannes Zacharias is currently the Robert A. Kipp Professor of Practice for the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration following a 35 year career in local city and county government administration. He has served as City Manager of Boonville MO, Hays, KS, and County Manager for Johnson County, KS. More information and a full resume can be found on LinkedIn.

September 14-28, 2021, KU Edwards Campus Regnier Hall and Online (Overland Park, KS)

Climate Change: More Fires, Floods, Droughts and Hurricanes

Join us as we explore the causes and history of climate change and discuss how the planet has been uninhabitable five times in the ancient past due to climate change. Learn about the evidence available to indicate that climate change is occurring as we look at the various floods, droughts, fires and storms in 2021 and compare them historically. In addition, we will spend time considering the current programs and long-term solutions to stop climate change. The class will conclude with a discussion on "With great change comes great opportunity"; in short, new industries will blossom and some companies and industries will disappear.

Instructor Bio: Charles "Chick" Keller is a retired senior executive and retired professor. He worked 15 years at each Sprint, and Black and Veatch in strategic planning and strategic marketing raising to the VP level both times. In 2000 Chick began a career as a professor at the University of Kansas, Master of Engineering Management program where he taught Finance and Strategic Planning.

October 4-18, 2021, Lenexa City Hall at City Center and Online (Lenexa, KS)
October 26, 2021 to November 9, 2021, Brewster Place Event Center (Topeka , KS)

Composers in the Movies: From the Classics to Tin Pan Alley

Composers in the Movies is a new course by retired KU Professor John C. Tibbetts. Amadeus, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Swanee River and Rhapsody in Blue are only a few of the hundreds of motion pictures that dramatize the lives of classical and popular composers. In this new course, Professor Tibbetts surveys representative films from Hollywood and the international cinema. Film clips and presentations address questions of historical accuracy and strategies by which music creativity is visualized. Among the composers discussed are Mozart, Fredric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann, Stephen Foster, Gilbert and Sullivan, and George Gershwin.

Instructor Bio: Professor Tibbetts draws upon his book, Composers in the Movies (Yale, 2005).John Tibbets is Emeritus Professor at the University of Kansas, where for more than 25 years he taught courses in film history, media studies, and theory and aesthetics. He is an author, educator and broadcaster, as well as an artist and pianist. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in Multi-Disciplinary Studies. As a broadcaster, journalist and scholar he worked as a news reporter for CBS Television and National Public Radio; produced classical music programming for Kansas Public Radio; and wrote and illustrated 20 books, more than 250 articles and several short stories. He was awarded the Kansas Governor's Arts in Education Award, presented by Governor Kathleen Sebelius, in 2008.

September 16-30, 2021, Edwards Campus KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall (Overland Park , KS)

Cow Towns, Outlaws, and Characters: A Look at Frontier Kansas

Many interesting events happened, and many eccentric characters are to be found in the history of later 19th century Kansas. This was the era when the drovers from Texas made their way to Kansas cattle towns, and from the dust of the Old Chisholm Trail the American cowboy, our national folk hero, emerged. Besides the cattle towns, the cowboys, and their songs, there were outlaws (such as Tiger Bill and the Fleagle Gang), the Dewey-Berry feud (the only Kansas range war), towns such as Beer City, and unusual animals such as the Murder Steer. This class will explore all of those, as well as look at Black cowboys, Mexican vaqueros, and other herders from around the world.

Instructor Bio: Jim Hoy, a native of the Flint Hills near Cassoday ("Cow Capital of Kansas"), is director emeritus of the Center for Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University. He is the author of "Flint Hills Cowboys: Tales from the Tallgrass Prairie" and "My Flint Hills: Observations and Reminiscences from America's Last Tallgrass Prairie."

October 26, 2021 to November 9, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Creation Stories in World Religions

This course will focus on selected creation stories from around the world. We will explore origin myths from ancient Egypt and Babylonia, and compare them to current stories in the living religions of India and other parts of Asia, and among indigenous peoples of North America. And, of course, we will examine the story of Genesis and its role as the foundation of Judaism and Christianity. Each story will be considered in terms of its view of the world and nature, its understanding of humans and their manifold relations, and its conception of the powerful agent, or force, that gave rise to it all.

Instructor Bio: Barry Crawford, Ph.D., is professor emeritas of religious studies at Washburn University.

October 6-20, 2021, Meadowlark Estates (Lawrence , KS)

Donation to the Osher Institute

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU was established in 2004 by a grant for the Bernard Osher Foundation as an outreach program of the University of Kansas. Its mission is to offer noncredit enrichment courses and events to folks over 50 years of age, although we welcome learners of all ages. We rely on financial support from our members and the community to create a sustainable program. If you would like to support the Osher Institute, please click the link below. If you have questions, please contact Linda Kehres at 785-864-1373 or linda.k@ku.edu. Thank you.

July 22, 2021 to January 31, 2022

Eleanor Roosevelt: Her Private Struggles and Public Triumphs

Recognized among the most admired people of the 20th Century, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt first had to overcome an affluent-but-unhappy childhood when both parents and a younger brother died before she was 10 years old. Sent to school in London, she returned in 1905 to marry her distant cousin, Franklin Roosevelt, and was given in marriage by her uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt. Her marriage combined a complicated personal life--involving a controlling mother-in-law, six children and FDR's affair--with an extraordinarily successful political role as FDR's surrogate, the nation's longest-serving First Lady, an ardent civil rights activist and respected international diplomat.

Instructor Bio: Jim Peters, J.D., is director emeritus of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU and author of "Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes. He also teaches a course on the Underground Railroad in Northeast Kansas

September 15-29, 2021, Northland Innovation Center (Gladstone, MO)

Encountering John Brown

The Watkins Museum of History, in partnership with the Osher Institute, invites you to a special tour of Encountering John Brown. This traveling exhibit tells the story of the radical abolitionist and his antislavery career through the eyes of people he met along the way, including Harriet Tubman and Robert E. Lee. This special Osher Institute event will also feature tours of two supplementary exhibits on the Bleeding Kansas era in Douglas County, as well as a talk by John Brown himself (as portrayed by local historian Kerry Altenbernd). Join us for this exclusive Osher event.

Friday, October 29, 2021, Watkins Museum of History (Lawrence, KS)

English - The Long, Twisting, Messy Trail of How the American Language Got Made

In this educational and entertaining program, we explore the origins and evolution of the English language, beginning with the many tribal and regional languages that converged to create what we today call "English." We study the early influences of Native American languages, the dialects of early immigrants, and the impacts of the "proper" English used by the church, the courts, and the affluent. In our last session, we enjoy 20th century influences through movies, music, and television, and we wrap up with a projection of what English might be like 500 years in the future.

Instructor Bio: Lee Stuart is the Leadership Programs Manager at KU. After three previous careers - as a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper journalist, a senior leader of innovative product and new business development initiatives with Hallmark Cards, and 12 years as president of a boutique management consulting firm - Dr. Stuart brings experience in adult learning, disruptive innovation, organizational effectiveness, strategic business planning, and executive coaching. He holds a B.A. in journalism from Kansas State University, an M.S. in journalism from the University of Kansas, and a Doctorate in Leadership Studies from Capella University.

September 16-30, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Exploration Time: Discover the Thirteen United States Presidential Libraries and Museums

What is similar between these American cities: West Branch, Iowa, Hyde Park, New York, Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia? These places are homes to a United States Presidential Library and Museum. It all began with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the late 1930s. These impressive structures are repositories of valuable presidential documents and artifacts. Where else can you find a wheelchair that was used daily by one the presidents, a collection of moon rocks, the "Flying White House" (the presidential Air Force One plane), or view the World War II actual world maps studied by the U.S. Commander in Chief before sending American troops to strategic locations? The course gives a general overview of the Who, Where, When, What and Why of the thirteen U.S. Presidential Libraries and Museums. Special emphasis is on the two outstanding local Presidential Museums in the Kansas City area, the Eisenhower Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas and the Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. Insightful comments on the architecture of the Eisenhower structure and also on the $35 million building renovation of the Truman Library and Museum (projected completion date is 2022) are shared. Information relayed is based on personal visits of the presenters to the various libraries and museums.

Attorney Anita Tebbe is retired Director of the Johnson County Community Legal Studies Program. Attorney Kathleen Harvey is retired from her Immigration Law Practice in 2016. Architect Keith Taylor is a retired architect.

November 16-30, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Exploring Reality Beyond Physics - Great Western Philosophers

Religions and science have very different concepts of the nature of reality. Religions make claims about reality based upon revelations of special seers, prophets and saviors. Science makes claims about reality based upon the scientific methods of observation, induction, and experimentation. In the ground between these two different perspectives, philosophers have attempted to understand reality using pure reason. In this course we will take a quick journey through the history of philosophy from Ancient Greece to modern America. Along the way we will examine the questions such as: does God exist? How can we know the truth? What is reality?

Instructor Bio: James Gaither, Th.D., holds a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Kansas and ThD from Holos University Graduate Seminary. For over 25 years he has taught courses in history of Western thought, world religions, metaphysics and ethics and is currently a "semi-retired."

October 4-18, 2021, KU Edwards Campus Regnier Hall and Online (Overland Park, KS)

Exploring Reality Beyond Physics: Great Eastern Philosophers

The usual distinction made between religion and philosophy in Western thought can also be applied to Eastern thought. However, Eastern philosophies are generally more tightly linked to religious ideas. Eastern philosophies inquire into the nature of reality and concepts of the Divine using paradigms distinguishable from yet similar to those found in Western philosophy. In this course we will take a quick journey through the great philosophies of India and China to explore how ideas about reality, God, and knowledge evolved in those cultures. We will see how Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism have both religious and philosophical aspects.

Instructor Bio: James Gaither, ThD, holds a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Kansas and ThD from Holos University Graduate Seminary. For over 25 years he has taught courses in history of Western thought, world religions, metaphysics and ethics and is currently a "semi-retired.

October 25, 2021 to November 8, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Food That Changed the World

Our hunger for survival, as well as new and tastier fare, had unexpected side effects that molded history. Whether it be the fuel for revolution, or the bread broken between adversaries, food has always been something taken seriously throughout history. Food is exciting, and there's no doubt it's a huge part of our lives. That is why we love making it, sharing it. It brings us together and, at the most basic, it keeps us alive. It might be something we tend to take for granted, but some foods were so remarkable that when they were introduced, they changed the course of history for entire countries, continents, and civilizations. These foods have an even bigger story to tell. Some foods made such a big impact, they actually changed the world. Let's look at the foods that have done just that. Some of them you might never have heard of, while others will probably be a lot more familiar - some of them might even be on the menu for dinner tonight.

Instructor Bio: Chef Larry P Canepa is a Certified Culinary Educator with over 40 years of food and beverage experience and 20 years of teaching expertise in cooking, food and culture, and STEAM-focused classes to every age of student from K-8 to post-secondary and beyond. He has taught culinary classes at Le Cordon Bleu, the International Culinary School at the Art Institute, corporate wellness events, libraries, community centers, and public and private elementary schools throughout the valley. His engaging, entertaining, educational 'food-tainment' presentations have been enjoyed by hundreds of local and national audiences.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor born into slavery

Shortly after his birth as a slave in southwest Missouri, George Washington Carver, his sister and their young mother were kidnapped by slave raiders. He was found in Kentucky but without his mother and sister. Raised by his former masters, George left them at age 11 eager to pursue his interest in plants and agriculture at a nearby school for blacks. He continued his education in Kansas towns, including Fort Scott, Paola, Olathe and Minneapolis, where he completed high school. Denied admission to Highland College when officials discovered he was black, Carver then homesteaded near Beeler in Ness County before he eventually earned a Master of Agriculture degree from Iowa State University. Recruited by Booker T. Washington, Carver enjoyed a 50-year career of agricultural teaching and research at the Tuskegee Institute. We'll review Carver's successes in developing products from cotton, soybeans, sweet potatoes and peanuts; sharing advanced techniques with struggling farmers; advocating for racial harmony; and visiting Mahatma Gandhi to discuss nutrition developing nations.

Jim Peters, J.D., is director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU, and author of Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes, which has been the nation's best-selling book on Arlington Cemetery for more than 25 years. He also teaches a course on the Underground Railroad in Northeast Kansas.

October 26, 2021 to November 9, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Gladiators of Ancient Rome

Gladiatorial combats were prevalent in ancient Rome for 700 years. We will examine the origins of these "games," how they spread and grew in popularity and why they continued. We'll learn where gladiators came from, how they were trained and what their living conditions were like, as well as types of gladiators and how they were paired for combat. Find out about the building of the Colosseum and other venues throughout the empire, the attraction to individual gladiators and how many became popular and developed into sex symbols and, finally, the eventual decline of the institution.

Instructor Bio: Larry Burke is a retired professor of history at Dodge City Community College and a retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserve.

October 4-18, 2021, KU Edwards Campus Regnier Hall and Online (Overland Park, KS)

Globalization, Income Inequality, and Capitalism

In the mid-1980s, globalization or free trade between countries started and dramatically changed where goods are made. Concurrently, income inequality started to become an issue. With many jobs being moved out of the U.S. to cheaper production centers, the rich getting richer and the poor poorer, some people began to question whether or not capitalism was working in the new environment. This course will highlight the trends and transformations in government policy that occurred in the last 40 years and how these changes accelerated globalization, income inequality, and changed capitalism.

Instructor Bio: Charles "Chick" Keller is a retired senior executive and retired professor. He worked 15 years at each Sprint, and Black and Veatch in strategic planning and strategic marketing raising to the VP level both times. In 2000Chick began a career as a professor at the University of Kansas, Master of Engineering Management program where he taught Finance and Strategic Planning.

September 13-27, 2021, Roeland Park Community Center and Online (Roeland Park, KS)

Hamilton and the Last Two Decades on Broadway

"Hamilton" (2015) by Lin-Manuel Miranda must be regarded as one of the most significant musicals in the genre's history. Remarkable for its score based on rap and other African American musical styles, its statement about race in the United States, and its appeal to people from both sides of the political spectrum, "Hamilton" tells us much about our history and how we perceive it. About half of this class will concern "Hamilton" and the other half will be brief considerations of other recent Broadway shows - including "Wicked," "Come from Away," "Dear Evan Hansen," and others - and how their music and social commentary relates to "Hamilton."

Instructor Bio: Paul Laird is professor of musicology at the University of Kansas. He is a frequent Osher instructor and noted authority on the Broadway musical. Laird's most recent book is a co-edited volume (with Mary Jo Lodge) on "Hamilton" entitled "Dueling Grounds: Revolution and Revelation in the Musical Hamilton.

October 6-20, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Happy Days: a Nostalgic Review of the 1950's

For a significant majority of Americans, the fifties were good times. The Baby Boom, prosperity and rising home ownership fueled more fun than in previous and subsequent decades. Do you remember Howdy Doody, poodle skirts, S&H Green Stamps, the McGuire Sisters, as well as big cars with chrome and tail fins? We will look back on these things and more when covering such topics as suburbanization, television, cars, movies, music, fads, fashions, foods, beverages, toys, games and print media. We also touch on social critics and worries like polio. We will compare our memories to documents, film clips and music.

Instructor Bio: Carl Graves, Ph.D., holds a master's degree in US history from KU and a doctorate from Harvard. He taught at the university and community college levels, and at Kansas City's Pembroke Hill School.

September 17, 2021 to October 1, 2021, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging (Topeka, KS)
October 25, 2021 to November 8, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Hebrew Bible Reading of Solomon's Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

Explore new translations of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs. What do these ancient Hebrew scrolls have to say to us for our time? Solomon, the wisest king of ancient Israel, had every material thing any person could ever desire, but still wasn't happy. Is everything under the sun "utterly meaningless"? Ecclesiastes details his existential crisis as it discusses the meaning of life. He ends with a beautiful poem on aging. The Song of Songs is a romantic classic of Hebrew poetry, read during Passover. Is it only about erotic love? It will be analyzed from the viewpoint of a Christian mystic, meaning those who have a deeply spiritual love relationship with God. Copies of the new translations will be provided.

Instructor Bio: Paul Williamson is a retired family physician who teaches Biblical studies as well as medicine. His education includes Protestant, Catholic and Jewish education through the doctoral level. The class will read excerpts of his translation of the Book of Job from the original Hebrew and discuss new insights.

November 15-29, 2021, Osher Institute (Lawrence, KS)

History of American Presidential Campaigns Part I

This course is taught by a collector of presidential campaign items. The course will cover the history of American presidential campaigns from George Washington to Joe Biden, with a focus on the political issues that have been pertinent in elections and the changing methods and practices of political campaigns. The course will be liberally illustrated with items from the instructor's own collection, which dates back to the election of 1840. The course is strictly nonpartisan.

Instructor Bio: Don Dagenais has been a preview speaker for the Lyric Opera for more than 20 years and he teaches classical music and opera courses for local organizations. Among other pursuits, he enjoys studying American political history and has compiled an extensive collection of memorabilia from presidential political campaigns from 1840 - the present. He recently retired as a real estate attorney.

October 29, 2021 to November 12, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

History of the World According to the Great Composers

What is it that motivates composers to write great music? Over the years, some of the most inspirational music has been written about events of history. This course is organized as a world history course, starting in ancient times and continuing to the present. Whenever we encounter an event of history about which a composer has written music, we play samples of the music. For example, for biblical times we will hear from Rossini (Moses), Saint-Saens (Samson) and Bach (the Passion masses); from the Middle Ages we will listen to Wagner (Lohengrin), Weber (Oberon) and Handel (Orlando); from Russian history we will listen to Borodin (Prince Igor); from Chinese history we will hear from Handel (Tamerlane) and Tan Dun (Marco Parlo); from Renaissance we hear from Ponchielli (Venice) and in Verdi (Genoa); for France we listen to Tchaikovsky (Joan of Arc). Well, you get the idea. This journey is too long for one course, so this is Part I, to be followed by Part II in the spring.

October 4-18, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Holiday College Basketball in Kansas City: History of the Big Eight Christmas Basketball Tournament

Before the Big 12 Conference, it was the Big Eight. Claiming Wilt Chamberlain as its greatest basketball alumnus, it was considered one of the most renown college basketball conferences in the country. From 1946 through 1978, the conference had its round robin holiday tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri between Christmas and New Year's Day. It was one of the best college basketball tournaments in the country. In the beginning, when only six, then seven, teams were in the conference, other non-conference teams were invited. Former pro basketball players such as JoJo White, Bob Boozer, Clyde Lovellette, Cliff Meely and Garfield Heard played in the tournament. There were also many who were part of this tournament's history that never played professional basketball. What made the tournament exciting is when a team not predicted to finish high in the conference would "catch lightning in a bottle" for that week and win the tournament. The course will explore the history of the tournament and discuss factors which would lead to the tournament's demise in 1978.

Instructor Bio: Kevin L. Mitchell is the baseball history blogger of The Baseball Scroll (www.thebaseballscroll.blogspot.com) and author of Last Train to Cooperstown: The 2006 Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees from the Negro League Era. The Kansas City, Kan. native earned bachelors and master's degrees from the University of Kansas.

October 29, 2021 to November 12, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

I goes to fight mit Sigel!: The German-American Experience in the U.S. Civil War

I goes to fight mit Sigel!, a popular song of the Civil War era, reflects the fact that roughly one-third of the soldiers fighting for the Union cause were either recent immigrants from the German states or sons of such immigrants. These Germans on the Northern side, to the soldiers in Southern gray either the "Damned Dutch" or the "Hessians," rallied to the cause in no small measure because they saw the "war to save the Union" as the continuation of the German Revolution of 1848-49, which failed to unite the German states and provide for democratic reforms. They were led into battle by many of the same military leaders who had played prominent roles during the Revolution in Germany, such as Friedrich Hecker, Carl Schurz and especially Franz Sigel. Join us as we explore this fascinating topic.

Instructor Bio: William Keel, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus of German at KU, having taught the history and culture of German settlements in Kansas and Missouri.

November 16-30, 2021, Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse (Prairie Village, KS)

Introduction to Islam

This is an introductory course about the prophetic tradition of Islam. The course provides a brief survey of the diverse ways in which Muslims have practiced the message of Muhammad. It offers an overview of basic Islamic beliefs and practices by examining how Islam has related and negotiated identities with the other Abrahamic religions. The course also examines the relationship and interpretation of Islam with violence, peace, commerce and political governance, all designed to cultivate an appreciation and a richer understanding of Islam and its many manifestations on the world stage.

Instructor Bio: Hannington Ochwada, Ph.D. has researched and taught world history, African studies, and African history. He speaks and instructs Kiswahili. He is a regular contributor in East African media on topical issues about Africa.

October 8-22, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Japanese Ghosts and Demons: Depictions in Art, Literature and Film

The stories associated with supernatural beings and events link people to their origins and provide an explanation about their existence. With influences from Shintoism, Buddhism and Taoism, Japanese folklore is filled with supernatural beings ranging from gruesome and mysterious to humorous and playful. We'll introduce prominent Japanese apparitions, but we will also look beyond the initial spectacle depicted in folktales, historical accounts, statues, prints, writings, and theatrical performances to reveal the origins and effects of such beings on Japanese culture and society.

Instructor Bio: Dianne Daugherty holds master's degrees in education and contemporary East Asian studies, with doctorate hours in public health and Gerontology. She lived and worked in Japan for three years, and taught Japanese to high school and college students for more than 20 years.

October 6-20, 2021, Roeland Park Community Center and Online (Roeland Park, KS)

Kansas Appellate Court Cases that Affected Our Lives

Kansas Appellate Court Cases that Affected Our LivesA retired Court of Appeals judge reviews five cases heard in either Kansas federal or state appeals courts with major social justice implications. Brown v. Board is well-known, but some background details are not so familiar. One case-school finance-presents complexities that were often unclear in media reports. Liquor by the drink was a constitutional issue reviewed by the court. Two others are lesser known-Narramore and Limon. One dealt with a wrongful conviction; the other was a case that went all the way to the US Supreme Court and was sent back to the Kansas Court of Appeals for reconsideration.

Instructor Bio: G. Joseph Pierron served on the Kansas Court of Appeals from 1990-2020 and was a district judge and prosecutor in Johnson County prior to that. He taught an Osher Course on the US Supreme Court and presented over 400 programs on the appellate court process to Kansas students and community groups. The program, You Be the Judge, received local, state and national awards from legal bar associations.

September 17, 2021 to October 1, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Kansas City: The Adoption Hub of America and the Willows Maternity Sanitarium

A well-kept secret, Kansas City was known as the "Adoption Hub of America" in the early- to mid-1900s. Fearing ostracism from society, young women would be sent to live in one of several homes for unwed mothers, deliver their babies, place them for adoption and return home heartbroken. This course will share the reunion of a mother and daughter 66 years after being separated at birth at the Willows Maternity Sanitarium. We will delve into the history of the Willows and dozens of other maternity homes that brought more than 100,000 young women shrouded in secrecy to Kansas City.

Instructor Bio: KelLee Parr holds bachelor degrees in agriculture and education plus a master's degree in adult and occupational education from Kansas State University. He has taught elementary school many years in Topeka and now writes science curriculum for Nancy Larson Publishers.

September 15-29, 2021, Riley County Seniors' Service Center (Manhattan, KS)

Kansas from A to Z with Rex Buchanan and J. Schafer

What's the matter with Kansas? Too few people know just how cool it is! This state has less than 1% of the nation's population, and yet Kansas has changed the world in remarkably positive ways. In Kansas from A to Z, you'll earn about some of the most important and interesting people, places and products from the rolling plains of the 34th state. After taking this course, you'll swell with pride when you tell people that you come from the land they call Kansas, from which so many good things come.

Instructors Bio: Rex Buchanan, Director Emeritus of the Kansas Geological Survey and the author/co-author of several books (Roadside Kansas, Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills) and veteran news broadcaster J. Schafer, from Kansas Public Radio, are your tag-team instructors. Each of them will take letters from the alphabet and connect them to something unbelievably interesting, important or just worth knowing. In this class, you'll learn how Kansas's contributions to society have made the world a much better place, for without Kansas, the free world might have perished, the universe would be smaller and the modern civilization we enjoy today would still be a distant dream. Rex Buchanan, who grew up in Little River, and J. Schafer, who grew up in Great Bend, are lifelong Kansas natives and world travelers. They will regale you with tales both large and small about the greatest state in America. Yes, Kansas!

Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

King Coal in Kansas

The course discusses the discovery of coal in southeast Kansas. We will follow the development of the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad ushering in sub-surface mining and the development of Crawford and Cherokee counties as the center of "King" Coal in Kansas. We will cover milestones including Pittsburg growing to over 50,000 residents, UMWA membership exceeding 16,000 and the development of Pittsburg as the world's zinc smelting capital, fueled by coal. We will explore the State's national leadership in strip mining and the rising of area tycoons such as Mackie, Clemmons and Spencer before the industry's death in the 1960s.

Instructor Bio: Ken Crockett was born in Pittsburg, Kansas in a second-generation family of coal miners. He was educated at Central Missouri State University (BA degree) and Washburn University of Law (Juris Doctor). He is the author of two books relative to Kansas mining (Missouri Coal Miners Strike and Kenneth and Helen Spencer, Champions of Culture & Commerce In The Sunflower State).

October 5-19, 2021, Aberdeen Village (Olathe, KS)

Lessons and Legacies: What the Preservation of Historic Kansas Landmarks Teaches Us

What are some of the historic landmarks of Kansas and why are they important to us today? In this course, we will begin by learning about the federal and state historic preservation laws, discover historic structures both before and after statehood in 1861, and survey some of those buildings and structures that are now historic landmarks. The goal of the class is to learn what stories our ancestors tell us through the built environment and how we pass that knowledge on to future generations of Kansans.

Instructor Bio: Paul Post is a native Kansan, currently residing in Topeka. He received a bachelor's in history from Kansas State University in 1971 and a law degree from the University of Kansas Law School in 1974. Now retired from the practice of law, he has been a member of the Topeka Landmarks Commission since 2014 and was commission vice chair in 2018.

November 16-30, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Listening to Kansans: Exploring the Dole Archives and Voices from the Big First Exhibit

In 1961, Kansas, with the rest of the United States, found itself at a political, social, and cultural crossroads. The Dole Institute's latest original exhibit, "Voices from the Big First, 1961-1968" is based on constituent letters Bob Dole received as a congressman during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives. Discover the hopes and fears of everyday Kansans as they responded to change at home and conflict abroad in this course put on by the Dole Archives. Participants will tour the museum and archives, look in depth at the Voices exhibit, and explore related archival materials, including 1960s sound recordings from then-Congressman Dole. Join us for an exclusive opportunity for Osher members to delve into the research behind the project.

October 11-18, 2021, Lawrence Campus Dole Institute of Politics (Lawrence, KS)

London: City of Dreams

Recent excavations in central London show that Londinium was not a chilly Roman outpost, but an important imperial city. From these beginnings, we will travel through time and meet people and visit places in a blend of real history and events shrouded in mythology. The layers of the city below the streets will be explored on maps of underground London through which thousands of commuters travel every day. The course will be an idiosyncratic biography of one of the great world cities that many visitors take to their hearts as a second home.

Instructor Bio: Dr. John Doveton is an Emeritus Senior Scientist at the Kansas Geological Survey. Although he does not qualify as a cockney, he was born in the greater London metropolis and is a tireless collector of London trivia to which there is no end.

October 5-19, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Love's Labour's Lost: Shakespeare's Funniest Play

In this course, we will read and discuss Shakespeare's early comedy "Love's Labour's Lost." We will focus on the way the play is "funny," in every sense of the word. Its jokes run the range from complex theatrical jokes to fulsome wordplay. It delights and frustrates audiences. It is also "funny" in the sense that it is unusual, unexpected and a little odd. Together we will discuss what makes "Love's Labour's Lost" Shakespeare's most "Shakespearean" play.

Instructor Bio: Jonathan P. Lamb is Associate Professor of English at the University of Kansas, where he writes and teaches on Shakespeare, book history, computational text analysis, and more. He is currently working on a book called "How the World Became a Book in Shakespeare's England," and is editing a new edition of "Love's Labour's Lost.

October 7-21, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Lowlands, Highlands, Islands and a Wee Dram: the Geography of Scotland

Using what geographers call the regional approach to learning the distinctiveness of an area of the world, this course explores several aspects of Scotland's physical and human geography. It is roughly divided into sections on its astounding physiography, Precambrian geology and natural resources, followed by contributions of key ethnic groups-Picts, Scots and Norse-to its cultural history. Discussion also focuses on what author Arthur Herman described as "the true inventors (Adam Smith, James Watt, David Hume, James Hutton and Sir Walter Scott) of the social sciences." The last segment compares two great cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with quite different origins and cultural character. Finally, the country's (is it a country?) dynamic political geography is explored including political parties and the highly charged, contentious issue of independence.

Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of geography at Washburn University.

November 15-29, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Men and Women of the Early American Republic

Like all conflicts, the War of 1812 affected the social and political development of its participants and their people: the U.S., Britain, Canada and the native tribes of North America. This course examines the fascinating lives of some of its better-known participants, including Tecumseh, James and Dolly Madison, and Andrew Jackson. We'll also learn about some lesser-known personalities such as William Apess, a Pequot, who served as a drummer in the U.S. Army; Laura Secord, who warned British officers of an impending attack; Isaac Brock, the tragic British general turned Canadian hero; and Betsy Doyle, the Molly Pitcher of the War of 1812.

Instructor Bio: Richard V. Barbuto was recently retired as deputy director of the Department of Military History at Fort Leavenworth. He lectures nationally on the War of 1812.

September 14-28, 2021, Matt Ross Community Center (Overland Park, KS)

Osher Institute Gift Certificate

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Kansas offers noncredit short courses and special events developed especially for folks over 50. Give the gift of learning through an Osher Gift Certificate which enables the recipient to attend one Osher course for free! Our courses are taught two hours each week for three weeks. To give someone an Osher Gift Certificate, please click the link below. If you have questions, please contact Linda Kehres at 785-864-1373 or linda.k@ku.edu.

July 22, 2021 to January 31, 2022

Rediscovering the Arkansas River

Rediscover the county's sixth - longest river, its history in westward expansion, its uses for transportation and irrigation, and how current populations interact with it. The course will build upon the insights gained from two solo kayak adventures taken by Hannes Zacharias down the Arkansas River, one in 1976 and again in 2018, following a drop of water from the headwaters at Tennessee Pass in Colorado to the Mississippi and on to the Gulf of Mexico. Rediscover what you forgot about this wild, massive, and sometimes non - existent river as it cuts across 2,060 miles of America's midsection.

Instructor Bio: Hannes Zacharias is a Professor of Practice at KU's School ofPublic Affairs and Administration. His 35-year career in local governmentconcluded as Johnson County Manager, Hannes has spent 45 years paddling rivers,including the Colorado through the Grand Canyon, 1,000 miles on the Missouri,and down the Arkansas River.

November 16-30, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Redistricting, Gerrymandering and Representation

Elections for the U.S. House, state legislatures and many local offices are held in single-member districts. Every ten years in a process called redistricting, those districts must be redrawn based on Census numbers to ensure population equality under the "one person, one vote" principle. That process will occur during late 2021 into 2022. Redistricting is an unavoidably political process. The drawing of district lines decides how much electoral competition exists, who gets represented in government, the diversity of government, and the fates of politicians and their political careers. This course examines the nature of representation and the redistricting process, focusing especially on how states draw lines, partisan and racial gerrymandering, the effect of redistricting on elections, and alternatives to our current system.

Instructor Bio: Patrick Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas, where he also directs the Washington, D.C .Internship Program. His areas of specialization include political psychology, public opinion, electoral behavior, survey methods, and statistics. His research focuses on using surveys and experiments to apply psychological concepts to the formation of political attitudes, and linking those to attitudes to political behavior. He received his B.A. with high honors from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

September 14-28, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Reflections on a Half Century in Higher Education

Over the past 50 years, remarkable changes have occurred in the fundamental structure and purpose of higher education. This course will review the writings of John Ruskin, Abraham Flexner, and Clark Kerr to provide some background into the beginnings of higher education in this country. We will then move on to discuss the post-1960s academics and others who have critiqued traditional higher education and attempt to reform it to better suit modern America.

Join Osher presenter, Mike Hoeflich, as he reflects on his 50 years in higher education as a student, teacher, dean, and legal advisor. Mike has studied and taught at both public and private universities in the U.S. and in Britain.

Instructor Bio: Mike Hoeflich, PhD, a professor at the KU School of Law, holds a doctorate from Cambridge University and a law degree from Yale Law School.

October 27, 2021 to November 10, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Rockne, Haskell and Mizzou: Memorable Kansas Sport History Reflections

Join us as we discuss the iconic Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne and explore his many Kansas connections to people and institutions. We'll also talk about his death in an airplane crash in the Flint Hills on March 31, 1931. Week two will be a study of the Glory Days of Haskell Athletics from 1900-1932. Reflections will be given on the founding of Haskell in 1884 and the growth of its football and track and field athletics programs. Haskell played the best teams in college football, such as Notre Dame and Minnesota, and had incredible success. Several of its track and field athletes competed in the Olympic Games. We'll wrap up class on week three with a lecture on the Border Showdown: Kansas vs. Missouri. This heated rivalry with its roots in the Civil War began in the late 1890s and continued until 2012 when Missouri left the Big 12 Conference for the Southeast Conference. Discussions will center on memorable games and outstanding players and coaches.

Instructor Bio: Bernie Kish has taught sport management classes at KU since 2005. One of the classes that he created and teaches is The History and Tradition of Kansas Athletics. He also authored the chapter on KU Athletics in the recently published book "Transforming the University of Kansas, A history, 1965-2015." Kish is a veteran of the US Army, serving on active duty for over 29 years and completing his service as a Full Colonel.

October 28, 2021 to November 18, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Six Drinks that Changed the World (Part I)

Based in part on A History of The World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage, we'll travel the world in search of where humans first consumed beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and sodas, and then explore how, why and where they diffused from these hearths. Taught in two parts, the course emphasizes aspects of globalization from the Stone Age beer makers to the cola giants of the modern era. Historic themes include tea and the Opium Wars; spirits, sugar and the slave trade; and wine, Christianity and Islam. The course begins with the alcohol-related drinks: beer, wine and spirits.

Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of geography at Washburn University.

September 14-28, 2021, Meadowlark Estates (Lawrence , KS)

Six Drinks that Changed the World: the Historical Geography of Tea, Coffee and Soda (Part II)

This course examines the origins and geographical diffusion of the three most popular caffeine drinks. Although containing the most widely used psychoactive drug, these drinks are seemingly so innocuous they are sold without legal age restrictions and with limited regulations worldwide, yet they have left a legacy of cultural and environmental destruction in the wake of their widespread adoption during the process of globalization. For example, we will learn of the role of tea in the Opium Wars of China, coffee's contribution to slavery in the Americas and the detrimental health effects of sugar in sodas-or "pop" if you are from Kansas. This course can be taken independently of the previous "Six Drinks" course on wine, beer and spirits, the alcohol drinks that changed the world.

Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University.

October 7-21, 2021, KU Edwards Campus Regnier Hall and Online (Overland Park, KS)

Spirit of the Mask: Works of Mystery and Beauty

Masks are much more than just disguises-they can transform a person's face into a new powerful spirit. For thousands of years, people have created masks as a means of expression. They are treasured worldwide for their historical and cultural significance, teaching us how cultures deal with their lives and their environments. Masks are attributed to folklore, chiefs, shamans and religious leaders. They play a role in dance forms and storytelling and are used in agriculture, carnivals, celebrations, dance, death, fertility, hunting, initiation, midwinter observances, religion and theater.

Instructor Bio: Carla Hanson, a K-State University music graduate, is curator of "Spirit of the Mask," a traveling mask exhibit. Her collection, representing more than 45 countries, numbers in the hundreds. She is currently studying with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts adding music and dance to her presentation.

October 5-19, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

Teddy Roosevelt: An American Icon

Theodore Roosevelt sits atop Mount Rushmore, nestled between Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. He was chosen to be a part of this historical structure in 1927 because he was considered among our greatest presidents, a position he retains among historians today. We'll examine T.R.'s life, overcoming debilitating asthma as a child to build a reputation as a robust outdoorsman, astute politician, pioneering conservationist and international statesman. Roosevelt was New York City's police commissioner, assistant secretary of the Navy, volunteer Rough Rider, New York governor and vice president before becoming the youngest president at age 42 following William McKinley's assassination in 1901.

Instructor Bio: Jim Peters, J.D., is director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU, and author of Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes, which has been the nation's best-selling book on Arlington Cemetery for more than 25 years. He also teaches a course on the Underground Railroad in Northeast Kansas.

October 7-21, 2021, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community (Overland Park, KS)

Teddy Roosevelt: An American Icon - Tallgrass Residents

October 7-21, 2021, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community (Overland Park, KS)

Thanksgiving & Indigenous Foods: A Celebration

In 1492, the "discovery" of the Americas made for the incredible and continuing exchange of foods between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The chile pepper, for example, now a standard ingredient in the cuisines of China, Thailand and India, was unknown to any of those cultures. The Italians had never seen a tomato, nor the Swiss, chocolate. From the first legendary Thanksgiving, when Indigenous people shared harvest with Pilgrims, we have celebrated with American foods: corn, squash, green beans, pumpkin, potatoes, cranberries and turkey. Twenty years ago, Thomas Fox Averill wrote Secrets of the Tsil Cafe, a novel with a restaurant that serves only indigenous foods. Join him for a history and a tasting of the rich larder of the New World.

Instructor Bio: Thomas Fox Averill is professor emeritus at Washburn University where he taught Kansas literature, folklore and film for more than 40 years. He is the author of three story collections and five novels, almost all of them set in Kansas. His most recent novel is "Found Documents from the Life of Nell Johnson Doerr: A Novel".

October 27, 2021 to November 10, 2021, KU Edwards Campus Regnier Hall and Online (Overland Park, KS)
October 27, 2021 to November 10, 2021, Northland Innovation Center (Gladstone, MO)
November 15-29, 2021, Riley County Seniors' Service Center (Manhattan, KS)

The Ancient Greeks and the Persian Wars in Lawrence

During the Golden Age we see the way of Greek life challenged by the threat of the mighty, autocratic Persian Empire. The background to this conflict will be discussed followed by the Athenian victory over a Persian force ordered to invade Athenian territory by the mighty Persian king Darius I, a shocking Greek victory. Darius's successor, Xerxes, sought revenge by ordering the invasion of Greece by a huge Persian army. This invasion caused many Greek city-states to unite to protect their way of life. The heroic Spartan stand at Thermopylae, the stunning Greek victory at the naval battle of Salamis, and the subsequent defeat of Persian troops at the Battle of Plataea ensured Greek independence from Near Eastern Persian autocracy. This resulted in the flowering of Greek culture and the development of democracy, art, literature and philosophy, which are foundations of Western Civilization. Join us as we explore this fascinating period full of progress, conflict, drama, and heroic activity as well as intellectual and artistic development.

Instructor Bio: Larry Burke is a retired professor of history at Dodge City Community College and a retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserve.

October 27, 2021 to November 10, 2021, Senior Resource Center for Douglas County (Lawrence, KS)

The Beatles Studio Years

By 1966, the Beatles had tired of a grueling concert schedule that was often fraught with life-threatening audience responses. A disastrous world tour saw violent outbreaks in Japan and the Philippines. This was followed by the ugly response in the USA to the "more popular than Jesus" flap which made the decision to stop touring easy. In addition, the Beatles' music had moved from craft (perfecting the set formula) to art (creating novel music). As a result, their studio-produced songs could not be performed live. Some thought the end of live performances would lead to the demise of the Beatles, but the studio recordings from 1967 to 1969 became even more revolutionary and influential.

Instructor Bio: Steve Lopes, AE, BA, MA, M Ed, was an educator for 15 years prior to 30 years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching Rock 'n' Roll history and sharing it with Osher participants.

October 28, 2021 to November 18, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

The Creation and Decline of the Most Successful 3rd Party in America's History

Kansas was at the heart of the Populist Movement in the late 1800s, creating America's most successful 3rd Party Movement. Three classes will include the years leading up to the party's creation, including homesteaders, freed slaves, extreme hardships, debt and early farmers' organizations; the creation and success of the Populist Movement before the formation of a political party, the roles of other social movements like suffragettes and prohibitionists, the emergence of a middle class, the power of the wealthy in the Gilded Age, the role of the press, the integration of immigrant farmers, workers' strikes and efforts to unite rural and urban workers, the violence of the times with Pinkerton detectives, strikes and hired armies; and through all of these events we will see the rise and decline of the People's Party, including the key roles Kansas and Texas played in merging North and South in the same political party, at least for a time, using fusion and working toward their goals of regulating railroads, creating the sub-treasury plan, and prioritizing bimetallism (Free Silver). Join us as we discover this fascinating time in history and recognize how the People's Party influenced the two old parties in ways that remain even today.

Instructor Bio: Lynda Beck Fenwick lives a life fueled by curiosity, as a teacher, attorney, and author, personally and professionally. In no way is that more apparent than in the three books she has published (Baylor University Press, Dutton and the University Press of Kansas), for one of which she was named nonfiction Georgia Author of the Year. Born and raised in Kansas, her career has taken her to New England, New York City and the South, and in retirement, Lyn and her husband restored her fourth-generation family home in Kansas. Her new book is titled Prairie Bachelor, the Story of a Kansas Homesteader and the Populist Movement.

July 26, 2021 to August 9, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

The Evolution of Photography and the Creative Process Behind the Photo

This visually-driven class explores photography from early glass plate to digital capture. We will view photographs from Library of Congress collections, archives of the Lawrence Journal-World and the instructor's 30-year photography career. With each photograph, we will take a behind-the-lens viewpoint, attempting to understand each photographer's creative process in documenting their subject. Along the way, we will meet image makers focusing on diverse content, from steam trains to snowflakes and we will address the questions, "What makes an interesting photograph?" and "How can we capture better photographs?" Participants will also be invited to submit their own favorite photographs for instructor review.

Instructor Bio: Mike Yoder, formerly with the Lawrence Journal-World, has 25 years of experience in film and digital documentary photography and his photographs have been included in numerous books.

October 6-20, 2021, Washburn University Henderson Learning Center and Online (Topeka, KS)

The Generals' Wives: How the Military Shaped the Role of First Lady

The role of first lady has evolved over the years and each first lady puts her own mark on the position. The first woman to be the president's partner, Martha Washington, was greatly influenced by what she had learned during her years of being in camps with her husband. Two later first ladies, Julia Dent Grant and Mamie Doud Eisenhower, were also military wives whose tenure as first lady was also influenced by their past experiences as military wives. This course explores their biographies and how they enacted the role of first lady.

Instructor Bio: Diana Carlin, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and a retired professor of Communication Studies at KU. She has co-authored a book on gender and politics and taught courses on women as political leaders, the rhetoric of women's rights and communication and gender.

October 25, 2021 to November 8, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

The History of Athletic Footwear from Converse All-Stars to Freestyles to Air Jordans

Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in the 1936 Olympics with shoes provided by the Dassler brothers. Adolf and Rudolf Dassler specialized in sports performance footwear specifically made for Owens, but a family feud led to a split into Adidas (Adolf) and Puma (Rudolf). The story of how these two companies were joined in competition by start-ups Asics and Nike will be told.

The class will cover designers who crafted notable shoes like Nike's Air Jordans and Reebok's The Pump, employing innovative cushioning technology such as air or gel pockets and shock absorbing tubes, and using space age materials like Adidas' Boost or utilizing plant fiber - all needed to manufacture today's active lifestyle footwear. The sneaker culture where sports (Michael Jordan, Shaq, LeBron), music (Pharrell Williams, Drake, Kanye West), and movie stars (Spike Lee, Denzel Washington, Cybill Shepherd) intersect will be seen in terms of marketing the high-end shoes. Product placement of sneakers in movies like Back to the Future II and Kill Bill Volume 1 will also be discussed. Finally, factors like forced labor sweatshops needed to keep Air Jordan unit costs at $25 (retailing at $200) will be examined.

Instructor Bio: Rich Hughes received a bachelor's degree from KU and a master's in computer science from Kansas State University. Rich authored the book, "Netting Out Basketball, 1936", on the original dream team-the 1936 U.S. Olympics basketball team.

October 7-21, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

The History of the U.S. - Mexico Border

This course will explore the historical development of the U.S.- Mexico border from the perspective of both Mexico and the United States. Together, we will explore how the border evolved and hardened through the creation of the Border Patrol, the Mexican Revolution and the effects of Prohibition. We'll review personal accounts, photographs and songs of "borderlanders," along with government officials providing crucial context to today's current debates. Finally, we will examine how to negotiate the border in the age of nationalism.

Instructor Bio: Aaron Margolis received his doctorate in history from the University of Texas at El Paso where he concentrated on Latin American and Borderlands History. He is currently an associate professor of history at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

September 15-29, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

The KU Natural History Museum on the world stage: The World's Columbian Exposition, the Battle of Little Bighorn, the mythical grotesques.

In 1893, the KU Natural History Museum took the world by storm. It's Panorama dazzled more than two million people at the Kansas Pavilion in Chicago, revolutionizing how museums would forever think about the life of the planet. Nearby, surrounded by enormous crowds, stood Comanche, the 7th Cavalry horse, the lone U.S. Army survivor of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Comanche's long, dark shadow would forever stain the peoples and the wildlands of the Great Plains. A decade later, twelve grotesque stone beasts would look down from the skyline on the Museum, its Panorama, and Comanche, decreed forever to keep the devils from the door.

Instructor Bio: Leonard Krishtalka is the director of the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and the author of the mystery novels The Bone Field, Death Spoke, The Camel Driver. As a paleontologist, he knows about the three billion year comings and goings of life on Earth, and how the past informs the present and the future. As a scientist and author, he knows how the telling of stories can shape our view of nature, humanity, and our sense in them of place and purpose.

October 25, 2021 to November 8, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

The Medical History of the American Presidency

This multimedia course details the impact injury and illness have had on the American presidency and, ultimately, United States and world history. Over the 232 years of the American Presidency there have been extraordinary advances in both diagnostic and treatment options for medical illnesses and injuries. Both the treatment at the time of presidential illness and speculation on outcomes with the advantage 21st century medical care will be discussed. We will also examine the changing American press and effects on disclosure of illness. Hidden illnesses in the White house are detailed, including clandestine surgery performed on a president on a yacht at sea, and illness and circumstance leading to the first "functional" woman president and re-election of a dying president. The fascinating medical history of Andrew Jackson and medical truths regarding John F. Kennedy are explored. Other topics covered include the medical aspects of presidential assassinations, controversies regarding the medical care and competency of the White House physicians, Dwight D. Eisenhower's heart attack, the health issues of 2020 presidential candidates, and health demographics which may affect the future of the American presidential elections. The course is designed to be historical, informative, entertaining, at times humorous, and ultimately inspirational and patriotic.

Instructor Bio: Dr. Jay Murphy is a recently retired cardiologist who practiced in Johnson County, Kansas for forty years. After being raised in Ohio and graduating from Denison University and The Ohio State College of Medicine, he completed post graduate training at the University of Kansas in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Over his career he has been board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Echocardiography and Lipidology. He has spoken widely on preventive cardiology and the above topic and is the author of What Ails the White House, An Introduction to the Medical History of the American Presidency.

October 27, 2021 to November 10, 2021, Mission Chateau (Prairie Village, KS)

The Predicament of Possessions in Later Life

As life unfolds, things tend to accumulate. Can older adults continue to accommodate households of belongings that were assembled for lives that they now no longer live? Inevitably, they will face a reckoning with their lifelong store of possessions-special, ordinary, and forgotten. Such a predicament now confronts tens of millions of Americans as the Baby Boom cohort passes into retirement and beyond. Based on research in over 130 Midwestern households, the course explores the meaning of things in later life and how households approach and accomplish downsizing, examining the decision-making process and the effectiveness of different divestment strategies.

Instructor Bio: David Ekerdt, Ph.D., is Professor of Sociology and Gerontology at KU, specializing in work and retirement, focused on the changing role and practice of retirement. He is the editor-in-chief of the "Macmillan Encyclopedia of Aging".

October 28, 2021 to November 18, 2021, Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse (Prairie Village, KS)

The Psychology of Loss and Grief

Grief is arguably the most powerful of human emotions. Anyone who loves is vulnerable to loss and grief. This class examines thoughts, feelings and behaviors associated with grief, and explores what recovery means (hint: it doesn't mean "get over it!"). We will study stages, tasks, types of grief; as well as gender differences in terms of grieving and accepting help. The class will look at the 21st century cultural changes in how grief and recovery are viewed in our society, and the role or meaning in grief. Much of class is 'pragmatic psychology' with guidance for helping yourself and others recover.

Instructor Bio: Sandra Lyke is a licensed clinical social worker with master's degrees in social work and counseling. Retired after 35 years as a psychiatric social worker, she has additional experience as a hospice worker, hospital chaplain and adjunct instructor at Park University.

November 15-29, 2021, Osher Institute (Lawrence, KS)

The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

With the rise of the Berlin Wall 60 years ago this summer, the course of Germany's, and especially of Berlin's history, took a tragic turn. It would take 28 years for this cruel and inhuman symbol of Germany's division to come down, thus giving birth to yet another period in this European nation's remarkable evolution. Join German Historian and Ex-Berliner Anette Isaacs, M.A., as she presents you with a historical and political overview of this painful but also almost miraculous phase in her native country's captivating history. In addition to learning about the history of the Berlin Wall, we will also take a detailed look at daily life in East Germany during the period of Socialism and we will discuss the Unification and its aftermath.

Instructor Bio: Anette Isaacs, MA, is a German Historian and Public Educator who has been presenting hundreds of programs on more than 30 different topics (all pertaining to her native country's history, politics, and culture) in the Chicagoland area and in South Florida. Ms. Isaacs holds Master's Degrees in American Studies, Political Science, and History and is an adjunct faculty member at the lifelong learning departments of Oakton College, the College of Lake County, Harper College, the College of DuPage, and McHenry County College, all located in Illinois. She is also a popular instructor at Florida Atlantic University's OLLI in Boca Raton.

September 14-28, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

The Road to Santa Fe - Reflections from Rex and Dave

Dave Kendall and Rex Buchanan collaborated in the production of a documentary focusing on the history of the Santa Fe Trail. Entitled "The Road to Santa Fe: A Convergence of Cultures," this 90-minute program premiered in conjunction with the bicentennial of the trail in September of 2021.

In this session, you will screen excerpts from the documentary as well as other short videos connected to the project. Kendall will describe the manner in which the program was produced, providing a few anecdotes of challenges that arose and background on those appear in the program, including historians such as Leo Oliva, a founding member of the Santa Fe Trail Association; Jennie Chinn, director of the Kansas Historical Society and Frances Levine, director the Missouri Historical Society and former director of the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe. Buchanan will share his views on the significance of the trail, providing an assessment of the challenges that travelers on the trail faced as they traversed through a landscape that changed significantly as they passed from one end of the trail to the other.

This documentary was produced, in part, with grants from Humanities Kansas and Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area among others. The Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation served as the sponsoring organization. More information about it can be found online at prairiehollow.

Thursday, November 18, 2021, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)

The Spice Trade and the Age of Exploration

Spices didn't just make merchants rich across the globe - they established and destroyed vast empires, revealed entire continents to Europeans and tipped the balance of world power. If the modern age has a definitive beginning, it was sparked by the spice trade. Arab traders controlled the spice trade between Europe and the East for almost 5,000 years until Europeans started looking for a new route to the Far East. Thus began the Spice Trade, and the Age of Exploration helped lay the foundation for the modern world - all in the pursuit of a more flavorful dinner.

Monday, October 25, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

The Tallgrass Prairie Origins, Inhabitants and Remnants

The North American Tallgrass Prairie is one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. Less than four percent of the original prairie still exists and most of that is in eastern Kansas. This course will increase your appreciation of what we have here. We will explore the geologic and climatic factors that created the prairie and discuss key inhabitants, from bison to butterflies to meadowlarks. We even discuss the first humans and indigenous tribes! Prairie remnants, starting with the long struggle to establish the National Prairie Preserve, are examined. A brief review of prairie-inspired literature concludes this course.

Instructor Bio: Thomas Luellen recently retired after 31 years in hospital administration and 14 years as an adjunct instructor at Washburn University. He has a master's degree in geography from the KU. His personal interests have always been his native state and its history.

October 6-20, 2021, Riley County Seniors' Service Center (Manhattan, KS)

Travel to Hawaii

We will begin with the history of Hawaii from its Polynesian roots as far back as the 8th century. Westerners came to Hawaii for the first time a thousand years later in the 18th century. On January 18, 1778, Captain James Cook went ashore at Waimea on Kauai. He called his new discovery the Sandwich Islands, after the First Lord of the Admiralty. We will explore some of the first kings and queens of Hawaii and how Hawaii evolved to a U.S. Territory and then statehood in 1959. We will look at Oahu's past and present the highlights of things to see and do on this island, including Pearl Harbor and the changes there for touring the last few years. We will focus on Honolulu, the state capital. We'll then delve into the islands of Maui and Kauai and if there is time, Molokai and Lanai. Lastly, we discuss the Big Island, Hawaii. Since all the other islands would fit in the Big Island, there is much to talk about from history to places to see and many activities unique to this island. Volcano National Park will be highlighted.

Instructor Bio: Georgia Klein is a retired secondary educator from the Shawnee Mission School District. She has been to Europe 26 times and has presented workshops on travel to other continents. She has also been a guide for Road Scholars on a walking tour of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO.

October 8-22, 2021, Matt Ross Community Center (Overland Park, KS)

Trust the Science: Francis H. Snow and His Faculty Colleagues

Over the 40 years he taught at the University of Kansas, beginning with its opening in 1866, Francis H. Snow made himself a first-rate naturalist with a stellar national reputation. More importantly, he drew to the university and nurtured the careers of men and women as committed as he was to the value of scientific advancements. Their expertise in chemistry, geology, zoology, entomology, hydrology, engineering, physics, and other sciences supported public health, agriculture, communications, and other crucial elements of the daily lives of their fellow Kansans. This course examines some of the contributions of these vital, innovative, creative academics.

Instructor Bio: Since retiring as a journalist and editor, Evie Rapport has made a special study of KU founders and early faculty.

October 6-20, 2021, Senior Resource Center for Douglas County (Lawrence, KS)

U.S. Religion from the Civil War to 1930: New Churches, New Challenges, and the Modernist Controversy

The Civil War caused a lot of soul-searching in the U.S., and other events coincided to make the late Nineteenth Century fertile ground for new religions (Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness, and Pentecostalism) and new challenges (the poor in the great cities, leading to Dwight Moody's conservative approach and Walter Rauschenbusch's Social Gospel). Hanging over it all was the growth of conservative theologies, which rejected the Higher Criticism that tried to place the Bible in a historical context and rejected modern science. All this culminated in the "Modernist Controversy" that ended -- or didn't -- in the 1925 Scope's Trial. We live with the consequences of that today.

Instructor Bio: James Showalter did seven years of historic preservation and 31 years of teaching History on the university level, including 30 years teaching American History at Langston University in Oklahoma. In addition to his university teaching, he has taught in the Oklahoma State University Osher course system for about nine years, covering a wide range of subjects. One of several areas of expertise he has developed is the History of Religion worldwide, and particularly the history of religion in the area that is now the United States. He now lives outside Strong City, Kansas, on the beautiful Flint Hills.

October 26, 2021 to November 9, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

United States Citizenship: What's Hot and What's Not

Hot issues will include birthright citizenship granted by the 14th Amendment and citizenship through naturalization of birth abroad, distinction between US citizens and naturals, how to immigrate or work legally in the United States, how to become a citizen, and what citizenship and immigration laws have been proposed by the new US administration. We will also consider border walls, whether asylum at the border is working, which citizenship or immigration laws and "quotas" might change, the N-400 US citizenship application, civics test and mandatory interview for acquiring citizenship, and an overview of the naturalization ceremony. Not to be missed- Is Archie Windsor a US citizen? Could he be President of the United States? Could he be King of England? Will his children be US citizens?

Instructors Bios: Attorney Kathleen Harvey retired in 2016 from her immigration law practice and Anita Tebbe is a retired a professor of legal studies at Johnson County Community College.

October 6-20, 2021, Townplace Suites and Online (Leavenworth, KS)

Van Gogh: The Man and His Art

Vincent Van Gogh painted over 900 works in his brief 10-year career, and he is loved by many, but understood by few. As we enjoy many of these amazing pieces, we will look at the three places that influenced him the most - Paris, Arles, and Auvers-sur-Oise - and will discuss the important relationships that shaped him over his short life. We'll also learn about his obsession with Japanese art and culture and see how he expressed it in some of his work. Understanding more about the man and his art will help us answer the question of whether his illness inspired or impeded his creative work and will certainly enrich our experience whenever we look at a Van Gogh painting.

Instructor Bio: Janice Stuerzl has a lifelong passion for art history. After retiring from a 20-year career in social work, she became a docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She has contributed research on French decorative arts for interior design books and has been field editor for interior design articles in national magazines.

Friday, November 19, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

Visions of the Future: Utopias and Dystopias

At least as far back as the golden age of Greece, people have written about their idea of an ideal society. Beginning in the 20th century, writers have imagined what appears to be a perfect society that is not perfect for some-or all-of its members. This course will review some of those works (such as More's Utopia, Bellamy's Looking Backward, Huxley's Brave New World, Orwell's 1984, Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale) and discuss what societal values the authors thought were important and how that has changed over the years. We'll also talk about why dystopias (in their various versions: books, movies, television series) are currently more popular than utopias.

Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger recently retired from a legal career in federal and state government, mostly dealing with issues concerning persons with disabilities. He teaches courses on disabilities and the law and the insanity defense at the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law.

October 27, 2021 to November 10, 2021, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community (Overland Park, KS)

Visions of the Future: Utopias and Dystopias - Tallgrass Residents

October 27, 2021 to November 10, 2021, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community (Overland Park, KS)

What in the World is Going on? A Top 10 Summary - 2021!

The course will compare the U.S. rankings in over 25 key global categories for 2021. We'll consider economic factors like incomes, deductions and taxes; the environment & pollution; energy sources; healthcare costs and outcomes; marriage, divorce & birth rates; education levels & achievement; life expectancy and paid vacations; population trends; an index on religiosity & atheism; immigration populations & trends; a national prosperity index; murder and crime rates; a change readiness index; happiest & most competitive countries; "best" countries ranked, "where" to be born - 2021; et al. All charts and links to data sources will be provided to participants.

Instructor Bio: Doug Stowell has had various career highlights including as Director of Market Research for the Xerox Corp., U.S., Director for the U.K. firm National Opinion Polling, Ltd., and Senior Consultant with Wirthlin Polling in DC. He opened his own firm in 2002 and continues today conducting global consumer issues surveys and political polls.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

What Is Fascism?

It was once thought that fascism had so violently discredited itself in World War Two that it could now survive only on the extremist fringes of democratic politics. But times have changed. Today journalists and pundits-often with a political axe to grind-issue dire warnings of fascism's return, comparing Hitler and Mussolini to contemporary leaders like Trump and Putin. This class will investigate "classical fascism" as it appeared from the years around WWI to 1945, paying particular attention to Italy and Germany. We will consider how understanding fascism in its historical moment enables us to evaluate the application of "fascism" to today's politics.

Instructor Bio: Eliah Bures holds a PhD in history from UC Berkeley. He is a fellow at Berkeley's Center for Right-Wing Studies and the author of multiple essays and scholarly articles on far-right politics.

October 5-19, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

What Makes a Great Speech: Historic Examples of Memorable Oratory

We all listen to many speeches in our lives, especially from public figures and well-known personalities, but few of them register as truly great. So, what makes a speech great - one that we can quote or remember how it affected us? This course explores some of the greatest speeches ever given throughout history and why they are still studied or quoted and still have impact today. The course examines the techniques used, the language chosen, the strategies enacted, and the delivery that all contributed to their greatness. For modern speeches, we will listen to or view segments of the speeches and will look at the list of 100 best speeches of the 20th century and discuss some of the most memorable.

Instructor Bio: Diana Carlin, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and a retired professor of Communication Studies at KU. Dr. Carlin has written several articles and co-authored a book on gender and politics. She also taught courses on women as political leaders, the rhetoric of women's rights and communication and gender.

October 28, 2021 to November 18, 2021, Washburn University Henderson Learning Center and Online (Topeka, KS)

Women and Politics: Is Part of the Glass Ceiling Still Hanging?

The U.S. inaugurated its first woman vice president but still has not joined 70 other countries that have had women presidents or prime ministers. Since the 19th amendment in 1920, women have made progress on the political stage, but they often experience subtle or overt sexism. Going back to 1872, this course looks at women who ran for office and the challenges they faced from opponents and the media. Videos, political cartoons and newspaper headlines show that much has changed but many things have stayed the same over 100 years.

Instructor Bio: Diana Carlin, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and a retired professor of Communication Studies at KU. She has co-authored a book on gender and politics and taught courses on women as political leaders, the rhetoric of women's rights and communication and gender.

October 5-19, 2021, Brewster Place Event Center (Topeka , KS)

Women and War

The two world wars of the 20th century were global affairs enlisting vast numbers of humans into the ranks of the military. To supply the need for soldiers, the modern state recruited men and women. While a significant number of the histories of the First and Second World Wars concentrate on the activities and achievements of the male soldiers, the vital services performed by military women cannot be overlooked or underestimated. This class attempts to recognize the service of thousands of women who donned the uniform of their country and served. The first class will focus on the women of the American armed forces, the WACS, WAVES, the U.S. Navy's Nurse Corps, and the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve. The second call will concentrate on the women who volunteered for the British armed forces, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the Women's Royal Navy Auxiliary Service, and Women's Auxiliary Air Force. The final class will examine the German, Italian, and Soviet women's corps. The class should bring to the attendees a greater appreciation of the role women played in the Second World War.

Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, PhD, is the Director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU, and has published numerous articles on military history.

October 4-18, 2021, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging (Topeka, KS)

Women in the Gospel of John

The Christian New Testament Gospel of John is called the "maverick gospel" or the "compromise gospel." No matter what it is called, its presentation of Jesus, and those with whom he interacts, is unique. Women in the Gospel of John are not only significant in number but also in the theological importance of their stories. Commentator Gail O'Day puts it this way: "The Gospel of John narrates a faith world that would not exist without women's participation in it." Join us as we explore the Gospel of John from a literary and socio-historical perspective. We'll delve into specific stories of women and their significance to the gospel's author and to the community for whom the gospel was intended. Comparisons and contrasts with the Synoptic Gospels will be discussed.

Instructor Bio: Renee Neff-Clark has a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Kansas and has been a lover of all types of literature since she learned to read.

October 26, 2021 to November 9, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

World War II Prisoner of War Camps in Kansas

During the Second World War, German POWs were sent to camps in Kansas-Waconda, Eskridge, Lawrence. We will explore how the men transitioned from fighting on the battlefields of Europe to farming in the wheat fields of Kansas as a prisoner and enemy to the people they live near. How did Kansas react and treat the soldiers? What was it like during those years? What happened to the men after 1945 when the war ended? Was the language barrier a major problem? We will discuss these and other questions about the period.

Instructor Bio: Russ Hutchins teaches U.S. History, Western Civilization, and Economics at Friends University-Topeka. He is a retired public school administrator and educator of 41 years.

October 7-21, 2021, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)

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