Wednesday Courses   

This is a previously taught course with new content that aims to broaden a student’s vocabulary and understanding of today’s spoken German. The class reads, checks for understanding and comments on selected readings. This term we will read and discuss the instructor’s memoirs from 1992 and later. The etymology of certain words will be discussed as well, and the rules of grammar will be explained on request. Occasionally, we will read and analyze German poetry or other culturally appropriate material. 

NOTE: There is no class on Nov. 11.

This course is based on the AARP Smart Driver course, which has been shown to significantly reduce older drivers’ risk of collision. It will help you become more proficient in the current rules of the road, improve your defensive driving techniques and help you with safe vehicle operation in today’s demanding driving environment. The course will focus on the vital relationship between the driver, vehicle and road, and look at how factors such as aging, medications and alcohol can impact driving. You’ll also learn about the latest vehicle safety features and technological advancements. Importantly, you will learn how to identify when it’s no longer safe to drive and how to find alternative travel options. This course may qualify you for a multiyear discount on your auto insurance.

NOTE: A required materials fee of $20 to $25 (discount for AARP members) includes a comprehensive 120-page Participant Guide. Both days are required for course completion and insurance discount. The fee will be collected on the first day by cash or check made out to AARP. Credit cards will not be accepted. 

This nine-week course explores the chakra system and its relationship to emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Students will learn the function of each major chakra, common signs of balance and imbalance, and practical techniques for supporting overall well-being through greater self-awareness. Topics include the energetic body, the seven primary chakras, the aura, grounding practices, meditation, and the connection between thoughts, emotions and energy. Instruction will include lectures, group discussion, guided exercises and experiential activities designed to help participants better understand and apply the concepts presented. The course is presented from an energy-healing perspective while encouraging personal exploration. 

NOTE: No prior knowledge or experience is required. Participants are encouraged to bring a notebook or journal for personal reflection. All participation is voluntary and may be adapted to individual comfort levels. There is no class on Nov. 11.

This course is designed for those with little or no knowledge of maintaining and repairing a home. You’ll learn how water, gas and electricity enter a home and how to shut them off; how to change the filter in your furnace; and how to clean the coils on your refrigerator. We’ll talk about how to replace a light switch and outlet, fix door problems, plumbing and electricity, and what tools to have. You’ll learn what to watch out for outside the home, such as clogged gutters, water leaks, siding damage and invasive vegetation. We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of buying through big-box stores versus independent merchants, how to choose a contractor and not get cheated, and other issues in maintenance and repair. Class members will have a chance to raise issues specific to their homes.

NOTE: There is no class on Nov. 11.

This course is the beginning of a multiyear discussion of the 1850-1880 Civil War era. Although war was not inevitable, it became increasingly likely as 1850s “influencers” in both the North and South drew ever-deepening lines in the sand. Three topics will be addressed: 1) Pasts and Preludes: What were the social and political conditions that created this contested monument in our national historical consciousness? 2) Abolitionists and Fire-Eaters: Both proslavery and antislavery politicians and preachers enlisted the Bible in their efforts to disentangle a knotty institution tightly wound in the nation’s identity, and 3) Widening Chasms and Existential Crises: By the early 1850s, the rifts in American society had widened so considerably that compromise seemed impossible to achieve.

NOTE: The course will meet on three nonconsecutive Wednesdays: Nov. 4, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2. This course is shared with OLLI at the University of Nevada, Reno. Please note that the last session of the course extends beyond the OLLI at SOU term.

This course presents three mini-histories of science, each centering on a question that has intrigued humanity for millennia: 1) How old is the Earth? 2) Are there beings on the heavenly bodies? 3) How do we find our way? (Mapmaking and direction-finding.) In each session we trace the history of answers to one of these questions from the Classical period to our present-day understandings. The trail leads to some fascinating nooks and crannies of both science and history. (Thomas Jefferson’s obsession with mammoths, for one.) We also explore how scientific thought was shaped by nonscientific beliefs that answered these questions with radically different assumptions and logic. Class sessions will consist of lectures with PowerPoint presentations and time for discussion and Q&A. 

NOTE: The online section of this course will not meet on Nov. 11.

This course will focus on writing creative, nonfiction short essays with an emphasis on memoir writing. Throughout six weeks, students will delve into their pasts and write their own stories. Students should expect to learn how to transform their memories and experiences into written essays that others can understand and enjoy. Students will also learn how to brainstorm topics, organize ideas, create meaningful dialogue, write clear characters, describe experiences, develop settings and revise their work within a supportive setting. Class time will be devoted to discussions of published and student essays and lessons related to the craft of writing. Students will write a two-page essay at home each week. Beginning and experienced writers are welcome.

NOTE: There is no class on Nov. 11.