William Garrett, professor of philosophy & religion, JFKU

Mondays, July 12, 19 & 26; August 2, 9 & 16, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

$60 for OLLI members/ $75 for non-members

Professor Garrett will help you become acquainted with the Gnostic texts found at the Nag Hammadi site in Egypt at the close of WWII. They offer us a more complex picture of the world of Jesus of Nazareth, and of the culture of Judaism in which he lived than often provided by our traditional understandings. Controversial? Indeed, it is. Join Professor Garrett for a provocative investigation of the world that gave birth to Christianity.

Laurie Phillips, lecturer of ethics, CSUEB

Wednesdays, July 14, 21 & 28; August 4, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

It's time to link literature and the law again, with an investigation of the legal issues generated by Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge and August Wilson's Fences. (The plays are running back-to-back on Broadway, winter/spring, 2010.)  Miller casts a sharp eye on union corruption, ethnic and gender stereotypes, and run-away emotions. Wilson looks at similar themes but from an African-American perspective. Ms. Philips will guide you through the legal thickets, and, as always, be ready to judge! 

Rhoda Kaufman, professor of theatre and dance, CSUEB

Tuesdays, August 3, 10, * 24 & 31, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (*no class meeting on August 17)

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

American playwrights have often depicted families as microcosms, churning with social, economic, and political turmoils. And the list of dramatists who have shown how the pursuit of the American dream can turn to nightmare when harsh realities dash family hopes is long and distinguished. Professor Kaufman will explore this persistent and compelling theme in American theater for us. Get your tickets soon!

Bill Pence, M.A. biology, aquanaut, U.S. Hydrolab, NOAA, research scientist

Wednesday, August 11, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

Did you know that the United States has an "Undersea Research Program" where aquanauts spend one week living sixty feet down in an undersea habitat next to a coral reef? Well, it does. So, what are our tax dollars up to? Let Mr. Pence, one of those who spent a week sixty feet under, tell you all about it. He will fill us in on the good, the bad, and the ugly of living "under the sea." Come take the plunge.

Carolyn Miller, M.A., education, UCD

Wednesday, September 8, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

Autism now affects 1 in 110 children, a 600% increase in the disorder in the last 20 years. Join OLLI for a discussion of the impact of autism on families, schools, and the state. Ms. Miller will introduce us to current research on autism, and explore efforts to explain the startling increase in diagnosed cases of Spectrum Disorders. The challenges facing autistic children now touch every community. How can families and society cope?  Ms. Miller will help us start the search for answers. 

Lynne Elkin, professor emerita biology, CSUEB

Wednesdays, September 15, 22 & 29; October 6, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members /$55 for non-members

Watson and Crick, those masters of DNA, never acknowledged in their famous papers or 1962 Nobel Prize acceptance speeches the crucial contribution Rosalind Franklin made to their work. Tragically, Franklin died of ovarian cancer in 1958, just 37 years old, never having received credit for providing the crystallographic data that helped unlock DNA’s secrets. Join Dr. Elkin to explore the details of this fascinating case and to speculate about what it tells us regarding women in the history of science.

H. Lee Dempsey, Jr., author, Gonzo With the Wind

Thursday, September 16, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

Do you yearn for adventure, hear the call of the sea, smell rain on the wind---or just prefer to read about such things? Whatever your tastes, let author Lee Dempsey recount for you a remarkable adventure on a sea known for treachery--even pirates!--and across a dangerous ocean. After retiring as CEO of a distribution company, Mr. Dempsey bought a sailboat sight unseen in Turkey and proceeded, after little more than three weeks of lessons, to sail it to the West Indies. It's not just a tall tale. It's the story of how positive thinking and determination shaped a journey, and it's true!

Joan Buchanan, representative, California legislator
David Baggins, professor of political science, CSUEB

Wednesday, September 22, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

California faces unprecedented problems. History and a dysfunctional political culture have combined to put the Golden State in distress. How can we balance budgets, rebuild a crumbling infrastructure, revive the economy, and fund vital services?  Professor Baggins and State Assemblywoman Buchanan will sort through the latest array of ballot initiatives in search of possible answers. And given our experience with ballot initiatives in the past, they may well plant some warning flags, too.

Saturday, September 25, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

$125 per person

OLLI at CSU East Bay invites you to a benefit dinner in support of the OLLI program and an update of our website. Enjoy live music and an auction at Sky Terrace Vineyard with its great view of Mt. Diablo. A Lovable Feast will cater the meal, and our Sky Terrace hosts will provide the wine. We would be honored by your attendance and support. Dress is business casual with sturdy shoes for vineyard walking!

William Garrett, professor of philosophy & religion, JFKU

Mondays, September 20 & 27; October 4, 11, 18 & 25, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

$60 for OLLI members/ $75 for non-members

Is human consciousness a natural phenomenon, a product of biological selection that shapes our consciousness and governs our inner life? And if this is so, what should we make of the claims about human nature the world’s religions assert? Dr. Garrett will explore these questions in a spirit of open-minded dialogue. And as always with this provocative instructor, be ready to entertain some unexpected ideas!

Elaine Starkman, M.A. in English and creative writing

Tuesdays, September 28; October 5, 12, 19 & 26; November 2, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$50 for OLLI members/ $70 for non-members

Must poetry be difficult or arcane? Not at all. Join Ms. Starkman as she uses contemporary poets, prose-poem writers, and authors who cast short fiction in free verse to make the point. Whatever else it is, poetry is music in words, and that's what these varied forms prove. Under Ms. Starkman's direction and with the use of new material each week, you will seek your own poetic voice, writing both prose and poetry, in class and out. No pre-knowledge or writing experience is required. Learn to develop and express your own ideas in the welcoming setting this course provides.

James Keller, writer, director

Thursdays, September 30; October 7, 14, 21 & 28; November 4, 10:30 – 12:30 p.m.

$60 for OLLI members/ $75 for non-members

Shakespeare's tragedy has been put on film more than fifty times. And whether it’s Olivier, Burton, or Gibson in the role, Hamlet's hesitations and impulsive actions continue to fascinate us. Allow Mr. Keller to explore with you the many film variations of the role, ranging from Jack Benny's delightfully hammy "To Be or Not to Be" to the great, two part Kozintzev version of the play. Get your ticket today!

Kevin Dincher, M.A. philosophy and psychology, Master of Divinity

Fridays, October 1, 8, 15 & 22, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

Widespread religious revivals preceded some of the great upheavals in American history. Intense fervor and the rise of new religious movements characterized these "Awakenings." Each lasted only a generation or so, but all had profound effects. They helped shape debate over colonial independence, abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, prohibition, social welfare programs, and other controversial issues. Join Mr. Dincher for an exploration of these Great Awakenings and see what "sinners in the hands of an angry God" could sometimes accomplish!

Frank Marrero, M.A., author, lecturer religion and philosophy, JFKU

Mondays, October 4, 11, 18 & 25, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.* (*please note course time difference)

$40 OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

What we recognize as Orphic views appear as early as the 5th century BCE. Herodotus, Plato, and Euripides, for example, refer to them. Mr. Marrero will explore these ancient ideas, which, among other things, assert the existence of divine and immortal souls, posit a "grievous circle" of suffering in this life, and suggest the possibility of punishment in an afterlife. Learn how these and other Orphic precepts worked their way into western philosophy and into later religious traditions. Anything new under the sun? Come judge for yourself!

Debra Barrett-Graves, professor of English, CSUEB

Tuesdays, October 5, 12, 19 & 26, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

It's the 11th century and it's Japan in the Heian period. Professor Barrett-Graves will bring it alive for you using calligraphy, iconography, the clothing of the period, and a close look at its tea ceremony. But best of all, you will get to know the author of the Tale of Genji, the first novel written by a woman and perhaps the first novel ever. Join OLLI for a glimpse into the world of this sophisticated Japanese aristocrat who lived a thousand years ago.

Gloria Eive, professor emerita of music history and literature, SMC

Wednesdays, October 6, 13, 20 & 27, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

Giuseppe Verdi's operas distinguish him as one of Italy's foremost composers. He is less well known for his active role in support of Italy's drive to achieve nationhood in the nineteenth century. Did his operas serve as the musical conscience of the Risorgimento and help inspire the peasant armies who fought for Italy's liberation and unity? Join Professor Eive as she explores the music of this great composer and its political importance in the making of a modern nation.

Gerald Henig, professor emeritus of history, CSUEB

Wednesday, October 13, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

In the months following Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Andrew Johnson, our 17th president, might have seized the opportunity to advance racial justice in America. He did just the opposite. How did Johnson, Lincoln's running mate in 1864, famous for his speeches championing the common man and vilifier of the South's planter aristocracy, become an ardent advocate for southern states' rights? Professor Henig will tackle the question with an exploration of Johnson's early background, his political philosophy, and his racial views.

Ken Blady, lecturer in history, American Jewish University

Thursdays, October 7, 14, 21 & 28; November 4* & 18, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. (*note-no class November 11th)

$60 for OLLI members/ $75 for non-members

Mr. Blady continues his exploration of the history of the Jews in Germany from the early fourth century to the nineteenth century. He focuses here on the Rhineland communities that flourished into Ashkenazi culture. Earlier persecution shifted to citizenship rights and toleration under Carolingian kings and the ruling elites of the "Holy Roman Empire." But the Crusades and the Black Plague of 1348 delivered crushing blows. It's a story of triumphs and travails for the culture that would eventually give us the likes of Einstein and Kafka.

Donald Markos, professor emeritus of English, CSUEB

Wednesdays, October 20 & 27; November 3 & 10, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$40 OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

Edwin Arlington Robinson, three-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, was an important American poet of the transitional period leading to 20th-century modernism. His writing, shaped by the conflicts in his own life and in the lives of those around him, painted portraits with words. A suicidal millionaire, a despised Jew, a happy stoic, and a jealous preacher's wife are among those he captures on the page. Join Dr. Markos for a close look at a poet whose work influenced the likes of Robert Frost, Edgar Lee Masters, and Thom Gunn. There are undisputable gems to be discovered here! 

Jean Wilcox, actress, drama teacher
Bob Lane, actor, drama teacher

Wednesdays, October 20 & 27; November 3 & *17, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. (*Note: no class scheduled for Nov. 10th)

$40 for OLLI members/$55 for non-members

Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed. But how are performances created? Let Ms. Wilcox and Mr. Lane show you the difference between a play as text and as a living, breathing performance. Bring your copies of Macbeth and Midsummer Night’s Dream, and discover how such elements as character, voice, tone, and atmosphere can change the shape of even a familiar play. It's curtain time!

Robin Williams, M.A. Shakespearean authorship, author, Sweet Swan of Avon

Thursday, October 21, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

For many, talking about the authorship of Shakespeare's works is like talking about religion or politics: positions are fixed, minds closed. Ms. Williams asks some provocative questions. Are there legitimate reasons for speculating about who wrote the great works? Is it possible that a woman, Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, is the true author? Join Ms. Williams in a search for answers and hear her views on how one might separate fact from fiction about the Bard of Avon.

Kevin Dincher, M.A. philosophy and psychology, Master of Divinity

Fridays, October 29; November 5, 12 & 19, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

Explore the history of fairy tales, and some of the leading theories used to interpret these remarkable and long-lived stories. We now tend to encounter fairy tales watered down with Disney-like cuteness, or to skip them entirely as too dark and frightening. Until the 17th or 18th century, these tales were told by adults to adults, and they can still give us sharp insights into aspects of our common humanity. Students of myths, dreams, and the symbolic nature of human thought know that both the telling and hearing of these stories deeply affected all involved. Mr. Dincher offers us a unique tour of the human psyche as revealed in analysis of well-known and those less familiar fairy tales.

Michael Goldberg, Ph.D., systematic theology and philosophy of religion

Wednesday, November 10, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

We claim to act humanely while putting condemned prisoners to death or ending the suffering of loved ones. But is this mere "cover talk," a way of justifying our deeds to others or perhaps even to ourselves? Dr. Goldberg will explore the possibility that what we consider acting humanely might well be just the opposite. Join him for a thoughtful analysis of our ideas about compassion and human dignity, with particular attention to how such ideas shape public policy.

Gerald Henig, professor emeritus of history, CSUEB

Tuesdays, November 2, 9, 16 & 23, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

Republican victory in 1860 sent seven states out of the union even before President-Elect Lincoln took office in March, 1861. Like President Buchanan before him, Lincoln labeled the secessions rebellion. And so the war came, transforming the nation. Professor Henig will investigate the profound changes the war wrought, from new ways of raising, administering, and financing armies to an array of novelties in intelligence gathering, providing health and medical care, and even in how the dead were honored. It was a different nation that emerged when the guns fell silent. Professor Henig will show you how it was forged.

Birgit Urmson, M.A., lecturer art history, UCB

Mondays, November 8, 15, 22 & 29, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

In the late 18th century, the Grand Tour served as a ‘finishing school’ for young English noblemen and a few remarkable ladies. These youthful explorers, with private guides, tutors, and artists in tow, visited the ancient ruins, cathedrals, and palaces of the continent. Now it's your turn. Ms. Urmson will take you to the major stops on the old Grand Tour and introduce you to the classical works and even some private collections known to have been on the itinerary. Don't miss the trip!

Michael Goldberg, Ph.D., systematic theology and philosophy of religion

Tuesdays, November 16, 23 & 30; December 7, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$40 for OLLI members/ $55 for non-members

Dr. Goldberg will plunge us into literary works that challenge our most commonly held notions about justice, innocence, cruelty, and torture. Using four differing genres, he will help us analyze the power behind texts that take us to the brink of terror and explore the ethical, psychological, and literary complexities that underlie them. Whether the focus is on justice versus the law, or the tensions between power and responsibility, or ethical problems with vengeance, welcome to the texts of terror!

Birgit Urmson, M.A., lecturer art history, UCB

Thursday, November 18, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members / $5 for non-members

A sensation ensued in Rome when a larger-than-life marble copy of the work known today as the Laocoon was discovered in 1506. A grateful Pope Julius II granted lifetime pensions to the discoverers, who had donated it to the Vatican. But the story of this remarkable work goes back a thousand years to the original Greek sculptors, Agesander, Athenodorus, and Polydorus, and back farther still to legends of the Trojan War. Let Ms. Urmson unfold for you the story of how myth and artistic inspiration combined to produce a work whose pathos and beauty still touch our hearts.

Dave Eshelman, professor emeritus of music, CSUEB

Wednesday, December 1, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Free for OLLI members/ $5 for non-members

Professor Emeritus Dave Eshelman, former director of jazz studies at CSUEB and a trombonist, is joined by pianist Johannes Wallman, the current director, in a demonstration of jazz composition. Other talented Bay Area musicians will back the duo up as they show us how jazz is created, and deepen our appreciation of the genre. It's the perfect lead-in to OLLI's end-of-year gala. Come join the party! 

Wednesday, December 1, 5:30 -7:00 p.m. Redwood Room

Members are cordially invited to our annual End-of-Year Gala. Light refreshments to be served. Enjoy an opportunity to visit with lecturers and fellow members, plus learn more about projects ‘in the works’ for the coming year.