Senior College at USM offers variety of spring courses

LEWISTON— The Senior College program at the University of Southern
Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College will offer 22 courses in the spring
semester, March-May 2017.

Now in its 19th year, the upcoming semester will feature new and
continuation courses, ranging from Tai Chi, Russian-American
relations, memoir writing, religions, French language, poetry, the
Crusades, legacy projects, human nature, a study of our Bill of
Rights, and oil painting, as well as others described below.

Open to everyone age 50 and older and their spouses, the courses are
presented by peers, with no entrance requirements, grades or tests. An
annual Senior College membership fee of $25, valid from Sept. 1, 2016
through Aug. 31, 2017 is required.

The fee for each course is $25 which includes most books and
materials. Members who attend a course will have access to the campus
library, the Senior College free winter courses and the popular
special interest clubs.

All course classes are held at L-A College, 51 Westminster Street,
except as noted below. No classes held on Patriots Day, April 17. The
spring semester course offerings are:

TAI CHI: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Mondays, beginning March 27.
This Chinese martial art is practiced for its health benefits to
improve balance, coordination and stress management. Instructor Ruben
Cornelius has been a student and instructor for over 18 years.

LEAVE YOUR MARK—THE GIFT OF LEGACY: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six
Mondays, beginning March 27. An opportunity to create legacy projects
and the sharing of ideas for a multitude of options will be presented
by instructor Susan Donar, retired college educator and administrator.

OIL PAINTING: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for four Mondays beginning
April 24. Designed to bring out the artist in you by applying the
basic principles of art through observation of still life and photos.
Instructor Claire Robichaud is a Maine artist working in a variety of
media and has taught for 24 years.

FROM EKATERINA DASHKOVA TO SAMANTHA SMITH—RUSSIAN-NO. AMERICAN
RELATIONS IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 1 to 3 p.m. for seven Mondays
beginning March 27. An introduction to the governmental and private
connections between the two, from the 17th century to the end of the
Soviet Union, with a strong focus on Maine’s surprising role in this
history. Instructor Christine Holden has a Ph.D. in European History
and has taught at Bates College and USM.

SOLVING EVERYDAY PROBLEMS BY PHYSICS: 1 to 3 p.m. for five
Mondays beginning March 27 at Schooner Estates in Auburn. Each week an
everyday problem will be discussed with background material from the
science of physics presented to address the problem as the class
reaches solutions. Instructor Hugh Keene chaired the Science
Department at Edward Little H.S. for 28 years.

THE CRUSADES: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Tuesdays beginning March
28. The Christian Crusades against the Muslim occupation of the Holy
Land began in 1095 and ended in the 15th century. The course will
examine what each Crusade accomplished and its effects on European and
Middle Eastern history. Instructor Alan Elze has presented more than
25 courses over a wide range of subjects at Senior College.

DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for five Tuesdays
beginning April 4. This course explores deviance and social control
from a cross-cultural perspective, examining how “normality” may be
defined in different societies, and considering the historical trends
in social control since the industrial revolution including the impact
of environmental conditions and gender awareness.

Instructor Mark Silber teaches Anthropology at USM LAC and has a Ph.D.
in Medical Anthropology.

NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGIONS: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Tuesdays
beginning March 28. This course will study N.A. religions, including
Ojibwa, Mikmaq, Huron, Abenaki and Penobscot, and will focus on their
rituals, ceremonies and dance. Instructor Mike Akerley is a native
Meti and grew up in Lewiston.

WRITING CAN BE FUN!: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Tuesdays beginning
March 28. This is a low key writing class exploring a variety of
styles in the English language. Instructor June Spear has degrees in
education and language arts. She has presented many courses at Senior
College.

INTRODUCTION TO FOLK GUITAR: 3:30 to 5 p.m. for eight Tuesdays
beginning March 28 at the Auburn Public Library. Learn the basics of
rhythmic folk guitar including strumming techniques and an
introduction to finger-style guitar to apply to an assortment of
traditional songs. Instructor Cynthia Larock holds degrees in theater
and theater education and has been teaching folk guitar and dance
locally for many years.

IS IT ART?: 9 to 11 a.m. for six Wednesdays beginning March 29
at SeniorsPlus in Lewiston. An exploration of modern and contemporary
art over the last 100 years, the course is characterized by short
lectures, group discussions and exercises, leading to art making
itself by each participant. Instructor John Stass is an accomplished
artist and sculptor.

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Wednesdays
beginning March 29. This course presents persons who will speak of
their faith, focusing on the basic tenets and the most meaningful
personally. Faiths to be explored include Catholicism, Protestantism,
Judaism, Islam, Baha’i, Earth-Centered Beliefs, Native American
Beliefs and Buddhism. Coordinator/Instructor Judy Hierstein is an art
teacher and a graphic designer.

GREAT DECISIONS DISCUSSION 2017: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Wednesdays
beginning March 22. This Foreign Policy Association program will
encourage discussion and debate of some of the most important global
issues so that attendees may reach informed opinions. Topics include:
Conflict in the South China Sea, Nuclear Security, Saudi Arabia in
Transition, Latin America’s Political Prospects, and The Future of
Europe. Instructors Pat Vampatella and Marty Gagnon have presented
this course previously with great success.

HUMAN NATURE: PRIMITIVE AND CIVILIZED: 1 to 3 p.m. for eight
Wednesdays beginning March 29. Each life is fully human and fully
expressive of human nature. The course will look at both sets toward
seeing what being human means. Real life case materials will be used
as well as the Book of Genesis as a relevant social historical
narrative. Instructor Steven Piker, Ph.D., is a retired anthropologist
who teaches at Senior College here and at Portland.

MODERN CHINESE FICTION AND FILM: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Thursdays
beginning March 30. China’s swift progression from feudalism has
collapsed its value systems of Confucianism and Maoism, leaving
individuals often without roots or security. The course will read some
remarkable Chinese modern novels and view a weekly film in class.
Instructor Bill Hiss is a retired Dean of Admissions and faculty
member at Bates College. He has traveled extensively in Asia and is a
specialist in modern Asian fiction and film.

UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE BEHAVE THE WAY THEY DO: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
for eight Thursdays beginning March 30 at Schooner Estates in Auburn.
An age-old question that has perplexed many people is, “Why do people
behave the way they do?” This course examines the research that has
been carried out by behavioral scientists and psychologists to answer
the question. Instructor Charles Plummer, Ph.D., has taught many
courses for Senior College.

“NOT YET OUT OF MY MIND” WRITING MY MEMOIR: 9:30 a.m. to noon
for two Thursdays beginning March 30. Join this course if you MUST
have one special story, one extraordinary circumstance, one
spectacular memory that you wish you could get down on paper–in a way
that truly captures the excitement and the reality forever. THIS is
your chance!! Instructor Lisa Mayer is a Clio-award winning
advertising writer, a bloger, and an international musician who
performs with her husband, Rabbi Sruli, of Auburn.

ADVANCED CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Thursdays
beginning March 30. This course is for students already well versed in
French and want to further improve their speaking skills. Instructor
Lorraine Giasson is a retired teacher with a M.A. in Education from
the Univ. of New England.

SURVEY OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Thursdays
beginning March 30. Continuing the series about the U.S. Constitution
and our Government, this course will survey Amendments 1-10, known as
the Bill of Rights, to include their basic history and their meaning
today. Instructor Crystal Ward taught American Government at Lewiston
H.S.

EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH FAMILY STORIES: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for
six Fridays beginning March 31. This course will review the history of
European New England prior to the Revolutionary War through family
stories. The final week will present opportunity for class members to
share their own family tales. Instructor Lin Wright has a M.A. in
American and New England Studies with more than three decades of
genealogy study.

MAINE TREES, TOP TO BOTTOM: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Fridays
beginning March 31. Trees cover about 85 percent of Maine’s natural
landscape. This course will teach how to identify trees by the
features of their leaves, bark, twigs and fruit, and will discuss the
functions, values, and roles of trees within natural communities.
Instructor Pamela Davis-Green is a Maine Master Naturalist with a B.A.
in Environmental Science.

EXPLORING POETRY: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Fridays beginning March
31. This course/workshop welcomes both poetry readers and poetry
writers. Participants will be invited to write poems in response to
prompts with feedback and suggestions offered by other class members.
No previous writing experience is necessary. Instructor Marguerite
Stapleton has been teaching for over 50 years at all levels. She
includes poetry in all workshops, retreats and conferences that she
leads.

Course registration is by mail only with registrations closing
Feb. 21. Registration forms are available at the Senior
College office and can be downloaded from the website. Some courses
have limited enrollment and early registration is advised. For more
information, call 207-753-6610 or visit on-line at
usm.maine.edu/seniorcollege.