2008: The Hinge of History

Fifteen years ago, America suffered through its worst economic downturn in more than 75 years, elected the first African American president in its history, and began broadly to embrace the “revolutionary and magical” iPhone (then less than a year old). This course looks back at these and other topics to show how the events of that year continue to have an outsized influence on the world we live in today.

Instructor: Rob Schorman is Professor Emeritus of History at Miami University.

5 Mondays: October 2–30; 9:00–10:15 a.m.
Format: Hybrid
Location: Online or Oxford, Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, Auditorium

Reading Mrs. Dalloway

In this course, we will read and discuss Mrs. Dalloway, one of Virginia Woolf's best known novels. Participants will also have the opportunity to complete creative writing activities outside of class that draw on our reading and discussion of Woolf.

Instructor: Marianne Cotugno is Professor of English at Miami University. She loves offering classes through ILR. If you haven't taken one yet, it's not too late to start!

5 Mondays: October 2–30; 9:00–10:15 a.m.
Format: Virtual
Location: Online

Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred

Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred is the title of a film produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum that focuses on the 2000-year-old history of antisemitism: prejudice against or hatred of Jews. The course will examine that history, looking in depth at the variety of social, political, cultural, and religious factors that have shaped antisemitic views, culminating in the genocidal policies that were an essential part of Nazi ideology. The study of antisemitism can provide us with greater understanding of how prejudice, stereotyping, and scapegoating can be exploited for social and political purposes. The class will focus not only on the past but on the present.

Instructor: Alan deCourcy taught in the Department of Religious and Pastoral Studies at Mount St. Joseph University for 20 years before retiring.

5 Mondays: October 9–November 6; 10:45 a.m.–noon
Format: Hybrid
Location: Online or Oxford, Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, Auditorium

NOTE: Class dates listed here have been changed from the printed catalog. No class on 10/2. Makeup date of 11/6 will be held online only

Art in Our Midst: OCAC Behind the Scenes

Learn about the many facets of our region's historical and cultural gem, the Oxford Community Arts Center, through a weekly series of short presentations and discussions. Guest speakers include historians, OCAC staff and volunteers, community partners, and resident artists who will discuss the facility's history, mission, upcoming programs and events, and more.

October 2 – The History and Legacy of "Ox College" – Valerie Elliott, former manager of the Smith Library of Regional History and Steve Gordon, Museum Administrator for the McGuffey House and Museum. NOTE: This information will be greatly repeated from the Fall 2022 class.

October 9 – The OCAC Mission and its Partners – Gwen Pietzuch, Des Fleurs Garden Club; Ashley Marcum, Flowing Grace School of Dance; Michael McVey, Oxford Area Community Theatre.

October 16 – OCAC Programs and Development – Heidi Schiller, OCAC Executive Director; Rosalyn Benson, OCAC Vice-President and Development Co-Chair; Jeff MacDonald, OCAC Facilities & Restoration Chair.

October 23 – Meet the Artists – Three of OCAC's 30 resident artists will showcase their work and talk about their artistic process.

October 30 – Meet the Artists – Three of OCAC's 30 resident artists will showcase their work and talk about their artistic process.

Coordinator: Heidi Schiller is the Executive Director for Oxford Community Arts Center and an arts administration professional with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit operations.

5 Mondays: October 2–30; 10:45 a.m.–noon
Format: In person
Location: Oxford Community Arts Center, Brant Ballroom

Midday Lecture Series

Each Monday the Midday Lecture Series presents a speaker who will discuss a topic of interest and importance. Join us online or in person for this ILR tradition.

October 2 – The Lies of the Land: Seeing Rural America for What It IS—and Isn’t – Steve Conn is the W. E. Smith Professor of History at Miami University.

October 9 – History of Print: The Growth and the Impact – William Modrow is the head of the Walter Havighurst Special collections, the University Archives and the preservation/conservation departments.

October 16 – Transforming the Highly Dysfunctional Healthcare System – Richard Wendell is a retired urologist with an MBA and has been a SCORE counselor for 15 years. He is also active in the resident training program at TriHealth.

October 23 – The Anthropocene, Degrowth, or How to Avoid Extinction – Luis Prádanos-García is Professor of Spanish and Chair, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, at Miami University.

October 30 – Indigenizing the Curriculum – Sandra Garner is Associate Professor, Department of Global and Intercultural Studies, and Inaugural Chief Floyd Leonard Faculty Fellow, Myaamia Center at Miami University. Andy Sawyer is Education Outreach Specialist, Miami Tribe Relations Office.

Coordinator: Charles Ganelin, Professor Emeritus of Spanish and former Department Chair of Spanish and Portuguese at Miami University.

5 Mondays: October 2–30; 12:30–1:45 p.m.
Format: Hybrid
Location: Online or Oxford, Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, Auditorium

Five Ways Art Can Improve Senior Skills

Improve your hand and eye skills while learning principles of art, analyzing shapes, color theory, and composition. Each week you will develop these skills by using different tools and materials. We will practice the following techniques: paint pour (painting without a brush on canvas), watercolor painting (watercolor techniques and color theory), basic pencil drawing (drawing techniques using pencil), printmaking (print with ink on paper with found objects), and collage (analyzing shapes and color theory).

Instructor: Barb Leib studied art education at Miami University. She has over 40 years of experience teaching art at every level including college. Barb is also certified in Opening Minds through Art.

Supply fee: $10, payable to the instructor on the first day

5 Mondays: October 2–30; 12:30–1:45 p.m.
Format: In person
Location: West Chester, Chesterwood Village, Art Studio

The Vietnam War: Five Decades Later

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, this course will offer ILR members an opportunity to hear and discuss the stories and experiences of five veterans. Vietnam veterans think of the war every day, and this course honors them and their stories.

October 2 – Vietnam: A Day in the Life of a USAF Fighter Pilot – Ron Schloemer, Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), served for 30 years as a commissioned officer. During the Vietnam conflict he flew 200 combat missions in F-4s over North Vietnam and Laos.

October 9 – The Role of the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War – Paul Allen, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.), is an amateur Naval Historian.

October 16 – The Seawolves Helicopter Attack Squadron in Vietnam – Rick Dubberly, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.), is an amateur Naval Historian. Edward Pietzuch was a ADJ2 in the U.S. Navy. He served from 1967 to 1971 as an Aviation Machinist Mate (Jet). Ed completed a year tour with the Seawolves in Vietnam during 1970 and 1971.

October 23 – Stories from the Fishhook – Carl Becker was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and served in III Corps in the 1st Cavalry from March 1969 to March 1970 north of Saigon near the Fishhook region of Cambodia.

October 30 – Dentistry in a Combat Zone – Donald Hanson, Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.), was a dentist at Bien Hoa Republic of Vietnam Air Force Base north of Saigon and near the Parrot's Beak region of Vietnam.

Coordinator: Jerry Riesenberg was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and is a Vietnam veteran who served in the Easter Offensive Battle during 1972. He worked as an analytical chemist and in information technology at Procter and Gamble for 35 years and has been involved with ILR for 10 years teaching courses and programming its database.

5 Mondays: October 2–30; 2:15–3:30 p.m.
Format: In person
Location: Oxford, Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, Auditorium

Basic Financial Investing

This course is designed for individuals with limited knowledge of investing. It will cover basics about stocks, bonds and alternative investments, asset allocation, and popular investment strategies like dividend investing. No investment recommendations or advice will be given. The course goal is to enhance the student's knowledge.

Instructor: Walter Frank retired in 2008 after a 38-year-long career as the Vice President Senior Investment Advisor at Merrill Lynch. Walter has a certification from Columbia University Academy of Certified Portfolio Managers.

5 Mondays: October 2–30; 2:15–3:15 p.m.
Format: Virtual
Location: Online

Introduction to Zentangle

Zentangle® is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured repetitive patterns. Zentangle can increase focus and creativity and provide artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well-being. The Zentangle method is applicable to a wide range of skills, interests, and ages. In this two-hour class you will learn the fundamentals of the Zentangle drawing method. You will complete two pieces and leave with supplies to create more.

Instructor: Katy Abbott has been a certified Zentangle Teacher since 2012. She is also Professor of Gerontology in the Department of Sociology and Gerontology and the Executive Director of the Scripps Gerontology Center.

Supply fee: $8, payable with registration

1 Monday: October 2; 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Format: Virtual
Location: Online