Baldwin Wallace University
Institute for Learning in Retirement-East
2017 Spring Quarter Schedule
The Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR-East) program offers college-level courses in a friendly, non-competitive environment.
No homework, no tests, no grades! The courses are designed for seniors who want to continue learning. You will have
the opportunity to meet new friends, exchange ideas and expand your horizons. Please join us in this exciting program
at Temple Emanu El, at the corner of Brainard and Emery roads in Orange Village.
Your registration will be confirmed by email providing you have given us a valid email address.
Thank you for your cooperation.
The Spring Term will begin on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 and run for six weeks, ending on Thursday, May 4, 2017.
No classes will be held on Tuesday, April 11, but they will be made up on Tuesday, May 9.
TUESDAYS, BEGINNING MARCH 28
Four Men and the Transformation of Cleveland
9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Presenter: James Zaferopolos, Ph.D.
This course traces the transformation of Cleveland by four giants of local history:
progressive mayor of Cleveland, Tom L. Johnson; businessman and leader of the
Republican Party, Marcus Hanna; and leaders in the American planned community
movement, Oris and Mantis van Sweringen. They engaged in the dramatic struggle
to establish public services, primarily in public transportation and public power,
as the key to metropolitan development and economic growth in the city.
Current Events
11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Presenter: Jon C. Flinker, LL.B.
The goal of this course is to promote critical thinking on the political, economic
and cultural issues of the day. Special attention will be given to President Trump’s
use of Twitter as his “bully pulpit” and the continued inter-party and intra-party
conflicts in Congress and how they affect legislation (e.g. Obamacare, taxes,
infrastructure and budget). We will examine possible changes in our foreign policy
and the issues involving the European Union, the Middle East, Russia, China,
North Korea, ISIS and global terrorism. Each week, a presentation will be made
on two or three subjects followed by class discussion. One class may be devoted to
a subject that is not related to current events.
Worth Another Read: Six Classic Plays
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Presenter: Mary Ellen Klein, Ph.D.
Classic works endure because they continue to have something to say. Let’s
find what we can learn and relearn from these six classic dramas: “Antigone,”
“A Doll’s House,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “You Can’t Take It With You” and
“Fences.” We will begin with “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell. Film clips will be
included.
Bridge Beyond the Novice
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Presenter: Holly Bednar
This spring class is for current and previous students. New students are welcome
but must have an understanding of point count bidding and familiarity with the
terminology. Special attention will be paid to scoring, leads and other skills not
previously presented. Student requests will be addressed. Class will be limited to
18 students.
WEDNESDAYS, BEGINNING MARCH 29
Cosmology: From the Big Bang to Eternity?
9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Presenter: Stephen Thompson, B.S.
Virtually everything we know about the universe, its evolution and its potential
futures, was discovered within our lifetimes. Take an amazing tour of how matter
originated at all, and then organized itself into stars, galaxies, our 118 elements,
and ultimately, us. Discover what dark matter and energy are all about. Because
Plato suggested that “Man is the measure of all things,” we will also examine how
Earth materialized into the very special place we call home, how we became its
current, dominant species, and our chances for long-term survival.
Lesser Known Founders of the American Revolution
11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Presenter: Patrick Bray, M.D.
Before and during the American Revolution there were individuals who struggled
for political, economic, social and religious changes which went beyond those
supported by the Founders who were more familiar to us. These particular patriots
had expanded notions of liberty and equality which, while they may strike us as
modern, were in fact, often well ahead of their times. We will examine some of
these “rebels, radicals and reformers.”
The Unconsummated Love in Two Notable Operas
11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Presenter: Michael Blauner, Ph.D.
The semester has a theme: twos. You can contrast an uproarious comedy by
Rossini’s “Le Comte Ory” with Gounod’s searing tragedy, “Romeo et Juliette.”
These productions also feature two of the greatest tenors: Juan Diego Florez in the
Gounod and Javier Camarena in the Rossini; and two outstanding female singers
showing contrasting styles. Marina Rebeka tears your eyes up (she got so carried
away she was weeping during her curtain calls). Cecilia Bartoli sings beautifully
while playing the perfect straight person to the pranks of her funny tenor. The
course program may change upon the discovery of new clips.
“Get in the Game” – Great Sports Movies
12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Presenter: Bill Rafalski
Many of our favorite sports have been featured in excellent movies. We will
look at six sports movies that “got the audience in the game.” The first is the
touching tribute to the Yankees first baseman, Lou Gehrig, “The Pride of the
Yankees.” The great basketball drama, “Hoosiers” with Gene Hackman and
Dennis Hopper is next. As a change of pace, a comic look at the game of golf
will feature “Tin Cup” with Kevin Costner. Our fourth movie will be about
boxing, “Rocky” with Sylvester Stallone. From the Walt Disney Studios, we will
next watch “Miracle” with Kurt Russell about the U.S. surprise victory over the
Soviets in Olympic hockey. We will conclude with the award winning football
drama, “Brian’s Song” with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Class will be
limited to 44 students.
THURSDAYS, BEGINNING MARCH 30
Living Religions
9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Presenter: Hugh Burtner, Ph.D.
This is a two-term course beginning in the spring and ending in the fall. While
religions’ paths share similarities, they are each distinctive, and it is their
distinctiveness we pursue in this two-part course. Using Stephen Prothero’s
“God Is Not One”(2010) as a basic resource, we will look at six of the world’s
living religions. Success will be measured by how well we understand how
believers in these faiths live out their religious paths. In the spring term, we
will study Chinese, Indian and African religions: Confucianism and Daoism,
Buddhism, and the Yoruban paths. In the fall term, we will turn to the religions
arising from the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Historical
background will be supplied, but the emphasis will be on the contemporary
expression of the religious paths.
Intrapersonal/Interpersonal Communications:
Why and How You Say the Things You Do
9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Presenter: Roy Berko, Ph.D.
All of a person’s communication is based on her/his self-messages. Your
thoughts and feelings are expressed through your five senses. This interactive
course will introduce the concepts of intrapersonal and interpersonal
communication, laying the foundation for not only how we communicate,
but showcase the skills needed to be an effective communicator. Material is
based on Dr. Roy Berko’s book: “ICOMM: Foundations of Interpersonal
Communication.”
You, the Theatre Critic
11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Presenter: Roy Berko, Ph.D.
This interactive class, taught by a local theatre critic, takes students on a
virtual tour of theatrical productions by examining the purpose of theatre,
how plays relate to the society and times in which they were written, the
role of the marquee, why auditoriums have different seating configurations
and stages, the purpose of lighting and special effects, and how these factors
affect a production. The experience will allow the student to look at theatrical
performances through the eyes of a knowledgeable theater-goer.
American Art 1945-1968
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Presenter: Ellen Carreras, M.A.
In the two decades following World War II, a flurry of innovative artistic activity
in the United States shifted the center of the art world from Paris to New York.
This course will look at the artistic styles that emerged in the United States
during this period, among them Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism,
Conceptual Art, Photorealism and the protest art associated with the Vietnam
War and Civil Rights Movement. Class will be limited to 44 students.
The Use of Music in Non-Musical Movies
2:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Presenter: Joel Keller, D.P.M.
In this course, the history of the use of music from “silent” pictures, “talkies”
and commercial movies will be discussed and examples shown. An explanation
of 18 specific purposes of musical scores will then be presented, with examples
shown. How sound, and specifically music, is integrated into movies will be
explained. Musical scores from several films, including “Ben Hur,” “Forrest
Gump,” “Out of Africa” and “The Godfather” will be described and then
played. This will be followed by scenes from a number of other movies with
information sharing about each of the films’ content and musical artists.
Institute for Learning in Retirement
P.O. Box 18275
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
PLEASE NOTE:
The Institute for Learning in Retirement is presenting
its program at Temple Emanu El, located at
the intersection of Brainard and Emery roads
in Orange Village.
The Institute for Learning in Retirement
is part of a national movement of programs
affiliated with colleges and universities
throughout the United States and Canada.
The Institute at Baldwin Wallace reflects the
University’s commitment to transforming lives.
We hope you will come and enroll in a class
where you will learn and enjoy, meet new friends
and experience the rewards of lifelong learning.