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Spring 2021 Class Handouts

Monday Class

Time Course ID & Title Dates
1:15 PM AL-1: Opera Politics April 5, 12, 19, 26 and May 3,10, 17, 24

 

AL-1: Opera as Politics (8 weeks)

Time: 1:15 PM

Day and Dates: April 5, 12, 19, 26 and May 3, 10, 17, 24

Description: This course continues our exploration of governmental, sexual, economic, and religious politics, and how political ideas were expressed in opera. A close study of important operas, with a focus on some of the major works of the eighteenth - twentieth centuries, and a look at the current state of opera as a political vehicle, are part of the course. We will experience video performances in class as political themes are developed.

Presenter & Affiliation: Chuck Mishaan, Lecturer on music and opera

 

Tuesday Classes

Time Course ID & Title Dates
9:15 AM SS-1: Strong Women, Strong Stories, Strong Storytelling April 6, 13, 20, 26, 27 and May 4, 11, 18, 25
9:15 AM LLS-1: If It's Tuesday, It Must Be ... April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 4, 11
     
1:15 PM SS-2: New York City Part II April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 4, 11, 18, 25
     
2:45 PM AL-2: American Musical April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 4, 11, 18, 25

 

SS-1: Strong Women, Strong Stories, Strong Storytellers (8 weeks)

Time: 9:15 AM

Day and Dates: Tuesdays - April 6, 13, 20, & 27 and May 4, 11, 18 & 25

Description: Pioneer suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie, daring aviator Amelia Earhart, LIFE photographer Margaret Bourke-White, and Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg are just a few of the strong women whose accomplishments and contributions have provided inspiration for millions of women (and men). Their stories have been told by strong women through writing, artwork, photography, and video journalism. This course illuminates the lives of these storytellers and examines how and why they were successful, often under challenging and dangerous conditions.

Presenter & Affiliation: Gary Miller, Bard LLI

Class Manager: Merrilee Osterhoudt

 

LLS-1: If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be… (6 weeks)

Time: 9:15 AM

Day and Dates: Tuesdays - April 6, 13, 20, & 27 and May 4, & 11

Description: Miss traveling! We can again, if only virtually. Come with us again as some of our CLS members tell us about their recent trips, to various places around the world. There will be an emphasis on travel by car and boat, as well as family trips. This is a travel course, not an in-depth look at a county or region. The presentation order may vary and will be announced at the start of the semester.

 

Topics & Presenters:

  • Puerto Rico & Vieques - Bob Nasser
  • Route 66 - John Wargo
  • Panama - Barbara Van Itallie
  • Travels by Boat - Ellie Charwat
  • Costa Rica Family Trip - Katherine Friedman
  • Holland and Belgium Cruise - Debbie & Arnie Most

Class Manager: Barbara Van Itallie

 

SS-2: New York City, Part II (8 weeks)

Time: 1:15 PM

Day and Dates: Tuesdays - April 6, 13, 20, & 27 and May 4, 11

Description: We continue our exploration of the fascinating metropolis of New York. Topics include: the Building of New York, Bellevue Hospital, the Gilded Age, Tin Pan Alley and the Big Bands, the Subway System, the NYPD and Broadway.

Topics, Presenters & Affiliations:

  • Bellevue Hospital - Sandra Opdycke, History Professor (retired) and author
  • The Gilded Age - Mariellen Pangia, CLS Member
  • The New York Subways - Leathem Mehaffey, CLS Member
  • Big Bands and Tin Pan Alley - Dr. Art Groten, Physician (retired)
  • The NYPD - Ed Shaughnessy, Consultant
  • Broadway - Molly Katz, Theater Director

Class Manager: Ellie Charwat

 

AL-2: The American Musical: A Uniquely American Style (8 weeks)

Time: 2:45 PM

Day and Dates: Tuesdays - April 6, 13, 20, & 27 and May 4, 11, 18 & 25

Description: Leonard Bernstein said that the Broadway Musical was the American music of the future. From its early beginnings in the extravaganza of vaudeville to recent hip hop and rock musicals, Broadway has sparkled with stories, stars, and memorable songs. We will listen to the music, watch scenes from shows through the decades and discover the magic of the musical.

Presenter & Affiliation: Nancy Theeman, Music Teacher and Performer

Class Manager: Wilma Schmidt

 

Wednesday Classes

Time Course ID & Title Dates
9:15 AM LLS-2: Potpourri April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5, 12, 19, 26
     
11:00 AM SS-3: Great Decisions April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5, 12, 19, 26
     
1:15 PM GS-1: History of Mathematics: Antiquity to the Modern Era April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5, 12, 19, 26
1:15 PM LLS-3: COVID-19 at Vassar Hospital April 7, 14, 21, 28
1:15 PM AL-3: Prodding Your Muse April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5, 12, 19, 26
     
2:45 PM SS-4: 2020 Election Postscript April 7, 14, 21, 28

 

LLS-2: Potpourri (8 weeks)

Time: 9:15 a.m.

Day and Dates: Wednesdays - April 7, 14, 21 & 28 and May 5, 12, 19 & 26

Description: The Potpourri course is a “spicy” medley of eight very different topics.

Topics, Presenters & Affiliations:     

  • Understanding Dementia - Elizabeth Nasser, The Centers for Aging and Memory
  • How to Turn the Weeds in Your Garden into Lunch - Joe Lombardi, CLS Member
  • Activities that Increase Cognitive Acuity and Ward Off Dementia, Dancing Makes You Smart - 
  • Esther Odescalchi, CLS Member
  • They Settled in Ohio: The story of Sally Hemings, a slave, and her secret relationship with Thomas Jefferson - Jerrie Stewart, IBM (retired)
  • Conscious Living: Managing Stress from the Inside Out - Nancy Plumer, New Visions
  • World War I Dog Stories - Ron Gabriele, Speaker on Historical Subjects
  • Walkway Over the Hudson: Its history from abandoned railroad bridge to a community's asset - Fred Schaeffer, Attorney and photojournalist
  • Vietnam: A Seabee’s Different Experience - Craig Marshall, Town of Clinton Historian/Clinton Historical Society

 

Class Manager: Judy Rubenstein

 

SS-3: Great Decisions 2021 (8 weeks)

Time: 11:00 AM

Day and Dates: Wednesdays - April 7, 14, 21 & 28 and May 5, 12, 19 & 26

Description: The course will examine contemporary issues including: Brexit and the E.U., the fate of the Arctic, China in Africa, the two Koreas, and the End of Globalization. Class members are expected to purchase the Great Decisions 2021 book and be prepared to discuss topics. Each session begins with a short video, followed by background info. and then discussion.

Presenters & Affiliations: Martin Charwat and Joseph Lombardi, CLS Members

Class Manager: Martin Charwat


List of Topics by Date:

  • April 7:    Global Supply Chains
  • April 14:  Brexit and the E.U
  • April 21:  Persian Gulf Security
  • April 28: The Arctic 
  • May 5:     China in Africa 
  • May 12:   Role of the WHO 
  • May 19:   The Two Koreas 
  • May 26:   The End of Globalization

GS-1: History of Mathematics: Antiquity to the Modern Era (8 weeks)

Time: 1:15 PM

Day and Dates: Wednesdays - April 7, 14, 21 & 28 and May 5, 12, 19 & 26

Description: We will trace the development of mathematics from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, India, China, and European countries from early times to the 17th Century.   The most significant mathematical discoveries and key contributors will be emphasized.  Minimal math background is needed to comprehend important ideas and enjoy this course.

Presenter & Affiliation: Stanley Schmidt, CLS Member

Class Manager: Leathem Mehaffey

 

LLS-3: The COVID Experience at Vassar Hospital (4 weeks)

Time: 1:15 PM

Day and Dates: Wednesdays - April 7, 14, 21 & 28

Description: Healthcare professionals from Vassar Hospital will share their first-hand experiences with the surge of COVID cases in Dutchess County. Each week a different department head will give us a bird's eye view of what it took to battle one of the most vicious viruses of the last 100 years. We will learn how care was given to critical patients in ICU, how hospital practices and procedures were impacted and changed. We will hear personal stories of how fear of the virus affected healthcare workers and impacted the care of patients. And, we will learn what the healthcare industry and medical community have learned about the virus and how it will change our future.

 

Topics, Presenters & Affiliations:

  • What We’ve Learned and What’s Next - Dr. Valerie Cluzet, Infectious Disease
  • How Hospital and Healthcare Has Evolved - Dr. William Begg, V.P. of Medical Affairs Vassar Brothers Medical Center
  • Providing Critical Care to the Sickest Patients - Dr. Timothy Collins, Medical Director, Critical Care
  • How Fear of the Virus Impacted Care of Other Illnesses - Dr. Livia Santiago-Rosado, Medical Director Emergency Department

Class Manager: Merrilee Osterhoudt

 

AL-3: Prodding Your Muse (8 weeks)

Time: 1:15 PM

Day and Dates: Wednesdays - April 7, 14, 21 & 28 and May 5, 12, 19 & 26

Description: Let’s capture memories of 2020 plus poignant, forgotten ones waiting to be rediscovered.  Ordinary ones might now seem special.  To rummage in the attic of memory and capture some in print is acknowledgement of the richness of our years, our uniqueness, a universality of experience.  I’ll email weekly prompts and via Zoom we’ll share aloud.  It’s fun and fascinating! Participant Max: 12 members

Presenter & Affiliation: Barbara Mindel, CLS Member

Class Manager: Mike Cowan

 

 

SS-4: The 2020 Election: A Postscript (4 weeks)

Time: 2:45 PM

Day and Dates: Wednesdays - April 7, 14, 21 & 28

Description: The tumultuous 2020 elections and their aftermath are the subjects of this class. The first session will delve into various aspects of campaign, public and exit polls, including their successes and misses and their contribution to understanding public opinion. The remaining classes will assess voting patterns in the election and analyze the first 100 days of the Biden Administration. We will also get a preview of the 2022 midterms.

Presenter & Affiliation:

  • Dr. Marty Shaffer, Dean, Marist College School of Liberal Arts
  • Dr. Lee Miringoff, Director, Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO)

Class Manager: Linda Lebensold

 

Thursday Classes

Time Course ID & Title Dates
9:15 AM SS-5: The Greats of America's Game April 8, 15, 22, 29 and May 6, 13, 20, 27
     
11:00 AM GS-2: Science of Potpourri April 8, 15, 22, 29 and May 6
11:00 AM GS-3: Climate Changes May 6, 13, 20, 27
     
1:15 PM GS-4: Codes and Ciphers - Part 1 April 8, 15, 22, 29 and May 6, 13, 20, 27
1:15 PM AL-4: Great Books CANCELLED

 

SS-5: The Greats of America’s Game (8 weeks)

Time: 9:15 AM

Day and Dates: Thursdays - April 8, 15, 22 & 29 and May 6, 13, 20 & 27

Description: This class will explore the lives and careers the greatest players of the first six decades of Major League Baseball, peering into their personal histories and their accomplishments on the diamond. Stories, statistical presentations, illustrations, and discussion will provide the story and the basis for some great debates among fans! Session 6 we will watch the documentary "Babe Ruth at Sing Sing" and participate in a discussion with the filmmaker, Jim Ormond.

Presenters & Affiliations:

  • Arnie Serotsky, Vassar LLI
  • Jim Ormond, Filmmaker and director

 

Class Manager: Merrilee Osterhoudt

 

GS-2: Science Potpourri (4 weeks)

Time: 11:00 AM

Day and Dates: Thursdays - April 8, 15, 22 & 29

Description: This course will look at some applied science topics such as recycling, decommissioning a nuclear power plant, building an airplane, and evolution of the mainframe computer.

Topics, Presenters & Affiliations:     

  • Decommissioning Indian Point Energy Center - Richard J. Burroni, Entergy Nuclear Northeast
  • Recycling: At What Cost? - William Connors, IBM (retired)
  • The Transition of the Mainframe in the 1990's - Louis Gaudagno, IBM (retired) and Bob Nasser, CLS President and Member
  • Manufacturing of the Bombardier Aircraft - Arnold Most, CLS Member
  • Medical Care as We Age: What Makes a Difference - Richard Walker MD, Private Practitioner

 

Class Manager: Leonard Turkenkopf

GS-3: Climate Change (4 weeks)

Time: 11:00 AM

Day and Dates: Thursdays - May 6, 13, 20 & 27

Description: Climate change is an old and yet new topic. This course looks at the history of climate change from both a global and local point of view as well as some new ideas on what can be done about it. The order of the presentations will be announced at the start of the course.

Topics, Presenters & Affiliations:

  • Major Extinctions - Leathem Mehaffey, CLS Member
  • Can We Cool the Planet - Warren Buhler, CMS Member
  • Climate History - Kristen Menking, Vassar College
  • Core Data Analysis of the Hudson Valley - Dorothy Peteet, Columbia University

 

Class Manager: Ed Garber, CLS Member

 

GS-4: Codes and Ciphers - Part 1 (8 weeks)

Time: 1:15 PM

Day and Dates: Thursdays - April 8, 15, 22 & 29 and May 6, 13, 20 & 27

Description: The course explains the methods of secret communications, codes, ciphers, encryption and decryption from the skytale of ancient Sparta through quantum computers and beyond. Part 1 covers 4000BCE through 1899.

 

Presenter & Affiliation: Frank Rubin, CLS Member

Class Manager: Warren Buhler

 

AL-4: Great Books: Immigrant Voices (8 weeks)

CANCELLED

Description: Join us as we discuss the experiences, concerns, and aspirations of recent immigrants as reflected in the short stories they have written. All are 21st-century tales, and the authors come from many different countries and traditions. Our text will be “Immigrant Voices” published by the Great Books Foundation. Order your book online at: greatbooks.org

 

Presenters & Affiliations: Lydia Bauman and  Sharon Steinvurzel, CLS Members

Class Managers: Lydia Bauman and Sharon Steinvurzel