IN-PERSON at USM-LAC

Only 6 poets have officially performed at a presidential inauguration. We shall look at these poems in the context of the inauguration ceremony. We shall also look at them in light of their respective historic moments.

Maureen Perry is Reference Librarian for USM's Lewiston-Auburn campus, a spoken word performer, and a lector for Prince of Peace Parish.

In-PERSON at USM-LAC

All men are created equal,” it says in the Declaration of Independence, and it says this is a “truth” that is “self-evident.” Really? Ever since we’ve been arguing about the meaning and promise of this recognition of equality. What is the equality we are affirming and pursuing? We’ll look at some texts and some numbers, and talk among ourselves. (There will not be a class on October 25)

Doug Bennett taught political philosophy and public policy at Temple University, Reed College and Earlham College for 35 years. He retired as president of Earlham College in 2011 and now lives in Topsham.

IN PERSON at SCHOONER ESTATES

Living a life without meaning can lead to many personal problems and inappropriate behaviors and that is very evident in today's society. It is one of the big questions that a number of philosophers have been exploring.  In this course we will explore answers to that question from a wide range of intellectual traditions across a wide historical sweep. We will begin by exploring the Bhagavard-Gita which is a classic of Hindu thought and end with the views expressed by the 14th Dalai Lama that takes seriously such modern-day values as human rights, liberty, and a secular order that demands the cultivation of compassion.

Dr. Charles Plummer is a retired elementary school teacher and principal and is a firm believer in the importance of remaining mentally and physically active to keep his aging brain functioning at a good level. He is a strong believer in the claim of the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, that happiness is the foundation for living a meaningful life and teaching Senior College courses for over 20 years has brought him much happiness, has kept his aging brain functioning at a good level, and has added much positive meaning to his life.

ZOOM

Everything about eating--including what we consume, how we acquire it, who prepares it, who's at the table - is a form of communication that is rich with meaning. Food is a necessary part of your life, so it becomes linked to all aspects of it. Since ancient times, people have been attributing symbolic meaning to foods. Cultures across the globe have and will continue to assign deeper meaning to everyday food items. Explore the most sacred foods and places in this food-tainment presentation.

Chef Larry P. Canepa is a certified culinary educator with a dynamic, innovative and engaging style that incorporates food history, culinary arts, education and "food-tainment". Chef works closely with farmers, growers, and food artisans to create a delicious and informative food experience -- adult learning with specialized curriculum based on Culinary Arts.

ZOOM
The Baltic nation of Croatia, whose coastline hugs the deep blue Adriatic Sea, has a complicated, sometimes tragic history. The land is gorgeous, the people engaging, and the culture ancient. After completing a 12-day Road Scholar trip throughout Croatia, I will present a Zoom travelog to cover a bit of history, some stories, and lots of photos of this beautiful country

Bill Frayer is a long time Senior College instructor. He has degrees from Brown and USM, and taught for over 30 years at Central Maine Community College.

ZOOM

Winners write history, so it doesn't mention the Germans who risked all to destroy Nazism. They tried to help the Allies, kill Hitler, join the resistance in France and hide the persecuted-- for which they filled concentration camps and gallows. They fought a civil war for human decency inside a fascist Germany which made compassion a crime, women invisible, nonconformity to its masculine Aryan ideal punishable by death. The courageous resisters set a precedent for human rights that resonates in our precarious moment. 

Sandy Garson heard in 1984 about German resistance and researched mostly how women, who were banished from society, fought back. She met survivors and, as a journalist, compiled their stories.

ZOOM

We’ll explore the greatest architecture of the world and the lasting influence on every plate of food placed before you in restaurants across the world. A thoughtful, entertaining food-tainment presentation for foodies and curious thinkers alike. Travel across the globe and millennia to discover the connections between architecture and food, and learn some new tricks to make your dinner look like a work of art.

Chef Larry P. Canepa is a certified culinary educator with a dynamic, innovative and engaging style that incorporates food history, culinary arts, education and "food-tainment". Chef works closely with farmers, growers, and food artisans to create a delicious and informative food experience -- adult learning with specialized curriculum based on Culinary Arts.

ZOOM

Join Eve Fralick as she travels to the city of La Paz, Bolivia to ride its state-of-the-art cable car system and meander through the Witches Market.  Then, it's onto the Bolivian salt flats, considered one of the most extreme and remarkable vistas in all of South America, if not the world.  Crossing the border into Chile, you'll travel to the Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar desert, and the largest fog desert, in the world.  Due to its unique landscape, the Atacama has been used as an experimentation site on Earth for Mars expedition simulations.  Although Bolivia and Chile share a border that is in dispute, there is no debate that these two countries offer extraordinary panoramas with dramatic landscapes that can only be considered marvels of the modern world.  

Eve has backpacked around the world, off the beaten path where few others venture.  She documents her adventures in travelogues and presents them at libraries, schools, and civic groups.