ZOOM

You will be taught to use Zoom’s whiteboard to draw clues  to a word (for example: daisy).  You do NOT have to be an expert at drawing to enjoy this guessing game.

Mary Jane is a retired librarian with a habit of doodling.

IN PERSON

Freud said beauty has no obvious use, but civilization could not do without it. Still philosophers are worried about beauty taking a back seat in a world that measures success in terms of money and predictable results. Aesthetics is the philosophy of art and this course will focus on the thinking of Roger Scruton, who believes that beauty is fundamental to our lives as rational beings with aesthetic interests and sensibilities.  We are engaged by the force of artistic creations and it enhances our capacity find ways to lead an active and meaningful life. This is an in-person course.

Christos Gianopoulos teaches philosophy a the University of Maine at Augusta. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College with advanced degrees from American and Syracuse Universities.

IN PERSON (Hybrid)

This six-week class hybrid class (both on Zoom and in-person) will explore factors which help us find satisfaction and meaning as we age.  We will examine what research reveals about aging and happiness, identify some common barriers to happiness, explore possible resources for finding richness and meaning in later life, look at the role of sorrow and loss, and consider the challenges and opportunities of living alone.  Participants will have opportunities to share their personal ideas and experiences and explore common themes. 

Jean Potuchek holds a PhD in Sociology from Brown University and, before her retirement, spent 25 years as an award-winning teacher of sociology and women’s studies at Gettysburg College.

Bill Frayer has a BA in English from Brown and a MS in Adult Education from USM.  He taught at CMCC for 31 years where he chaired the Humanities Dept.

COVID SAFETY
USM requires all students to show proof of vaccination before their first class. Our goal is to make the in-person classroom as safe as possible for all students, including those who, despite being vaccinated and boosted, are at high risk for serious illness if they contract Covid-19.

Because those who are infected with Covid are usually contagious to others before they realize they are infected, we are asking that all class members test themselves for Covid with an at-home rapid antigen test before coming to class each week. These tests are very good at catching those asymptomatic infections in which a person is shedding enough virus to be contagious to others. Free tests can be ordered online at:

https://accesscovidtests.org/Project ACT 

and can also be obtained in person at local pharmacies under Medicare Part B.

ZOOM (Hybrid)

This six-week class hybrid class (both on Zoom and in-person) will explore factors which help us find satisfaction and meaning as we age.  We will examine what research reveals about aging and happiness, identify some common barriers to happiness, explore possible resources for finding richness and meaning in later life, look at the role of sorrow and loss, and consider the challenges and opportunities of living alone.  Participants will have opportunities to share their personal ideas and experiences and explore common themes. 

Jean Potuchek holds a PhD in Sociology from Brown University and, before her retirement, spent 25 years as an award-winning teacher of sociology and women’s studies at Gettysburg College.

Bill Frayer has a BA in English from Brown and a MS in Adult Education from USM.  He taught at CMCC for 31 years where he chaired the Humanities Dept.

IN PERSON

This in-person course will analyze the components of knowledge.  Using the discussion method, we will examine the nature of knowledge, the types of knowledge, the differences between knowledge and belief, and the role of perception and language  upon our knowledge.  The class will include lots of discussion, activities, and group work.

Anita was raised in Lewiston and attended St.Dominic's High School from 1960 to 1964. She went to Rivier College in Nashua, NH and Rhode Island College in Providence.  She taught in overseas schools from 1973 to 2012 when she retired to Maine. Her last school was Seoul Foreign School where she taught Philosophy of Religion and many Social Studies courses to highschoolers.

IN PERSON

At the end of 19th century, many expected that Indian cultures would disappear.  Then, a sensible expectation....which, however, was falsified by an Indian cultural renaissance.... our subject matter.  Course themes include Indian agency, creativity, resilience, self worth, and syncretism.  A traditional Navajo felicitation:  'Walk in beauty.’

Anthropologist; field work in Thailand andU.S.; 44 years at Swarthmore College; 25 or so courses offered at three of Maine's senior colleges; happy grand parent of three lovelies.

ZOOM

In this online art course we will examine the wonderful world of children’s book illustrations, and the variety of mediums and techniques artists/illustrators have used to bring authors’ words to life, sometimes replacing words entirely! We will touch on steps involved in creating a children’s book.  Each week there will be an optional assignment experimenting with the techniques used by the artists.

Judy has loved children's books all her adult life. She has used them as teaching aids in her art classrooms, she has illustrated some herself, and has spent many delightful hours sharing them with others.

IN PERSON

What are conspiracy theories? Why are they so easy to get started and difficult to dispel? We will take a look at the psychology behind conspiracy theories their history, and how they have affected our society over the years.

Elcha holds a BS, MS, and PhD from Boston University and is Board Certified in child, adolescent, and family psychiatry. For over 70 years Elcha has observed, listened, studied, researched, lectured, published, and practiced in all aspects of human behavior.