CommUniversity Curriculum, 2010
You can register by filling out the registration form. Please provide your name, address and course selection (first and second choice). Enclose a check for the $25 registration fee for four-week courses or $15 for two-week courses plus any additional fees for supplies indicated in the course description. Hard copies of the CommUniversity brochure are available at the St. Ambrose University College of Professional Studies in January.
TEXTBOOKS may be required for some courses. Students are responsible for acquiring their own books from their local libraries, bookstores, or the internet. After we receive your completed registration form and tuition, you will be notified confirming your seat in the class. This confirmation will include your classroom location and the titles of any textbooks that you may need.
Mail your registration form to: Quad Cities CommUniversity, College of Professional Studies, St. Ambrose University, 1950 E. 54th Street, Davenport, Iowa 52807. Refunds are not generally considered except in the case of classes cancelled due to insufficient registrations.
If you would like to receive a hard copy of our brochure and registration form for this year's program, contact webauthor@communiversity.org.
If you would like to download the course information in pdf form click here
MORE QUESTIONS? Call 441-9950.
Contents:
Regional Studies
Public Affairs
Theology and Church Life
Personal Enrichment
Arts and Humanities
2-Week Courses
1 Frontier Rock Island: The Plats, The Plots, The Plans Alexandra Benedict, historical researcher In 2010, Rock Island will celebrate its 175th year as the county seat. A dozen towns sprang up after it, and most of them failed. Why? Explore the often neglected story of how lawyers, stockholders, and Eastern deedslingers also settled the West.
2 Forget-Me-Not: The Art and Culture of the Cemetery Minda Powers-Douglas, editor of Epitaphs magazine Discover the history, art and culture of our cemeteries and the roles they play in our communities. Symbolism, Victorian influences, traditions, and the importance of remembrance and mourning will be discussed.
3 Settling Rock Island Dr. Maryan Wherry, Black Hawk College The early settlement of Rock Island (county and city) transformed wilderness to urban center. From the migration of the Sauk Indians to the establishment of a U.S. military reserve, the peopling of Rock Island is a fascinating tale of events and personalities, common and notorious.
4 The Seven Deadly Sins in Jewish and Christian TraditionRabbi Dr. Michael Samuel, Tri-City Jewish Center
In the journey toward spiritual adulthood, people are engaged in a struggle with sin and vice. Medieval scholars built a system
of ethics based on the seven deadly sins—lust, greed, envy, anger, pride, gluttony and sloth. This class will examine classical and modern perspectives in Jewish and Christian traditions.
5 Sacred Times in Celtic SpiritualityDr. Pat Shea, Augustana College
We will explore the four major Celtic festivals, the Celtic sacred times of the year and how to approach and celebrate the seasons with the disposition of Celtic spirituality. This exploration will be both participative and reflective. Many of the experiences will come from Mara Freeman’s book, Kindling the Celtic Spirit.
6 Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and PracticesDr. Cyrus Zargar, Augustana College
This course will consider one of the world’s major religions: Islam. Focusing on beliefs and practices, this class will begin with close study of Islam’s sacred text, the Qur’an, and proceed to discussions of its five pillars and early history.
7 Cultural Diplomacy: Tools to Get Involved with Global IssuesJacqueline Tome, President, Global Awareness Consulting
Through practical exercises and real international connections, the course will explore the importance of individual and community participation in generating peace in the world.
8 Advertising, Consumerism, and Cultural IdentityDr. Steve Klein, Augustana College, and Michael Dixon, St. Ambrose University
If no one pays attention to TV ads, why are so many millions of dollars spent on them? And so what? This course will examine commercial advertising: how it persuades consumers, and how its representations of social identity (including race, gender and sexual orientation) have dramatic impacts on our culture.
9 Utopia: Reality or a Pipe DreamRev. Richard Sorrentino, New Hope in Christ Ministries
Have you ever wondered if there can be a “perfect world”? You’re not the first. We will explore utopias from Plato to the present day, including the nineteenth century Oneida community and the Hutterites, and discuss related issues of global warming and eco-terrorism.
10 The Brontës: Rebel Angels of the HouseDr. Ellen M. Tsagaris, Kaplan University
This course will study how the private lives of the Brontë sisters influenced their writing, and also the genre and literary epoch in which they wrote. We will explore how the events of their childhood, education, professional lives, and household chores influenced the works for which they are best known.
11 Egyptology Brian Alm, Scott Community College
Come hear the ancient Egyptians speak to us from the depths of time. We will go back 5,000 years to explore the rich treasures of their thought and practices, history, language, literature, art, architecture and religion, and we’ll hear some remarkable echoes of this fascinating culture in our own religious traditions.
12 Irish Drama Dr. Patrick Connelly, St. Ambrose University
In this course, we will explore the wealth of Irish literature written for the stage and screen. We will examine playwrights such as Wilde, Beckett, Friel and Yeats.
13 Contemporary Africa: Understandings and Misunderstandings Dr. Todd Cleveland, Augustana College
This course explores the contemporary challenges that Africa faces by examining the continent’s recent past and common social, political and economic misperceptions about Africa and its people.
14 Frontlines: War Poetry by Soldiers Sarah J. Gardner, St. Ambrose University
Poetry has been described as “the unspeakable said,” and nowhere may this be more true than in writing of war. We will explore the work of soldier-poets, ancient and modern, including Beowulf, Yusef Komunyakaa’s Vietnam-era Dien Cai Dau, and Iraq war veteran Brian Turner’s Speak Bullet.
15 The Psychology of Film Dr. William Hampes, Black Hawk College
Through three films, the course will explore the psychological complications, consequences and issues involved in different types of love relationships: a wife who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and her husband (Away From Her), homosexual love (Brokeback Mountain) and an affair between an older man and young woman (Elegy).
16 Four Post-WWII Presidents Robert Miller, Marycrest College (retired)
The atomic age, cold war, hot war, culture wars, domestic disarray, social upheaval and economic maladjustment—these issues defined the presidencies of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Reagan. We’ll assess, rate and evaluate.
17 Theatre Design for Community Theatre Adam Parboosingh, Augustana College
This course will be an introduction to designing scenery and lighting for community-based theatre productions. Creating a visually stunning environment on a budget that helps the performance is key to producing good theatre.
18 Shakespeare’s Henry V Dr. Karin Youngberg, Augustana College
Harry of England or War Criminal? We will read Shakespeare’s Henry V, the story of England’s most famous and controversial warrior king, and examine the treatment of the play in films by Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branaugh.
19 After the Stars Began to Fall: 65 Years of the Bomb Chuck Oestreich, Rock Island High School (retired)
Using Stud Terkel’s classic “Born to Live” radio program as a detonation force, we’ll probe what it means to live in the shadow of the A Bomb. Readings, listening, discussion and student input will add to our examination. Is it “My Lord, what a morning” or “mourning?”
20 Songwriting for Everyone Chris Dunn, songwriter and entertainer
The raw materials of personal experience and other stories will be used to compose melodies and lyrics. We will use folk, blues, and the Beatles to investigate song structures and then create our own songs. No prior background in music required.
21 Dramatic Analysis for the Monday Morning Director Steve Quartell, producer, director, actor, Harrison Hilltop Theater
Discussion and analysis of dramatic works with special attention paid to the obstacles and opportunities presented in bringing a play from the page to the stage. Plays will cover a broad span of dramatic genres from contemporary to American classic and musical theatre.
22 T’ai Chi Chu’uanScott Caulpetzer, Great River T’ai Chi Ch’uan
T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a system of Chinese Kung-fu. These slow motion, rounded, balanced movements are practiced by people of all ages around the world for self-defense and to achieve physical, mental and spiritual well being. Wear loose-fitting clothes for this moving meditation.
23 The Shamanic JourneyKathleen Collins, shamanic teacher
Discover your Power Animal! This experiential class connects us to a state of consciousness in which we access another reality, filled with helping teachers and nature. Aided by the sound of a drumbeat, dormant spiritual abilities will be awakened.
24 Irish Social DancingGerry and Pat Bade, Quad Cities Ceili Club
Irish social dancing, known as Ceili and set dancing, is a relaxed form of pattern dances, similar to American barn dances. Some footwork and two hand dances will be taught. The dances are easy and fun and students can attend dances hosted by the Quad Cities Ceili Club.
25 BookbindingWilliam Hannan, Black Hawk College (retired)
The bookbinding techniques taught in these classes are different from classes in the past. The intention is to have the class make at least two books per class. Each session is self-contained and is not dependent on the class before it. All materials are supplied.
26 Digital DilemmaHeather McCarty, Creative Memories Director
Do you have a digital dilemma? Do you have hundreds—even thousands—of digital images on your memory cards, cameras and computers? This course will teach you how to get them off your camera and into albums you can print or share online. Information on basic storage and enhancement will also be provided. Software to design albums is included in workshop fee. Please bring a flash drive to class. Workshop fee $10.
27 YogaJennifer Smith, registered yoga teacher
This is an introduction to yoga for all fitness levels. We will learn the basics of yoga postures, breathing and meditation. Join us to relieve stress, increase your energy and improve your flexibility.
28 A Taste of French Susan Weir, Central High School in Davenport
A little taste of French language and culture. Want to read Proust, eat madeleines and drink tilleul? Watch Ratatouille and eat ratatouille? Listen to French café music and sip coffee? We will do this to create an authentic ambiance while practicing some basic French conversations.
29 Basic SpanishJames (Jay) Thornton, Muscatine Community College
Assuming no previous knowledge of Spanish, this course will teach some greetings, basic questions, basic counting, days of the week, and conversational expressions. There will be games and activities.
30 Italian for Beginners Myriam Stangherlin, University of Venice
Taught by a native speaker, this class will take you on a tour to Italy. You will learn how to buy an opera ticket in Milan, hire a gondola in Venice, book a room in Florence, make small talk in the Coliseum in Rome and order pizza in Naples in the beautiful Italian language.
31 Sing Into Your Sixties (and Beyond!)Dr. Sangeetha Rayapati, Augustana College
For anyone who loves to sing—we’ll sing as a group and eventually as individuals while exploring the inner-workings of our instruments. How does the voice work? What do we need to do to sound better? We’ll explore this and more.
32 Photography: Real, Restored, and FakedDino Milani, professional photographer
Explore Photoshop enhancement, restoration, forensic and fakery techniques and GIMP (Opensource Explorer Photoshop clone) and other software at home. Practice portrait, landscape, and sport photography in class and on three Saturday field trips. A digital or film camera is required. A personal computer is desirable. Include $10 with registration for supplies.
2-WEEK CLASS MEETS FEB. 7, 14
33 Communication Across The Generational Divide Angela D. Grafton, St. Ambrose University Career Center
Generational diversity is always changing. Learning to understand the motivations and communication needs of an age diverse population makes us more flexible and adaptive to the world as it evolves around us. This is an interactive look at how generational thoughts, values and beliefs are developed and shaped. Meets Feb. 7 and 14.
34 The American Eugenics Movement - CANCELLED Dr. Arthur Pitz, St. Ambrose University
Come and find out how Social Darwinism in the U.S. led to the testing movement, immigration restrictions, mandatory sterilizations for women, anti-miscegenation laws and more in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Meets Feb. 7 and 14. CANCELLED
2-WEEK CLASS MEETS FEB. 21, 28
35 Ballroom Dance Lessons, Rumba, and East Coast Swing Dennis and Sandy Scheckel, Scheckel & Co. Dance Instruction
Dance your winter blues away. Gain the confidence you need to rumba at a charity event or swing at a high school reunion. Learn to dance to today’s popular music, as well as to the nostalgic sounds of the Big Band Era. Students will need to wear hard-soled shoes. Meets Feb. 21 and 28.
36 1963: Alabama, Mississippi, and the Drive for Civil Rights Gene Conrad, Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency
1963 was a momentous year for the drive for Civil Rights. We will discuss the Children’s March, George Wallace, Medgar Evers, the Sixteenth St. Baptist Church, the people who worked for change, and how these events influence us today.
Meets Feb. 21 and 28.