5202 Old Orchard Road • Skokie, IL 60077 224.233.2366 • www.nl.edu/lifelonglearning

winter 2017January 9–February 10, 2017

The Lifelong Learning InstituteNational Louis University

CONTENTS

From the Director .................................................................... 1

Schedule at a Glance ............................................................... 2

Study Groups/Classes .............................................................. 3

Additional Offerings ............................................................... 14

Registration ............................................................................. 17

CONTACT USRegister, change schedule, get your questions answered

Phone: 224.233.2366Website: www.nl.edu/lifelonglearningEmail: bepsteinrosenthal@nl.edu

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WELCOME TO WINTER 2016

Welcome to The Lifelong Learning Institute at National Louis University, where learning never retires. As an LLI member, you open the door to endless opportunities for intellectual and social stimulation. In addition to an exciting and thought-provoking lineup of peer-led study groups, this winter we have added a special facilitator led group that will meet for three sessions.

The Winter Semester runs from January 9 until February 10, 2017. We have 22 classes to choose from including literature, science, history, philosophy and film. Come join us for a low price of $75 membership fee for the five week session.

If you have any questions about our program, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 224.233.2366 or email me at bepsteinrosenthal@nl.edu

Sincerely,

Beth Epstein-RosenthalDirector, The Lifelong Learning Institute National Louis University

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SCHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCEMonday am Tuesday am Wednesday am Thursday am Friday am

The New Yorker

Free Will

Film Greats

The Wall Street Journal

World Literature

Juvenile Crime in the Criminal Justice System

First Ladies

The New York Times

Contemporary American Short Stories

The Women’s Room

Monday pm Tuesday pm Wednesday pm Thursday pm Friday pm

The Merchant of Venice

The End: What are the Choices?

Writing Workshop

Opera

Contemporary Issues

The Wannsee Conference and Conspiracy

Introduction to Don Quixote

Becoming Wise

The Last Days of Night

Documentary I

Documentary II

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

PEER-LED LEARNING The cornerstones of LLI are peer-led learning and active participation in study group discussions. Members create the curriculum and take turns leading the discussion which is what makes the classes so rewarding.

★ Denotes study groups that emphasize members taking turns leading or co-leading discussions.

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MONDAY • 9:30-11:30AM

Readings from The New YorkerCoordinator: Penny Ellman

In this class, we share dialogue and laughter as we explore the current issue’s content and call attention to favorite articles. Then an article selected from a prior week’s edition (read before coming to class) is presented for discussion. It could be anything from a book review to a political expose, from a short story to an in-depth people profile, or any article that would be of interest to the class. Questions from the class then drive the discussion of the article. Everyone is encouraged to participate and differences of opinion are welcomed. In this way, we reach a greater understanding of the topic in a civil and enjoyable way.

Free Will: A Very Short IntroductionCoordinator: Phil Zawa

Every day we seem to make and act upon all kinds of choices: some trivial, others so consequential that they change the course of one’s life, or even the course of history. But are these choices really free, or are we compelled to act the way we do by factors beyond our control? Is the feeling that we could have made different decisions just an illusion? And if our choices are not free, is it legitimate to hold people morally responsible for their actions?

Thomas Pink looks at the fundamental philosophical question of free will, critically examining the claim: If our actions are causally determined by events beyond our control, that means that we can never act freely, and so can never be held responsible for our actions.

We will also view some short videos from “Closer to the Truth” about free will and related topics.

TEXT: Free Will: A Very Short Introduction by Thomas Pink; Oxford 2004; ISBN: 978-0192853585

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MONDAY • 1:00–3:00PMNEW Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice NOTE: 3 week class (1/9–1/23)Coordinators: Adam Rose/Phil Zawa

Although modern interpretations of The Merchant of Venice often focus on the play’s characterization and treatment of the Jewish moneylender Shylock, both the play’s title and plot suggest that Shakespeare’s focus was on the Christian merchant Antonio. Through a careful reading and discussion of Shakespeare’s play in conjunction with selections both from Christopher Marlowe’s roughly contemporaneous The Jew of Malta and from The New Testament, this course will explore Shakespeare’s exaltation of graceful Christianity in both the major and minor plot threads of one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays.

This is a special facilitator-led group that will meet for three sessions. Study group members are expected to carefully read each week’s assigned text. Adam Rose, a professional facilitator and instructor will lead each week’s discussion. This is not a lecture course and will emphasize a Shared Inquiry™ approach.

About Adam Rose: Educated principally at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago, Adam is a teacher and scholar with over 20 years’ experience leading exceptionally effective, award-winning Great Books discussion courses in Western Classics for adult and undergraduate students of diverse ages and backgrounds.

TEXT: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare; Yale, 2006; ISBN: 978-0300115642

The Jew of Malta. 3rd rev.ed by Christopher Marlowe; Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2009; ISBN: 978-0713677669

Any copy of The New Testament

The End: What are the Choices?Coordinators: Dee Hannan/Marilyn Crocker

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We all know how the story ends: with death. We can’t escape it, but we do have choices about how to face it. Some people choose every treatment right to the end. Some people face it with resignation, some with denial. Some people think about how they will remain in the minds of others, and some, like Woody Allen, only want to live in their apartment, not in the minds of others!

In this class we use articles, documentaries and TED talks to explore some of the choices others make so we can, hopefully, look at our options.

There will be no text and articles will be distributed before our class meets.

Writing WorkshopCoordinators: Ivan Berk/Al Zimbler/Nancy Anderson

You love to write and may have been doing so for years. This is your chance to participate in a group of practicing writers, to learn and explore new methods and writing styles, and to constructively critique each other’s work. It may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or plays. In a supportive setting your classmates will provide concrete and considerate suggestions, reactions and evaluations intended to encourage you to put forth your best efforts. There is a certain discipline to writing and you will benefit from having an audience that is always looking forward to your next composition. Many members have their writings published in our member supported LLI Review, an annual literary and arts publication. Don’t be afraid, jump in, the water is calm and warm.

Opera★

Coordinators: Alyson Breuer/Larry Breitkopf

Whether one is a long-standing fan of opera or a neophyte, the class offers something for everyone! Each opera takes two sessions to watch, enjoy and discuss. A synopsis and composer’s biographical details precede the first presentation and discussions follow, time permitting, but always the Final

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Act. Often, we are able to compare two productions of the same work with the added benefit of viewing differing artistic interpretations. Do join us for a series of lively afternoons! If you like opera, you’ll love LLI’s Opera class. You’ll help select the DVDs of operas you want to see and participate in a review of both the opera and its composer. Discover why this form of music has survived for over four centuries. Whether you are a beginner or a longtime opera buff, join us for these enjoyable afternoons!

TUESDAY • 9:30–11:30AMFilm Greats★

Note: class starts at 9:00amCoordinators: Andrea Herbster/Rivia Greenberger

Everyone loves and enjoys Mel Brooks, so this winter we will be featuring movies in which he either performed, directed or both. He has greatly contributed to our comedic enjoyment starting back in 1968 when The Producers premiered, through the late 90’s when we saw Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Some of his other movies that are familiar to most of us include: Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie and History of the World, Pt.1. Join us to laugh and enjoy this amazingly funny man and his often very strange sense of humor.

Study group members will choose from Brooks’ films for the discussions they lead.

The Wall Street Journal Coordinators: Donald Gordon/Gerry Gordon

Foreign affairs, the economy, politics, medicine and other subjects form the basis for discussions of articles from The Wall Street Journal, the largest newspaper in the US and winner of 34 Pulitzer Prize awards. Each week, three classmates volunteer to present one article each from the previous week’s paper and distribute their choices to the rest of the class.

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After reading and forming individual opinions, each presenter briefly outlines the article or asks a cogent question related to the topic after which the participants begin sharing viewpoints and knowledge by discussion rather than lectures, making the class even more interesting. Come and join the fray and enjoy knowledge shared by all.

TUESDAY • 1:00–3:00PMContemporary IssuesCoordinators: Mick Jackson/Mark Lieberman/Beth Epstein-Rosenthal

Join us as we discuss significant issues of our times. We will explore events while improving our understanding using think tank and online articles as the basis for our discussion. Topics chosen include: cyber-attacks and the impact on today’s world; Russia; refugees; the direction of the USA and presidential policy and campaign finance reform. Many people have strong opinions on these topics; please remember that at LLI we challenge each other with reasoned argumentation rather than with strong, emotionally charged language.

Introduction to Don Quixote★

Coordinator: Judy Ditkowsky

Is Don Quixote, by Cervantes, worthy of an extended study group? Why not have a small group investigate? This study group will read and discuss Part One: Prologue through Chapter VIII. If it seems worthwhile, we will consider how to continue in future semesters.

Don Quixote has become so entranced reading tales of chivalry that he decides to turn knight errant himself. In the company of his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, these exploits blossom in all sorts of wonderful ways. While Quixote’s fancy often leads him astray — he tilts at windmills, imagining them to be giants — Sancho acquires cunning and a certain sagacity. Sane madman and wise fool, they roam the world together

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— and together they have haunted readers’ imaginations for nearly four hundred years.

With its experimental form and literary playfulness, Don Quixote has been generally recognized as the first modern novel. This Penguin Classics includes John Rutherford’s masterly translation, which does full justice to the energy and wit of Cervantes’ prose, as well as a brilliant critical introduction by Roberto Gonzalez Echevarriá.

TEXT: Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra; Penguin Classics Rev Ed (Feb 2003); ISBN: 978-0142437230

The Wannsee Conference and Conspiracy★

Coordinator: Jill Meyer

In January 1941, a group of mid-level Nazi functionaries met at a villa in the Wannsee area of Berlin. These 15 men formulated what came to be called “The Final Solution”. Using the book, The Wannsee Conference and The Final Solution by Mark Roseman, as well as the HBO recreation of the conference, Conspiracy, we will examine the men and the policies they gathered to implement.

TEXT: The Wannsee Conference and the Final Solution: A Reconsideration by Mark Roseman; Picador. Reprint 2003 Paperback; ISBN: 978-0312422349

WEDNESDAY • 9:30–11:30AM

Juvenile Crime in the Criminal Justice System★

Coordinators: Rochelle Singer/Debbie Alexander

For over a century, states have believed that the juvenile justice system was a vehicle to protect the public by providing a system that responds to children who are maturing into adulthood. States recognize that children who commit crimes are different from adults: as a class, they are less blameworthy and they have a greater capacity for change. To respond to these differences, states have established a separate court system for juveniles and they have created a separate youth-

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based service delivery system that is different than that provided to adults. This study group will explore opposing viewpoints as to the causes of juvenile crime, the treatment of juvenile offenders, the prevention of juvenile crime and how we can improve the juvenile justice system.

TEXT: Juvenile Crime: Opposing Viewpoints Series (2012 edition) by Louise Gerdes; Greenhaven Press, Inc. CA 2012 edition

World Literature Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending★

Coordinators: Pat Roth/Carole Einhorn

Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at school. Sex hungry and book-hungry, they would navigate the girl-less sixth form together, trading in affections, in-jokes, humour and wit. Now Tony is retired. Memory though is imperfect, as a lawyer’s letter is to prove.

Winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize and one of The Atlantic’s “Best Books I Read This Year,” Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending has the psychological and emotional depth of Henry James at his best

TEXT: The Sense of an Ending by Jules Barnes;Vintage Books; 1st edition (May 29, 2012); ISBN: 978-0307947727

WEDNESDAY • 1:00–3:00PM

Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living★

Coordinators: Gary Silvers/Linda Spring

Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and National Humanities Medalist Krista Tippett has interviewed the most extraordinary voices examining the great questions of meaning for our time. The heart of her work on her national public radio program and podcast, “On Being,” has been to shine a light on people whose insights kindle in us a sense of wonder and courage. Scientists in a variety of fields; theologians from an array of faiths;

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poets, activists, and many others have all opened themselves up to Tippett’s compassionate yet searching conversation. In Becoming Wise, Tippett distills the insights she has gleaned from this luminous conversation in its many dimensions into a coherent journey, over time and from mind to mind.

TEXT: Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett; Penguin Press (2016): ISBN: 9781594206801

The Last Days of NightCoordinators: Kate Katz/Jill Meyer

A young lawyer with no litigation experience is hired to represent George Westinghouse in his lawsuits against Thomas Edison. Who has the legal right to say he invented electricity and who has the legal right to use this to light up the United States? Add Nicola Tesla and Alexander Graham Bell to the plot and you have a great historical novel with much fact and some fiction. This book will be fun to read and we will spend some time each week discussing one of these famous men’s biography in addition to what is in the novel itself.

TEXT: The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore; Random House, August 2016; ISBN-10-0812988906

THURSDAY • 9:30–11:30AM

First Ladies★

Coordinators: Kate Katz/Jill Meyer

Who were the “women behind the men”? In the continuation of the Fall 2016 course, we will look at First Ladies Eliza Johnson, Julia Grant, Lucy Hayes, Lucretia Garfield, Ellen Arthur, and Frances Cleveland. These women influenced their husbands and their country and brought their own personality and style to the White House. We will begin each class at 9:15am watching the C-Span video on the week’s First Lady, and then spend 45 minutes in discussion. Participation in prior semesters is not required. The course will continue through Spring 2017 and Summer 2017.

Text: First Ladies: Presidential Historians on the Lives of 45 Iconic Women by Susan Swain, Public Affairs/2015; ISBN: 978-1610395663

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The New York TimesCoordinators: Mike Kramer/Bob Holstein

The New York Times is considered the preeminent American newspaper, having won 114 Pulitzer Prizes in its 165 year old history, more than any other news organization. For those of you interested in current events, foreign affairs, political and economic discourse and general sociological, scientific and cultural news, then the NYT Class is for you. We rely on class members to lead discussions on an article of interest from the previous week’s editions. Typically, these discussions are forty minutes in duration. We encourage all points of view and look forward to spirited class sessions.

Contemporary American Short StoriesCoordinators: Meredith Hellestrae/Roslyn Sugar

A novel casts a wide net that involves interweaving numerous characters over time. But a successful short story writer must capture a reader’s attention in its first paragraph. Its brevity imposes the limits in which the writer employs his/her magic. No short story writer works that magic in the same way. The class is using The O. Henry Prize Stories 2016 collection. Shared inquiry is the perfect means to explore not only what a story means, but also what tools the writer used to construct it. We welcome you to join in our lively analysis and discussions.

TEXT: The O. Henry Prize Stories 2016, edited by Laura Furman; ISBN: 978-0-8041-7354-4

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THURSDAY • 1:00-3:00PMDocumentary INOTE: This class ends at 3:30pmCoordinator: Rhonda Milkowski

We will view a wide variety of fascinating, contemporary documentaries that are always informative, frequently controversial, and sometimes fun filled entertainment. Documentaries range from thought provoking subjects that have not received wide spread publicity to films that have received Academy Award recognition. All films were selected from current Academy Award, Netflix top 100, or class member recommendations and are readily available for presenters at libraries as well as Netflix. We will learn about the elements of a documentary that shape the message and appreciation of the filmmaker’s craft. Join us as we engage in lively discussions about a wide variety of subjects presented in class through these significant films.

Documentary IINote: This class ends at 3:30pmCoordinator: Sybil Virshbo

We will view a wide variety of fascinating, contemporary documentaries that are always informative, frequently controversial, and sometimes fun filled entertainment. The documentaries viewed will be chosen by the presenter on a subject of his choosing. Films can range from thought provoking subjects that have not received wide spread publicity to films that have received Academy Award recognition. All films are readily available for presenters at libraries as well as Netflix. We will learn about the elements of a documentary that shape the message and appreciation of the filmmaker’s craft. Join us as we engage in lively discussions about a wide variety of subjects presented in class through these significant films.

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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead★

Coordinator: Phil Zawa

Acclaimed as a modern dramatic masterpiece, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is the fabulously inventive tale of Hamlet as told from the worm’s-eye view of the bewildered Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare’s play. This is the play that first made Tom Stoppard famous, and in it the Shakespearean Laurel and Hardy finally get a chance to take the lead role, but do so in a world where echoes of Waiting for Godot resound, where reality and illusion intermix, and where fate leads our two heroes to a tragic but inevitable end.

We will read the play aloud in class, explore its meaning and theatricality, and hopefully laugh at Stoppard’s wit and wisdom. In addition to the play itself, some material from Hamlet and other sources will be explored for context and a broader understanding. In the last class of the semester, we will view the film version of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, directed by Tom Stoppard.

TEXT: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard; Grove Press (1994); ISBN: 978-0802132758

FRIDAY • 9:30–11:30AMThe Women’s RoomCoordinators: Martha Fox/Mary Bloom/Nancy Bellew

We will explore a woman’s view of history and interpretation of the events which led to the Great Society of LBJ’s presidential time in office. The “Women’s Room” is exploring different types of course content, focusing for this semester on a work by the best-selling woman author and noted historian, Doris Kearns Godwin.

TEXT: Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream by Doris Kearns Goodwin; St. Martin’s Griffin; Eighth Printing edition (June 15, 1991); ISBN: 978-0312060275

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Additional Offerings at LLISOCRATES CAFÉ: CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER

You don’t have to know anything about Socrates or philosophy. There is no text and no requirement except an inquiring mind. One question will be discussed each session. There are no right or wrong answers. Socrates Café will meet twice in the winter session during lunch. It’s not necessary to sign up ahead of time, just come to any sessions that appear to you. For details regarding the topic question and dates, please read the LLI newsletter.

LEARNING DURING LUNCH EVENTSInvited authors, guest lecturers, musicians and theater groups round out the learning opportunities during the lunchtime

BOOK SEMINARSThink about joining your fellow LLI members for collective reflection, critique, rumination, and enjoyment in a small group setting. A member will facilitate a Shared Inquiry™ style discussion of a book in a single two-hour session.

TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIESJoin fellow LLI members in experiencing educational travel tours both around the world, within the United States and locally.

SOCIAL EVENTSLLI holds many social events throughout the year. Members enjoy experiencing dining out adventures at ethnic restaurants, attending music and cultural events as well as social gatherings at members’ homes.

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Support LLI

The Lifelong Learning Institute at National Louis University strives to offer the best possible learning and social experience at the lowest cost. If you appreciate how LLI enriches your life, please make a donation to LLI. Your gift will make a difference. Now there are three funds you can donate to:

The Scholarship Fund: Memorial and tribute gifts are a nice way to honor someone. Your support of The Scholarship Fund will open opportunities for lifelong learning to those who cannot otherwise afford to attend.

The LLI Special Programs Fund: Donations to Special Programs provides the funding for guest speakers and special events at LLI.

The Review: a magazine of poetry, photography and more which is 100% funded by donations.

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MembershipLLI conducts sessions for the Fall (14 weeks), Winter (5 weeks), Spring (14 weeks) and Summer (5 weeks) and has a variety of membership plans designed to meet individual needs. Options include a Full Year membership including all sessions; a “snowbird” membership designed for those who are not here during the winter months; individual 14-week sessions for the Fall or Spring and Half Year memberships. Half-Year memberships can be converted to full memberships with pro-rated fees.

Our winter session is an excellent opportunity to join our peer-led learning community for five weeks for only $75.00. You can also join for the Winter and Spring session for $250. Take as many classes as you would like, participate in planned social events and lunch and learn programs while meeting new friends.

Scholarships are available and are based upon need. Information is kept strictly confidential. For more information contact Beth Epstein-Rosenthal at 224.233.2366.

Membership Type Dates Cost Available Now

Full Year 9/6/16-8/10/17 $450 **

Fall only 9/6/16-12/16/16 $200 **

Snowbird Fall and Spring sessions only

$300 **

Fall and Winter 9/6/16-2/10/17 $250 **

Winter only 1/9/17-2/10/17 $75 Yes

Winter and Spring 1/9/17-6/9/17 $250 Yes

Spring only 3/6/17-6/9/17 $200 **

Spring and Summer 3/6/17-8/10/17 $250 **

Summer only 7/10/17-8/10/17 $75 **

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WINTER 2017 REGISTRATION

Online RegistrationEasy online registration allows you to sign up for classes in real time. To register, go to www.regonline.com/LLIwintersession2017

Registration Week: In-Person Registrations can be done in person during registration week:

Monday, December 12–Thursday, December 15 5202 W. Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL. 60077 4th floor lobby •11:00am–1:00pm

Although we accept registrations on an ongoing basis, please try to complete your registration by December 23, 2016 to give our administrators and class coordinators time to send out welcome packets for the courses.

For full description of the classes or to download the catalog, visit our website at www.nl.edu/lifelonglearning.

If you have paid for the full membership or the half-year membership, simply check the box “current member” and follow the instructions.

New members, and members who have not purchased a membership that includes winter, will be required to pay the membership fee at the end of the registration. Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation of your registration.

Join us for a low price of $75 membership fee for the five week session.

Class Locations All classes are held at National Louis University — North Shore campus, 4th floor

Parking is convenient and free

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