Monday   

“Despite the outpouring of books, movies, museums, and courses, a coherent explanation of the why such ghastly carnage erupted in the heart of civilized Europe in the twentieth century still seems elusive.” This a quote from Peter Hayes book, “Explaining the Holocaust.” This is the inspiration for this seminar which examines many of the questions dealing with the Holocaust. Why the Jews? Why the Germans? Why a transition from murder to genocide? Could more have been done to prevent the Holocaust? Why was Jewish resistance ineffectual? Why such limited help from the outside? Finally, we conclude with the legacy of the Holocaust and its lessons for us today. Understanding the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust is more relevant today than ever.

This course will explore the life and music of James Brown.  The Hardest Working Man in Show Biz, Mr. Please, Please, Please, The Minister of the New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Brown is arguably one of the most important musical figures that America has ever produced and whose legacy is often disregarded and unappreciated.  This six-week course will explore his life, his music, the development of his new musical styles, and his influences on music and society both of his era and contemporary times.

Italy, a country of almost 60 million people, is the world’s 4th most visited nation thanks to its rich history and culture, and its stunning cuisine and scenery. This course will cover important aspects of Italy’s history such as the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the destruction of Pompeii, and the creation of the Republic of Venice. We’ll explore some of the country’s social and cultural norms and its contributions to art, music, and film. You’ll learn a bit about the Italian language, including some common words and phrases and how they’re pronounced. Finally, we’ll take a virtual tour of Italy’s diverse regions, discuss Italian cuisine, and explore some travel tips for those thinking about visiting the country.  

Often called “Indicator Species,” bats serve as a vital pulse for the health of our environment. This course offers an in-depth exploration of the nine bat species native to Massachusetts and the critical roles they play in our local ecosystem.  We will address the modern challenges facing these mammals, including the impact of White-Nose-Syndrome - a fungal disease that has claimed the lives of millions of bats - and the common misconceptions regarding Covid-19. Drawing from years of experience in wildlife rehabilitation and my time spent with Batty, the Big Brown Bat, my educational ambassador, I will share unique, firsthand insights into their complex social behaviors, (such as purring when content). I look forward to leading you on this educational adventure to uncover the wonders of the misunderstood bats and the vital conservation efforts needed to save them!

This course will cover the history of Massachusetts and Boston, in particular, from the settlement of the Pilgrims to the present day.  It will not only cover the major (and some minor) events of the last four hundred years but also discuss a number of people who lived, worked, in the state that have had an effect on our country as a whole. 

Since its very inception, television has been a controversial medium. While it provides news, educational opportunities, entertainment, and fosters social connections, it has also been blamed for sedentary lifestyles, reduced attention spans, consumerism, and promoting violence. In this course we’ll explore the influence that television has had using theories and research from the fields of Social Psychology and Media Studies. We’ll consider how the medium has both affected and reflected societal trends by examining TV programming across the decades and will focus on its effects on our attitudes, behavior, and psychological well-being. 

The philosophy behind this course is simple: we appreciate poetry best when we read it with others. Our community combines returning members, working poets, and poetry lovers: we welcome new members to our group because they bring fresh perspectives. And you are welcome to simply “listen in” if you’re not sure how to talk about poetry: you will learn! Over the course of the semester, we will discuss various poems written in the English language from the Renaissance to today. We will read poems out loud while practicing our scansion skills, noting patterns of sound and rhythm. We will tease out meanings. We will discuss the historical and context that frames each poet and poem. Our goal will be to work towards a richer understanding of each poem together.

Dr. Zeynep Leuenberger will launch Senior College's new Human Rights series this fall with Human Rights I: Environmental Sustainability, the first course in an ongoing sequence that will continue exploring critical global human rights issues through future offerings, including Human Rights II: The Rights of Women and Children and Human Rights III: Global Educational Access, which will be offered in subsequent semesters.

This course outlines the deep relationship between environmental health and human well-being through human rights and public sector economic lenses. It introduces the basic principles of human rights law and practice tied to environmental sustainability through discussion of key issues such as water quality and scarcity, climate related migration, agriculture and environment, climate change, and pollution mitigation. Finally, the course reviews solutions offered by international non-governmental and governmental organizations.

Drugs, from Caffeine to Heroin, play a striking role in our Society. This course will serve to increase awareness and knowledge about drugs, addiction and their impact on society. Participants will examine their own behavior, learn strategies for prevention and intervention, and explore and debate changing societal norms.

The nature of crime is complex and constantly evolving, shaped by social, economic, cultural, and psychological factors. At its core, crime involves behavior that violates laws established by society, but what is considered criminal can vary across time and place. This course will explore the nature of crime through various theoretical perspectives, helping to explain why individuals engage in criminal behavior and how different factors influence these actions. Fields like Criminology examine how factors such as poverty, inequality, peer influence, and opportunity contribute to criminal activity. Understanding the nature of crime requires looking beyond the act itself to the broader social context in which it occurs., Dr. Alatorre's scholarship is rooted in his personal experiences with immigration, his work with homeless people, and maintaining resiliency in the face of overwhelming odds. His research aims to portray both the barriers and successes the immigrant and homeless population face. Dr. Alatorre uses a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to contextualize and frame his scholarly work.  Dr. Alatorre's work has appeared in Debates on U.S. Immigration, Studies on Symbolic Interaction, Qualitative Inquiry, Encyclopedia of Women and Crime, The Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice and Criminology, Contemporary Justice Review, and the Racial Equity and Justice Institute Handbook.

Take a musical journey through the songs, stories, and cultural impact of The Beatles in this fun and engaging six-week ukulele class. Designed for beginner to intermediate players, this course combines hands-on music instruction with an exploration of how the Beatles transformed popular music, songwriting, recording techniques, and global culture.

Each week, students will learn a new Beatles song arranged for ukulele while examining a different era of the band’s evolution—from early rock-and-roll influences and Beatlemania to experimental studio innovation and enduring musical legacy. Along the way, participants will build core ukulele skills including chord transitions, rhythm patterns, strumming techniques, riffs and licks, and group performance.

This class is ideal for anyone with basic ukulele knowledge who enjoys classic rock music, group learning, and musical storytelling. Come discover why the music of the Beatles continues to inspire musicians around the world—and have fun making that music yourself.

What makes good art good?  Is it all subjective?  Are there objective qualities to art?  What _is_ art, anyway?  In this class we will look at the philosophy of art, including major theories on these big questions, and others, such as: how should we interpret artworks?  Does the artist’s intention matter?  How would we know what that is?  Are concepts like Art and Beauty connected in any way?  We will also address social questions pertaining to the arts, such as issues of censorship, public funding, and related topics.

This course will examine the difference between assassination and murder and the unique categories of American assassinations and their ramifications, It will look at both assassination attempts and completions.  Topics/subjects will include Jackson, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Truman, JFK, Ford and Reagan.  We will also look at MLK, RFK, George Wallace and John Lennon.

Discover the timeless beauty and surprising modern influence of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D in this unique six-week ukulele ensemble course. Participants will learn how a simple and elegant chord progression became one of the most recognizable foundations in Western music—and how it continues to shape countless contemporary songs today.

Throughout the course, students will learn and rehearse four different musical parts of Pachelbel’s Canon, arranged in C for varying skill levels from beginner to advanced. Whether you are new to ukulele or an experienced player looking for an ensemble experience, each participant will have an important role in bringing the piece to life.

As the weeks progress, the class will combine these individual parts into a layered group performance, exploring melody, harmony, rhythm, and accompaniment. Students will also examine the famous Canon chord progression and discover its influence on modern pop and rock music.

This course is open to adventurous beginners through advanced ukulele players. Participants should know a few basic chords and be excited to collaborate in a supportive group setting. Come experience how a 17th-century composition and one of the most iconic pieces in classical music continues to echo through today’s music—and become part of the sound yourself.

In this class will cover wild bird attributes, including habitats, habits and diets as well as the different classes of birds: Raptors, Songbirds, Sea Birds, Game Birds, Wading Birds and Waterfowl. We will discuss different poisons and diseases, including rodenticides. We will focus on how we can protect our native birds from extinction. I am teaching this class with my new Education Barn Owl, Baby.

The course will begin with the aftermath of the JFK assassination and the effect on the remaining Kennedy siblings, focusing on the political careers of RFK and Ted, the tumultuous year 1968, RFK's assassination and Ted Kennedy's role as father figure to his nieces and nephews.  It will conclude with the 3rd generation, giving special emphasis to Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, JFK, jr. and RFK, jr.