Diversity   

Learn about the exhibitions “Beyond Eve and Mary: Premodern Representations of Gender, Power and Religion” and “Reigning Queens: Modern and Contemporary Representations of Women, Power and Religion” at the Sheldon Museum of Art. We will begin with a discussion the first exhibition which examines Eve and Mary through thematic groupings of works and encourages viewers to consider how multifaceted gender was in the premodern period. The adjoining exhibition “Reigning Queens” examines twentieth-and twenty-first century representations of women in art. From temptresses and monarchs to advocates and activists, this exhibition invites viewers to consider the ways artists have explored and challenged gender stereotypes.

Watch a series of videos and discuss the archeology and history surrounding prehistoric Europe and the origins of the Celts. Videos include “The Celts – How the Barbarians Tamed Europe, “ by International Masters Publishing, as well as the PBS films “Secrets of Stonehenge” and “After Stonehenge,” taught by academics who summarize life in the Bronze Age. Also included is the PBS film, “In Search of Ancient Ireland” to learn about the beginnings of Celtic and Bronze Age of the Emerald Isle. Each video will begin with a brief lecture by the course instructor.

The following video programs are on demand on the online platform CANVAS. Learn at your own pace, on your own time and at your convenience. All of these programs are available for a single cost of $30. On the first day of the term or after registration, you will receive an email with a “Join Code” and instructions for how to access programming.

All programming originates from OLLI at UNL.

Why Grandpa Kept His Hounds: A Tale of Neighborhood and Region

In 1913, Sam Rader faced a painful choice. As a recent widower residing deep in the hollows of the Ozarks with his seven children, he needed help. He met a widow and proposed marriage to her. She responded favorably to his entreaty, but, alas, insisted that, as a precondition to their marriage, he would have to get rid of his hounds. Grandpa chose to keep his hounds. Ben Rader, professor emeritus of History at UNL, and grandson of Sam, says understanding Grandpa’s decision requires an examination of the folkways of the Ozarks. Was his response simply that of a “hillbilly?” That Grandpa also loved to listen to the famed Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso, on the family’s Victrola suggests otherwise. Rader proposes a far more complex portrait of the ways of the peoples in the Ozarks and the Upland South than that offered by the hillbilly stereotype.

The Orphan Train: The Largest Migration of Children in U.S. History

Between 1854 and 1929, nearly 250,000 orphaned or abandoned children were relocated from the East Coast to the Midwest and West. This migration is known as the orphan train. The goal of this relocation effort was to find homes where children could learn practical skills, gain an education, and live in a family setting. Mickey Creager, descendant of an orphan train rider; and Kaily Carson, curator at the National Orphan Train Complex, discuss how this fascinating movement began, how it worked, and what happened to the children involved.

Sport in American Culture

Sport has been an important part of the American cultural landscape since before the founding of the Republic, from the very popular blood sports of the 18th century through the development of the boxing and horse racing industries in the 19th century and the explosion of baseball, football, and basketball in the 20th century. Our society seldom sees the confluence of income, class, race, gender, identity, and celebrity the way we do in sports. UNL associate professor of broadcasting, John Shrader, examines the role of sport in our society and how the media have been both partners and observers. He takes a deep dive into sport and how it fits into American life, discussing complicated and sensitive issues; it’s not just about slam dunks, big contracts, SportsCenter and social media.

The History of Reproductive Rights

UNL Associate Professor of History, Katrina Jagodinsky, examines Nebraska’s historical regulation of abortion and reproductive rights in the context of national historic and modern trends. Based in historic state statutes and court cases, this legal history will encourage audiences to consider the distinctions between historical practice and perception to better understand the reproductive rights landscape.

The Supreme Court and National Power

Perhaps the most notable project of the current Supreme Court is its efforts to curtail federal authority. The Court often decides these cases not as a matter of constitutional law but rather administrative law and statutory interpretation. The Court purports to be issuing narrow rulings about the specific statutes at issue. Make no mistake, though, says Eric Berger, professor at the UNL College of Law. These cases are about the Constitution. Significantly, these decisions deny the federal government authority to address pressing national crises including climate change, voting rights, and the Covid pandemic. Recent Supreme Court decisions about national power are examined as are the consequences of those decisions in a variety of areas.

From Battlefield to Boardroom: Logistics, the Key to Victory

Every military battlefield victory includes stories about how the organization and movement of supplies and personnel (logistics) saved the day. Today, we order something online for delivery tomorrow without an afterthought. Retired Major General Roger Lempke explores the role of logistics in military operations and business through stories that highlight the vital need for reliable logistics. The course will also examine how the global “supply chain” has become so very efficient but also vulnerable to new threats.

Nebraska Ecology

From the Pine Ridge in the west, the central Sandhills, to the prairies and woodland corridors in the east, Nebraska is home to many unique habitats and ecosystems supporting a rich biological diversity across the state. Program specialists from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission provide a broad understanding of Nebraska’s ecology, and the diversity found in the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fish that call our state home.

How to Identify and Protect Yourself Against Fraud

Angela Nielsen shares the tools you need to identify potential fraud and scams. Learn about several common financial scams and ways fraudsters try to take advantage of you and your loved ones and take your hard-earned cash. Nielsen dissects what to watch out for, what you can do to protect your money, and how you can approach emails, phone calls, messages and texts to identify what is important and what to be aware of.

Global Food Security: Political, Economic, and Climate Challenges

Achieving global food security in the face of current political, economic, and climatic challenges is at the forefront of our conversations today and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Food shortages driven by the war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, supply chain issues, the increasing frequency of climate extremes on food production and numerous other factors contribute to this crisis. Joe Glauber, of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C., and David Beckmann, president emeritus of Bread for the World, discuss opportunities available to enhance and improve agricultural food systems locally and globally.

Learn about the economic development efforts of the Winnebago Nation. Ho-Chunk, Inc., the economic development corporation owned by the Winnebago Nation, is a major driver of the success over the last three decades. Build your understanding of the impact that casinos in Iowa and Nebraska have had on this success. Get an overview of the various entities making up Ho-Chunk. Impressive accomplishments include contracts with the federal government, housing development for tribal members, farming initiatives and the new broadband project. Shop at the Harvest House Friday Market selling food and locally made crafts, view the sculpture garden, and potentially see bison at a newly built paddock near the village. If time permits, we will visit the Angel DeCora Museum at Little Priest Tribal College and get an overview of the Tribal college and its impact on the community.