Contemporary Issues   

The Food Bank of Lincoln works to alleviate hunger in Southeast Nebraska, where an estimated 1 in 10 neighbors—and 1 in 7 children—are experiencing food insecurity. In its most recent fiscal year, the organization connected neighbors in its 16-county service area to more than 9.1 million meals. Touring the Food Bank’s new facility in Northwest Lincoln will offer insight into the operations of food banking and the programs and services addressing food insecurity in Southeast Nebraska, while answering common questions about food sources, community involvement and ongoing needs. The Food Bank of Lincoln is a proud member of the Feeding America network.

The Food Bank of Lincoln works to alleviate hunger in Southeast Nebraska, where an estimated 1 in 10 neighbors—and 1 in 7 children—are experiencing food insecurity. In its most recent fiscal year, the organization connected neighbors in its 16-county service area to more than 9.1 million meals. Touring the Food Bank’s new facility in Northwest Lincoln will offer insight into the operations of food banking and the programs and services addressing food insecurity in Southeast Nebraska, while answering common questions about food sources, community involvement and ongoing needs. The Food Bank of Lincoln is a proud member of the Feeding America network.

Did you know that Lincoln Parks and Recreation manages 7,000 acres of public land? We enjoy a comprehensive parks and recreation program fundamental to our shared quality of life in Lincoln. The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department and the Lincoln Parks Foundation are partnering to provide this overview about parks and recreation facilities and programs in Lincoln. We will meet and learn from people who manage our parks and recreation facilities and programs. These include pools, ball fields, tennis and pickle ball courts, dog runs, the Nature Center, recreation centers and programs, open space conservation, trails, golf courses, street trees, public art and much more. Course sessions will be in-person at parks and recreation facilities throughout Lincoln.

We will discuss major foreign policy issues facing the United States. The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) has selected eight topics and we will cover four in Term 3. The course will continue in Term 4 to cover the remaining topics. Each topic will be covered through FPA’s 25-minute “Master Class” lecture as well as written articles. You are expected to read the articles prior to watching the video on the day of the class. Topics to be discussed in Term 3 are: 1) Energy Geopolitics, 2) War Crimes, 3) China and the U.S., and 4) Economic Warfare. Class members may purchase the “Great Decisions Briefing Book” on-line at www.fpa.org.

We will discuss major foreign policy issues facing the United States. The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) has selected eight topics and we will cover four in Term 3. The course will continue in Term 4 to cover the remaining topics. Each topic will be covered through FPA’s 25-minute “Master Class” lecture as well as written articles. You are expected to read the articles prior to watching the video on the day of the class. Topics to be discussed in Term 3 are: 1) Energy Geopolitics, 2) War Crimes, 3) China and the U.S., and 4) Economic Warfare. Class members may purchase the “Great Decisions Briefing Book” on-line at www.fpa.org.

Learn about the steps and challenges involved in developing new food products, including those associated with consumers expectations for healthier and innovative foods. We will be faced with the opportunity to formulate a product that needs to meet certain consumer needs, without compromising product flavor, texture and color.

The Constitutional right to abortion was eliminated last year by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case. The basis of that right was found in a Nebraska case, Meyer v. The State of Nebraska, decided 100 years ago. At least one Supreme Court justice has written that Meyer, like Roe, was wrongly decided. We will discuss Meyer and the loss of personal liberties should it fall.

The Constitutional right to abortion was eliminated last year by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case. The basis of that right was found in a Nebraska case, Meyer v. The State of Nebraska, decided 100 years ago. At least one Supreme Court justice has written that Meyer, like Roe, was wrongly decided. We will discuss Meyer and the loss of personal liberties should it fall.

The modern media environment is a continuously evolving landscape that challenges traditional views of truth. In this environment facts, data, opinions, disinformation, misinformation and marketing are muddled together. This creates a challenging circumstance for media consumers to separate the sound from the noise. A 2017 study by the Pew Research Center found only 17 percent of Americans are considered skilled and able enough to actively participate in and navigate the modern digital media environment. We will discuss the need for media literacy and the challenges we face in our current environment and offer steps for practicing digital literacy.

The modern media environment is a continuously evolving landscape that challenges traditional views of truth. In this environment facts, data, opinions, disinformation, misinformation and marketing are muddled together. This creates a challenging circumstance for media consumers to separate the sound from the noise. A 2017 study by the Pew Research Center found only 17 percent of Americans are considered skilled and able enough to actively participate in and navigate the modern digital media environment. We will discuss the need for media literacy and the challenges we face in our current environment and offer steps for practicing digital literacy.

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. This programming is available for a single cost of $30. 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.

A History of Lincoln’s Auditoria and the Pershing Auditorium Block

Before a village could become a true city, it needed a newspaper and an opera house— not a place to hear opera but a theatre or auditorium where you could witness a play or hold a graduation. Lincoln and Nebraska Historian Jim McKee explores Lincoln’s auditoriums, both private and public, from theatre held in the first capitol to Pershing Municipal Auditorium, with the largest outdoor mural in the world at the time, as well as Block 63 where Pershing sat for over half a century and what may take its place.

Take a Walk in the Clouds

During our childhoods, we may have spent time lying in the grass on a hot, summer day, gazing at the clouds and talking with our siblings or friends about what shapes they formed. KOLN/KGIN TV Meteorologist Brad Anderson shares information regarding the different types and shapes of clouds, the weather they can bring, and how they form.

Fly Girls

In 1929, at the dawn of aviation when every flight was a test of courage, 20 gutsy and passionate female pilots in propeller-driven planes raced from California to Ohio in the first female cross-country air race, making 18 stops in nine days, while competing for the $8,000 prize. During World War II, the 1,034 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) ferried and flight-tested aircraft bombers in the U.S. and taught men how to fly. When the war ended, Congress clipped their wings and sent the WASPs home; they did not receive military status until 1977. In 1961, 13 remarkable women pilots underwent secret testing to become America’s first female astronauts. The Mercury 13 were ignored by NASA and on Capitol Hill while the USSR sent its first woman into space in 1963. Self-taught historian Lynn Roper and other experts of women aviators share in this fascinating series of lectures.

Women of the Bible

Dr. Jonathan Redding, Assistant Professor of Religion at Nebraska Wesleyan University, analyzes the portrayal of women in Biblical literature. He explores critical theories of feminist, womanist, and gender studies alongside their application to biblical studies. What factors may have influenced how these ancient authors portray women?

Trading Under the Buttonwood Tree: Founding the Stock Market

On May 17, 1792, 24 men gathered under a tree in lower Manhattan to establish an auction market among themselves to trade government bonds. The NYSE then and now seeks to complete transactions quickly and cheaply and to always provide liquidity with a ready buyer and seller of securities. Still using an auction market with a “bid” and an “ask,” electronic trading still uses a market maker and specialist system. Lynn Roper, retired senior vice president at Merrill Lynch, shares the history, mechanics of trading, and significant events shaping the NYSE as the world’s largest securities trading system.

America and the World War in Ukraine (and Other Modern Challenges)

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the U.S. has been, by many measures, the most influential nation in the world. As Americans and their government have navigated complicated global currents,  they have encountered difficult challenges, including: nationalism and globalization from the American revolution to the Russian war on Ukraine; Russia, the Cold War and the challenge of socialism; the place of China and Asia in the American story; and the American role in climate change. UNL Modern World History Professor Tim Borstelmann explores each of these critical issues in the American relationship with the rest of the world.

Deterrence: From Korea to Ukraine – The Evolution of a Vital National Security

General George C. Marshall once said, “The only way human beings can win a war is to prevent it.” Deterrence, specifically nuclear deterrence, has been a mainstay of United States foreign policy and national security. The term lost relevance with the demise of the Soviet Union in the early 90’s but is front page news again after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Retired Major General Roger Lempke explores the definitions, dilemmas, and stories of nuclear deterrence that helped avert a nuclear conflict during the Cold War. After a thirty- year hiatus, very direct nuclear threats have emerged again. Would stronger deterrence actions before the Russian invasion perhaps caused Putin to think twice?

The American Civil War: Causes and Consequences – More Than You Think

Volume after volume has been written about the American Civil War. Despite all that information, do we really know the whole story about what led up to the war and what came after? The causes can be traced back to early settlements in 1607 and events that led to the war. We are still dealing with the consequences. Come along this historical journey as Gary Timm, retired history faculty member at Northeast Community College explores the causes and effects of the Civil War. It’s more than you think.

We will learn about numerous topics related to our personal power choices and how we can save money through efficiency and renewable energy generation. What are the upcoming power generating technologies and choices? How is LES preparing to meet the challenges of storms and potential power outages? We will also learn what it means to “work the grid” in power transmission throughout a portion of the United States.

We will learn about numerous topics related to our personal power choices and how we can save money through efficiency and renewable energy generation. What are the upcoming power generating technologies and choices? How is LES preparing to meet the challenges of storms and potential power outages? We will also learn what it means to “work the grid” in power transmission throughout a portion of the United States.

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of identifying a real-life problemor issue; locating the true facts relevant to the problem or issue; listening actively; researching in a schooled manner; and carefully applying logic, reason and experience to reach a conclusion regarding that problem or issue. This process requires that we identify how humans think; be mindful of our cognitive and emotional biases; keep an open mind; and apply statistics when available and appropriate. This class could help us find truer facts and make better decisions. For fun, we will look at WYSIATI, IYI, prospect theory, black swans, blinking outliers, and other concepts.

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of identifying a real-life problemor issue; locating the true facts relevant to the problem or issue; listening actively; researching in a schooled manner; and carefully applying logic, reason and experience to reach a conclusion regarding that problem or issue. This process requires that we identify how humans think; be mindful of our cognitive and emotional biases; keep an open mind; and apply statistics when available and appropriate. This class could help us find truer facts and make better decisions. For fun, we will look at WYSIATI, IYI, prospect theory, black swans, blinking outliers, and other concepts.

When Alexander Hamilton was asked about the United States’ new form of government, he responded, “Here, sir, the people govern.” Do we know as much as we think we know about how we rule ourselves? Could you explain more than the broad outline and generalities? This will not be your typical American government course. We will use real life events to help explain how all of the moving parts mesh together to get us to where we are today. Are you ready for a lively conversation where we can share our own experiences? Are we much different from our cousins living in 1787?

When Alexander Hamilton was asked about the United States’ new form of government, he responded, “Here, sir, the people govern.” Do we know as much as we think we know about how we rule ourselves? Could you explain more than the broad outline and generalities? This will not be your typical American government course. We will use real life events to help explain how all of the moving parts mesh together to get us to where we are today. Are you ready for a lively conversation where we can share our own experiences? Are we much different from our cousins living in 1787?

Learn the basic skills necessary to function and flourish in an increasingly digital and online world. We will discuss tools to effectively address the most popular phone and computer- based scams including identity theft, the nation’s number one consumer complaint. We will provide a practicum on safe browsing, secure banking, online shopping and payment systems, monitoring and protecting your credit, and cybersecurity. Created for everyone from the technophobic novice to the enthusiastic early adopter, the course focuses on the utility and benefit derived from using technology as a tool to stay connected, make life easier, and increase the quality of our lives.

Learn the basic skills necessary to function and flourish in an increasingly digital and online world. We will discuss tools to effectively address the most popular phone and computer- based scams including identity theft, the nation’s number one consumer complaint. We will provide a practicum on safe browsing, secure banking, online shopping and payment systems, monitoring and protecting your credit, and cybersecurity. Created for everyone from the technophobic novice to the enthusiastic early adopter, the course focuses on the utility and benefit derived from using technology as a tool to stay connected, make life easier, and increase the quality of our lives.

Is freedom of speech in Nebraska at risk, or are people just exercising it now more than ever? Join four experts as we delve into some of today’s hottest topics. We will learn about the basic concepts related to the First Amendment, as well as how banning books has impacted Nebraska learners and families. We will also learn about the dissolution of the journalism program in Grand Island Northwest High School and critical race theory and freedom of speech in the classroom.

Is freedom of speech in Nebraska at risk, or are people just exercising it now more than ever? Join four experts as we delve into some of today’s hottest topics. We will learn about the basic concepts related to the First Amendment, as well as how banning books has impacted Nebraska learners and families. We will also learn about the dissolution of the journalism program in Grand Island Northwest High School and critical race theory and freedom of speech in the classroom.