History & Humanities   

Delve into the lives and literature of two influential African-American writers of the 20th century: James Baldwin and Richard Wright. Together, we will read several of their novels, including In Another Country, If Beale Street Could Talk, Black Boy, and Uncle Tom’s Children, plus a selection of their shorter works and essays. Come ready to examine and discuss these author’s insights into the human condition!

Required Texts:

• Baldwin, James. The James Baldwin Collection. Library of America, 2024. ISBN‎: 9781598537932.
• Wright, Richard. Richard Wright: The Library of America Unexpurgated Edition. Library of America, 2019. ISBN: 9781598536225. 

 

Walla Walla is the cradle of Northwest history. Explore the county’s astounding natural and human history to discover what makes it so special. In this broad introductory tour, learn about the Missoula Floods, wildlife habitats, the origins of the Snake, Columbia, and Walla Walla Rivers, and more. Visit Rooks Park, Waitsburg, Prescott, Charbonneau Park, Ice Harbor Dam, McNary Natural Wildlife Refuge, and more – all in one day! 

Transportation will be provided. Meet at 7:15am in front of the WWCC Dietrich Activity Center Building A (Dome/Gym). We will depart at 7:30am. Be ready to walk a half mile at two of the stops. 

Required Materials: Lunch; water; hat; sunglasses; binoculars; camera; light jacket; good walking shoes (no deck shoes). No pets. 

Meet at 7:15am in front of the WWCC Dietrich Activity Center Building A (Dome/Gym). We will depart at 7:30am.

This time, we will explore the work of Sydney Pollock, one of Hollywood’s most versatile directors. During a career of over 40 years, Sydney – a former acting teacher himself – worked with a wide variety of actors on films spanning a multitude of genres and styles. If you’re prepared to engage in an equally wide range of discussions and experiences, then come and enjoy the show!

This Spring’s lineup is as follows:

• 4/1: Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research with Rebecca Heisman
• 4/8: What is Freedom? with Anthony Covert
• 4/15: Bioprinting and Tissue Engineering with Ralph Stirling
• 4/22: A Royal City in Ancient Moab? Excavating the Iron Age at Khirbat al-Balu'a Jordan with Monique Roddy
• 4/29: Culture, Community, and Connection: Exploring Our Sister City in Japan with Sonja Gooding
• 5/6: Empowered Patients Get Better Care with Julie Kellogg
• 5/13: Foundation Appaloosas for the Future with Charles Potts
• 5/20: Friends of Children of Walla Walla: The Power of Showing Up with Liz Knapke
• 5/27: Fallout: The Absent Presence and Phenomenological Approaches to Recording in a Nuclear Reactor with Joe Becker
• 6/3: Our Native Pollinators with Heidi Dobson
• 6/10: Release the Natural Power of Stone to Enrich Modern Living with Jorgen Amtoft 

Note: In the event a scheduled session cannot be held, a prorated refund for that session will not be issued. The College will make reasonable efforts to reschedule the session prior to confirming cancellation.

The first ten amendments of the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. Probably the best known, and most frequently cited, is the first amendment, which identifies five fundamental rights: religion, speech, press, assembly, and to petition government for redress of grievances. In this lecture & discussion class, we will study the first amendment and discuss many Supreme Court cases dealing with all five first amendment rights. We will discuss why we have a Bill of Rights. We will explore how these rights have been interpreted at different times by different Courts. What is symbolic speech? What is obscenity? May a public school start each school day with a nondenominational prayer? May a person burn an American flag to protest against the government? Must a a local Rotary Club allow women to be members? And, yes, may a person falsely shout fire in a theater? We will discuss all this and more in The Bill of Rights: The First Amendment. 
No class held 4/8.

The first ten amendments of the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. Probably the best known, and most frequently cited, is the first amendment, which identifies five fundamental rights: religion, speech, press, assembly, and to petition government for redress of grievances. In this lecture & discussion class, we will study the first amendment and discuss many Supreme Court cases dealing with all five first amendment rights. We will discuss why we have a Bill of Rights. We will explore how these rights have been interpreted at different times by different Courts. What is symbolic speech? What is obscenity? May a public school start each school day with a nondenominational prayer? May a person burn an American flag to protest against the government? Must a a local Rotary Club allow women to be members? And, yes, may a person falsely shout fire in a theater? We will discuss all this and more in The Bill of Rights: The First Amendment. 
No class held 4/8.

Greed, wrath, heresy: all this and more did Dante and Vergil observe in the upper seven circles of Hell... at least, according to Dante Alighieri’s The Inferno. But down in the deep lurk the final two circles, where those guilty of the gravest sins are punished with the most scathing satire that the author can conjure up. In this class, we will brave cantos 17-34 of The Inferno, completing our tour of Dante’s Hell while learning the historical context of the figures confined to its lowest circles. Upon emerging, we will study further materials demonstrating Dante’s continuing relevance to us living in the twenty-first century. Whether you attended the prior class or are joining this journey now, all are welcome! 

This class is a continuation of the Fall 2025 quarter’s Dante in His Time and Ours: Part 1, but students who have not taken that class are still welcome to attend this one. Newcomers are encouraged – but not required –  to read cantos 1-16 of The Inferno before the first session. 

This is a HyFlex class, meaning that each class meeting you may choose to attend either in person or online via Zoom. The Zoom Meeting ID and link will be included in your registration confirmation email. 

Required Texts (choose only one):  

• Alighieri, Dante. The Inferno. Trans. Robert and Jean Hollander. Anchor, 2002. ISBN: 9780385496988.  
  • Instructor’s note: Lots of good notes and thoughtful commentary. Has the Italian original on facing pages: a big plus.
• Alighieri, Dante. The Inferno of Dante: Bilingual Edition. Trans. Robert Pinsky. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1996. ISBN: 9780374524524. 
  • Instructor’s note: Good poetic translation which makes it a little less literal in places. Also has the Italian on facing pages. 
• Alighieri, Dante. The Inferno. Trans. John Ciardi. Signet, 2009. ISBN: 9780451531391. 
  • Instructor’s note: Good poetic translation preserving some of Dante's rhyme scheme. Somewhat dated; excellent notes. 

Prepare to enter uncharted waters – for in this class, we will explore acclaimed films that even the instructor has never seen! Though the ocean of cinematic history is vast, film reference books and the writings of noted historians and critics will steer our course. Together, we will watch and analyze films across a wide range of genres, countries, and eras – so come join us on this grand adventure! 

This quarter, we will read Brian Doyle’s novel Mink River, a story of people who live in “A town not big not small” on the Oregon coast. Focusing on both Celtic narratives and those of Northwest Native Americans, Doyle wrote with brutal honesty and humor about the sanctity of each character contained within. Together, we will meet the vibrant cast of characters in Mink River and explore Doyle’s understanding of the importance of story in everyday life. We will also read some selections from Doyle’s posthumously published book of short essays, One Long River of Song. Come ready to trade insights with your fellow readers.

Required Texts: 

• Doyle, Brian. Mink River. Oregon State University Press, 2010. ISBN‎: 9780870715853. 
• Doyle, Brian. One Long River of Song: Notes on Wonder. Little Brown, 2020. ISBN: 9780316492881. 

 

This Winter’s lineup is as follows:

• 1/7: How AI Can Help You Be More Human with Robert Keszeg
• 1/14: The Port of Walla Walla: Past, Present and Future with Pat Reay 
• 1/21: Japanese Whaling History with Bina Arch 
• 1/28: The Sherwood Trust with Brian Hunt 
• 2/4: Exploring Basil, Calendula, Lavender and Saffron with Katie Hopper 
• 2/11: The Gesa Power House Theatre: Part 1 with Monica Boyle 
• 2/18: The Gesa Power House Theatre: Part 2 with Monica Boyle 
• 2/25: Pioneers with Cameras: Part 2 with Donna Cummins 
• 3/4: Photographic Compositions of the Inland Northwest with Joe Becker 
• 3/11: Session Canceled
• 3/18: Native American Law in America: Part 2 with Steven Aycock 

No class held 1/19 or 2/16.