Post on 10-Jul-2020
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About WISE WISE is a nonprofit member driven organization founded in 1993. Serving the central Massachusetts community, WISE is a premier lifelong learning program that offers adult intellectual stimulation, socialization and personal growth. WISE is a member of the Road Scholar Lifelong Learning Network.
About Lifelong Learning Lifelong learning offers many benefits to our members who seek engagement and meaning in retirement. Major benefits include:
Perpetuating education of older learners Increasing an understanding of self & society Promoting an active and engaged lifestyle Opportunity to expand social circles Utilizing lifelong work skills in volunteer opportunities
Join Our Community We invite you to join our active community by becoming a Member. Read through the information contained in this catalog and contact the WISE office if you have any questions. We look forward to your participation and engagement in our organization.
In this Catalog Membership & Registration page 2 WISE Calendar page 2 WISE Office Information page 3 Parking Information page 3 C Session Courses pages 4-10 D session Courses pages 11-17 WISE Organization Page 17 Save the Dates page 18 Registration Form page 19
Spring 2020
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Membership Fees Fees may be paid online or by check before you register for classes. The half year fee is $165 per person and upgrade to a full year fee is $100. If paying by check, please mail your registration form and payment directly to the WISE office.
Refund Requests Refund requests are reviewed by the WISE Director on a case by case basis. Please contact the WISE office at wise@assumption.edu or by phone 508-767-7513 to submit your request.
Registration Registration begins 12:01am on December 11, 2019. All members need to pay the membership fees prior to registering for classes. Registration will remain open while there are courses with available space. You can login to your WISE account at http://assumptionwise.org to confirm and print your selections from your profile at any time. Refer to page 3 of this catalog for waiting list and other WISE information.
You can register online and receive a confirmation email for courses in which you are enrolled. Online registration is strongly recommended (website on page 3).
You can register by mail by returning the Registration form (page 19) or return the form and check before December 11th (address and office location on page 3). The Office staff will manually enter in your course selections starting at 9:00am on December 11th and send you an email confirmation for each class. Please note that we cannot guarantee a seat in any course.
Online Registration Assistance Contact the WISE Office to set up an appointment for one-on-one assistance to learn how to login, set up a WISE profile, pay membership dues online and register for classes on your own!
Spring 2020 Academic Calendar
January 29, 2020: Parking Permit Pick-up (details announced via email) January 29, 2020: New Member Orientation, 10am-12pm, LaMaison Salon January 30, 2020: Meet & Greet, 3-5pm, Kennedy 119 January 31, 2020: Snow Date for New Member Orientation February 3, 2020: Session C Begins March 6, 2020: Session C Ends March 23, 2020: Session D Begins May 1, 2020: Session D Ends
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ANSWERS TO WISE FAQ
Course Selection: WISE members should plan
on only registering for as many classes as their
personal schedule allows. There are many
interesting courses listed in this catalog, and we
ask that you carefully review each listing’s description and course dates before making your
final choices.
Course Withdrawal: If you find that you cannot
attend a course that you selected, please notify
the WISE office to have yourself removed from
the class roster so another member may attend.
Your consideration in this matter is appreciated.
Waiting List: If a class is full, contact the WISE
Office with a request to be placed on a waiting list. If a space becomes available, the first
member on the waitlist will receive an email
notification. If that member decides to pass, the
next member on the waitlist will be contacted. If
you wish to be removed from the waitlist, please send an email to wise@assumption.edu.
Holidays & Closures: WISE follows the Assumption College holiday calendar. If the
college is closed, the WISE Office will also
close. Members are informed of holiday closures
by email and by announcements on the WISE
Office voicemail.
Cancellations: Any individual class
cancellations due to inclement weather are announced by email, posted on the WISE website
and on the WISE Office voicemail: 508-767-
7513. Although rare in occurrence, courses may
be cancelled due to low enrollment or other
unusual circumstances. Communication of such circumstances will be relayed via email.
Parking: Members taking classes located at Assumption College must purchase a $15
campus parking permit each academic year.
Applications are available in the WISE office and
on the WISE website (office contact info below).
Checks are written out to Assumption College and submitted to the WISE Office. After the
application form is marked as paid, members can
then submit the form & car registration to the
Public Safety office located at Kennedy Hall and
receive their permit sticker.
Financial Aid: WISE has a small fund for partial
scholarships. Please contact the WISE Office (contact info below) to receive an application or
request additional information.
WISE Office Information
Location Assumption College, La Maison Hall, Office 203B
Access Follow the ramp from the Taylor parking area to the La Maison building’s campus
entrance for wheelchair access
Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Email wise@assumption.edu
Website https://assumptionwise.org
Phone (508) 767-7513
Mail WISE, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609
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SESSION C February/March 2020
C1. America in the 1920’s: The Culture Wars
Begin
Mondays 10:00 - 11:30 am
February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 2
This course is an examination of the origins of the
religious, artistic, social, and cultural battles that
continue to divide Americans. Topics include
religious fundamentalism, Harlem Renaissance,
White Supremacy, popular culture versus modern
art, and the rise of the modern young woman.
LOCATION: Briarwood Community Center, 65
Briarwood Circle, Worcester 01604
CLASS LIMIT: 60
INSTRUCTOR: John F. McClymer recently
retired after 48 years of teaching history at
Assumption College. He is the author of seven
books as well as dozens of scholarly articles and
book chapters. This course is based in part on his
The Birth of Modern America 1914 -1920, 2nd
Ed. (forthcoming).
NO REQUIRED BOOKS, supplementary
materials will be provided by instructor
FOR THE FIRST CLASS: Hiram Wesley
Evans, “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism” at
https://archive.org/details/Klansfightamericanism
C2. Flannery O’Connor & the Haunted South
Mondays 10:00 - 11:30 am
February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 2
This course will look at Flannery O’Connor’s life
in context through a biographical sketch and
especially in her works. We will read one novel
and two short stories. Flannery is arguably one
of the greatest American writers, especially in the
genre of the short story. She was deeply
religious, remarkably witty, and brilliant. Writing
in the Southern Gothic tradition, she opens a
surprising and transcendent world to us through
violence, the grotesque, and the outsider.
LOCATION: Worcester Jewish Community
Center (JCC), 633 Salisbury Street, Worcester
CLASS LIMIT: 25
INSTRUCTOR: Tim Burger lives in Worcester.
He studied at the University of GA (Literature
and Philosophy), The General Seminary, NYC
(Divinity), Union Seminary, NYC (Religion and
Literature) and is currently working on his
MFA at Sewanee, The University of the South.
He has a love of southern writers including
Flannery O’Connor.
REQUIRED BOOKS: Flannery O’Connor, Wise
Blood, Macmillan: FSG Classics. ISBN: 978-
0374530631. Flannery O’Connor, The Complete
Short Stories, Macmillan: FSG Classics. ISBN:
978-0374515362.
C3. Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War and
Enlightenment in France (10 Week Course)
Mondays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 2 and March 23,
30, April 6, 13, 20
This ten-week course invites you to learn about
the most legendary foods and drinks of France
and their gastronomic shifts over time due to the
social and political trends that evolved over
centuries. Enjoy a series of French culinary tales
from the Gaul era, where there were barbarians at
the plate, to the international cuisines that infil-
trated France after WWII. A sample of topics
include Charlemagne’s agricultural reforms, the
Crusades, the Sun King, revolution & Napoleon.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Yvonne M. LaFleur, M.Ed
obtained her Master’s Degree from Worcester
State University and completed undergraduate
and graduate work in French at UMASS Amherst.
She taught French and Intercultural
Communications at three universities and colleges
over 20 years. Recipient of NEH grants and
international fellowships in French.
REQUIRED BOOK: A Bite-Sized History of
France: Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War,
and Enlightenment. (1st Edition) Stephane
Henault and Jeni Mitchell, The New Press. ISBN:
978-1620979 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781620972526
(e-book).
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C4. Long Live the King
Mondays 3:15 - 4:45 pm
February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 2
This course will present a look at the music and
life of Elvis Presley. A close look at recording
sessions will paint a portrait of Presley’s music
and how it changed over the years from radio
influences growing up in Memphis, his hit years,
the army and post-army years.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Lee Morin has hosted a local
radio show for the past 25 years on WCUW. He
has a good understanding of rock, blues, R & B,
and country music genres. He is retired now but
spent years training/teaching corporate staff at
UMASS Medical School and Hanover Insurance. NO REQUIRED BOOKS
C5. The Wisdom of Greek Mythology
Tuesdays 9:45 - 11:15 am
February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 3
Arrogant, passionate, jealous, powerful and wise -
the gods and goddesses of the ancient Greeks
very much resembled their imaginative creators.
The bizarre and intriguing tales of the mortals and
immortals of classical Greek mythology endure
today, revealing profound truths about ourselves.
This course examines these timeless myths with
the goal of discovering what wisdom they
continue to teach us.
LOCATION: AC - Plourde Recreation Center,
Conference Room
CLASS LIMIT: 22
INSTRUCTOR: Harvey Fenigsohn has taught at
the college and secondary level, including 20
years at the Bancroft School, and was awarded a
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Grant. He has
published in local and national publications and
has taught numerous WISE courses.
REQUIRED BOOK: Mythology: Timeless Tales
of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton. Mass
Market Paperback, Grand Central Publishing.
Reprint Edition (1/1/2011). ISBN: 978044-
6574754
C6. Failures and Those Who Love Them
Tuesdays 11:30am - 1:00pm
February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 3
History is full of inspirational stories of people
redeeming themselves from failures, such as
George Washington (who lost a major battle with
the French), Mark Twain (who once went
bankrupt) and Grace Hopper (who turned to
alcohol after being turned down for a Navy
commission). We don’t always learn from these
mistakes, as seen in WW II in battles between the
Allies and Germany. In this course, we will look
at failures redeemed and failure enduring from the
perspective of psychologists, economists,
politicians, and theologians.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Karl Hakkarainen is technology
adviser for WISE. He has taught WISE courses
covering digital literacy, social networks, history,
music, and intellectual property law.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
OPTIONAL BOOKS: Dweck, Carol S.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
Random House, 2016. ISBN: 9781400062751.
Taleb, Nassim Nicholas. Antifragile: Things That
Gain from Disorder. Random House, 2016.
ISBN: 9780812979688.Weinberger, David.
Everyday Chaos: Technology, Complexity, and
How We’re Thriving in a New World of
Possibility. Harvard Business Review Press,
2019. ISBN: 9781633693951.
C7. Exploring Genes and DNA (Repeat)
Tuesdays 1:15 – 2:45pm
February 4, 11, 18, March 3, 10
Human civilization has been shaped by genetics.
Our modern understanding of genes and
chromosomes developed over the past 200 years,
beginning with Gregor Mendel’s pioneering
experiments with pea plants. In the last century,
scientists elucidated the structure of DNA and
developed powerful techniques for DNA
sequencing and genetic modification. We will
discuss our modern understanding of the human
genome and current topics such as precision
medicine, cancer genetics, ancestry kits and
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genetic modification. Only a basic understanding
of DNA is required for this course.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Clare O’Connor received her
PhD from Purdue. She was a senior scientist at
the Worcester Foundation from 1984-1995. She
joined the Biology Department at Boston College
where she taught courses in genetics and
molecular cell biology before retiring in 2018. NO REQUIRED BOOKS, Links to online
resources will be provided
C8. The History of Spanish Painting
Tuesdays 3:00 - 4:30 pm
February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 3
From El Greco to Picasso, Spanish artists have
made unique and influential contributions to the
history of art. In this survey of Spanish painting,
we will explore the work of El Greco from the
16th century, Diego Velasquez and Jusepe de
Ribera from the 17th century, Francisco Goya
from the late 18th and early 19th century, Joaquin
Sorolla from the late 19th century and Jaun Gris,
Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, and Pablo Picasso from
the 20th century.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Martha Chiarchiaro has brought
history to life through art for more than 30 years.
She received her Master’s degree in the History of
Art from Williams College and taught art history
courses at the Worcester Art Museum and other
local cultural organizations. Her specialty courses
relate to specific periods, artists, and activities
and provide an in-depth look at the life and times
of the people who are part of the exploration.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
C9. Imposters, Con Artists, and Their Webs of
Deception
Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 am
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4
In the history of humankind, we often detect
unusually clever personalities who assume a
double life or use fraudulent methods to deceive
the innocent for their own purposes. The motive
for such deception may be to escape capture and
punishment for a crime or to gain power, prestige,
and wealth or simply to gain satisfaction in
duping someone in a high position. We will study
the lives of these imposters and con artists, many
of whom have been exposed and brought to
justice, including Whitey Bulger, Adolf
Eichmann, Clark Rockefeller, and Jim Bakker.
LOCATION: The Willows, Great Room, 101
Barry Road, Worcester 01609
CLASS LIMIT: 50
INSTRUCTOR: Margaret Watson is a product
of the Big Ten, having received her bachelor’s
and master’s degrees from the University of
Michigan and then pursuing further graduate
study at the Ohio State University. She is
Professor Emerita from Quinsigamond Com-
munity College, serving both on the faculty and
the administration in her thirty-six year tenure.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS, supplementary
materials will be provided by instructor
C10. History in Verse
Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 am
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4
In this course, we will read 5 short books of
poetry each based on an historical event or
person. History texts tend to bypass the day-to-
day happenings in history. This is different for
poetry, and each poet uses persona poems to give
us her interpretation of events in the imagined
voices of those directly involved.
LOCATION: Worcester Jewish Community
Center (JCC), 633 Salisbury Street, Worcester
CLASS LIMIT: 25
INSTRUCTOR: Eve Rifkah earned her MFA in
2002 from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has
taught at WPI and is the author of four published
books and is published in many journals.
REQUIRED BOOKS: Commonwealth of Wings,
by Pamela Alexander (Available online). Blue
Front by Martha Collins. Graywold Press. ISBN:
9781555974497. A Sea Called Fruitfulness by
Martha Carlson-Braley. WordTech Press, ISBN:
9781625490254. Book of Sarah by Amy Benson
Brown, ISBN: 978-1936370344.
READING FOR FIRST CLASS: Read
Commonwealth of Wings.
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C11. Lichens
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4
Lichens are unusual organisms which consist of at
least two kinds of living things: fungi and algae,
living in a mutually supportive partnership to
exist and thrive in some of the harshest places and
habitats. Often noticed after rain, when lichens’
green colors brighten extensively they are found
on trees, rocks, stone walls, gravestones, sand,
soil, and many other habitats. There are at least
1,000 species in our area, many of which
specialize in where they will grow. We will
combine indoor work with lichen specimens with
occasional walks to observe lichens in their
natural settings around the sanctuary when the
winter weather allows.
LOCATION: MA Audubon Broad Meadow
Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Road,
Worcester 01604
CLASS LIMIT: 25
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Choiniere is a lifelong
naturalist with a B.S. in Natural History from
UMass/Amherst. He has worked for Mass
Audubon since 1975 and taught hundreds of
natural history classes and workshops and has
been an instructor for Fitchburg State University
ALFA series (similar to WISE), teaching
workshops on nature study. He is an instructor in
Mass Audubon’s Naturalist Certificate Program.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
C12. The Odyssey (Ten Week Course)
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4 and March 25,
April 1, 8, 15, 22
Whereas Homer has sometimes been considered
the first of the tragic poets, the hero of The
Odyssey has been described as the ancient
prototype of comedy. Never at a loss, the wily
Odysseus relies on his wits to extricate himself
from the tightest scrapes, displaying qualities that
May recall trickster figures to comedy. To follow
the resourceful Odysseus on his way back
from the battlefield at Troy to his royal home in
Ithaca is to embark on a narrative adventure
through realms of fantasy and romance inspiring
readers and poets since the bronze age.
LOCATION: AC - Plourde Recreation Center,
Conference Room
CLASS LIMIT: 22
INSTRUCTOR: Lillian Corti earned a doctorate
in Comparative Literature at the City University
of New York. She taught ancient classics in
translation at Tulsa University, the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, and at the Athens Center for
the North West Council of Study Abroad. She
participated in an NIH Institute on Homer and
Oral Traditions at the University of Arizona in
Tucson (1994) and has published a book-length
study of the myth of Medea.
REQUIRED BOOK: Homer. The Odyssey.
Trans. Emily Wilson. Norton: NYC 2019.
READING FOR FIRST CLASS: The Odyssey,
Book 1.
C13. Removing a President by Impeachment:
The Ultimate but Elusive Check on
Presidential Power
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4
This course will explore the constitutional
framework, theory, procedure, and history of the
authority of Congress to remove a sitting
president by impeachment. Topics will include
the intent of the Founding Fathers in adding the
impeachment mechanism to the Constitution,
impeachment and separation of powers, the
constitutional standard for impeachment, the
responsibilities of the House and the Senate, the
procedures governing impeachment inquiries,
articles of impeachment and trials, historical case
studies of impeachment and the prospects of an
impeachment of President Trump.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: John S. Ross, III holds degrees
from Yale University and the University of
Virginia School of Law and served as Adjunct
Professor of Law at Washington & Lee
University. He has taught a number of courses in
the WISE Program on constitutional law topics.
REQUIRED BOOK: Impeachment: What
Everyone Needs to Know, Michael J. Gerhardt,
Oxford Univ Press 2018.ISBN# 9780190903657.
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C14. Mary Oliver’s Search for God
Wednesdays 3:15 - 4:45 pm
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4
Mary Oliver was a nature poet, essayist and a
spiritual guide for millions. Her verses are almost
holy text, inspiring the religious and non-religious
alike. In this course, we will read Thirst, a
collection of poems grieving the death and
celebrating the life of her beloved partner. Here
she grapples with sorrow as a path to spiritual
progress and chronicles her discovery of faith
within, not outside, the physical world. We will
also read several of her short essays exploring the
spiritual wisdom that made Oliver one of
America’s most beloved poets.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Room 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Kathleen Fisher thoroughly
enjoyed teaching WISE members in her first
course last spring. She teaches theology at
Assumption College and has a fondness for
medieval monks, Irish saints, and spiritual poets.
She’s been studying the contemplative nature of
Mary Oliver’s work for several years.
REQUIRED BOOK: Thirst: Poems by Mary
Oliver. Boston, Beacon Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-
0807068977.
FOR FIRST CLASS: Read the following poems
in Thirst: Messenger, What I Said at Her Service,
Praying, The Uses of Sorrow, Percy(Six) and
Thirst. The Instructor will provide in advance the
essay, Staying Alive.
C15. Money, Banking, and Monetary Policy
Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 pm
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4
At this writing, by most economic measures, the
U.S. economy is running at full employment with
inflation in check. Yet the GDP is not growing as
fast as many would like and the yield curve has
inverted multiple times lately. The Federal
Reserve conducts monetary policy to try to keep
inflation in check while helping the GDP to grow.
We will look at current and historical monetary
policy trends in an effort to figure out where the
U.S. economy is headed. We will examine how
monetary policy influences interest rates,
exchange rates, measures economic well-being
and investigates the independence of the Fed.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Room 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: William O’Brien holds a PhD
in Economics from Northeastern University and
is an Economics Professor at Worcester State
University. His research interests are public
choice, effects of taxes on economic behavior, the
determinants of MCAS scores and globalization. NO REQUIRED BOOKS
READING FOR FIRST CLASS: Please skim
www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/feds/2015/fi
les/2015047pap.pdf
C16. Olam Haba, The Afterlife in Judaism
(REPEAT)
Thursdays 10:00 - 11:30 am
February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 5
What happens to us after we die? According to
Jewish Law, our physical bodies get buried but
our souls live on. In this course, we will begin to
explore what happens when we die, how does
Judaism view and approach the afterlife and the
roles of Resurrection, the Messiah, and Angels
and Demons. We will study Jewish Mourning
Customs as well Biblical texts and Liturgy.
LOCATION: Library, Congregation Beth Israel,
15 Jamesbury Drive, Worcester 01609
CLASS LIMIT: 25
INSTRUCTOR: Rabbi Aviva Fellman is the
spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Israel in
Worcester, MA. She holds a Bachelor’s in
Religious Studies from the University of
Pittsburgh and earned her Master’s in Talmud and
Jewish Law from Machon Schechter in
Jerusalem. Rabbi Fellman was ordained by the
Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in NYC.
REQUIRED BOOK: Bible of your choice
C17. The History of Art Through the Artist’s
Self-Portrait
Thursdays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 5
The self-portraits of artists can provide insight not
only into the style of painting of a period of art,
but also to the character and personality of the
artist. We will explore the history of art from the
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15th through the 20th centuries from the unique
and very personal perspective of the self-portraits
of major European and American artists. For
example, through the numerous self-portraits of
artists such as Rembrandt and Vincent Van Gogh,
we will witness the history of their lives through
their own images.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Martha Chiarchiaro has
brought history to life through art for more than
30 years. She received her Master’s degree in the
History of Art from Williams College and taught
art history courses at the Worcester Art Museum
and other local cultural organizations. Her
specialty courses relate to specific periods, artists,
and activities and provide an in-depth look at the
life and times of the people who are part of the
exploration.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
C18. Science Potpourri II
Thursdays 1:15 - 2:45pm
February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 5
For the scientific novice this course will be a
fearless and fun look at an assortment of scientific
subjects. Are you smarter than a chemist? Yes!
Let’s figure out the Periodic Table of Elements.
The human digestive system is the source of
pleasure (yummy food!) and ills (bellyache!). We
will learn about the anatomy and physiology of
the stomach. Moon stuff will also be examined:
phases, eclipses and tides. What is so cool about
water? Its structure results in some astounding
properties. Come prepared with an open and
inquiring mind.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Jane Crooks (B.S. Biology,
University of Notre Dame; M.A. Secondary
Education, Tufts University) is a former middle
school science teacher. She currently works with
at-risk college students as an academic coach.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
C19. Appearance and Reality in North
American Life Today (10 Week Course)
Thursdays 1:15 - 2:45 pm
February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 5 and March 26,
April 2, 16, 23, 30
Americans are committed to political equality and
freedom for all. Participants in this class will do a
significant amount of reading to explore to what
extent we are managing to realize our ideals. We
shall pay special attention to problems of race, the
state of our democracy and of the capitalist
system. After trying to inform ourselves about
these aspects of our society, we shall consider
what, if any, changes are in order.
LOCATION: AC - Plourde Recreation Center,
Conference Room
CLASS LIMIT: 22
INSTRUCTOR: Richard Schmitt was born in
Germany. Forced to leave for being Jewish, he
reached the U.S. as a young man. He received his
higher education at the University of Chicago and
Yale and spent many years teaching at Brown
University and at Worcester State University. He
has taught WISE courses for over twenty years.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS: supplementary
materials will be provided by instructor.
REQUIRED READING: Class members will be
asked to read one book on a contemporary social
issue and report briefly in class.
C20. Robert Frost and the New England
Landscape
Thursdays 3:00 - 4:30 pm
February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 5
This course is an exploration of Robert Frost’s
poetic narrative of the New England landscape:
farming, seasonal change, abandoning the land,
ecological succession, and New England today.
We will examine Frost’s background including
his farming, his experience in New England and
the events (such as the Agrarian diaspora) that
shaped his relationship to the land.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Owen Sholes is a retired
Assumption College Professor of Biology. He
taught biology, ecology and environmental
science. He has lived in rural Massachusetts for
forty years, has given two conference
presentations and written two articles and one
book on the poetry of Robert Frost.
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REQUIRED BOOK (select one): The Poetry of
Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, E. C. Latham
(ed.), Holt Publishing. ISBN: 9780805069860 or
Robert Frost: Collected Poems, Prose and Plays,
Richard Poirier (ed.), Library of America. ISBN:
9781883011062.
OPTIONAL READING: Stopping by Woods:
Robert Frost as New England Naturalist. Owen
D. V. Sholes, McFarland Books. ISBN: 978-
1476673189
C21. Conspiracy Culture and Hollywood from
the Red Scare to Watergate
Fridays 10:00 - 11:30 am
February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 6
In this course we examine an earlier era when
conspiracy thinking was on the rise - the late 40s
to mid-70s.We look at the role Hollywood films
played in reflecting, and in some cases spreading
conspiracy ideas. We will consider many of the
conspiracy themed films from these years, among
them Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The
Manchurian Candidate, and All the President’s
Men.
LOCATION: Southgate at Shrewsbury
Retirement Community, 30 Julio Drive,
Shrewsbury 01545
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Gordon Arnold is the author of
several books about popular culture and U.S.
society. He is a Liberal Arts professor at
Montserrat College of Art where he has taught
Sociology and film history for over thirty years.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS, supplementary
materials will be provided by instructor
C22. The Problem of Evil: The Uneasy
Coexistence of God and Evil
Fridays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 6
The problem of evil is perhaps the most
existentially tormenting challenge to belief in
God. If God is all-loving and all-powerful, then
how can we explain that there is so much evil in
the world? This course will investigate the
project of theodicy, “the justification of God’s
ways in view of evil.” Popular theodicies in
contemporary philosophical and theological
thought will be discussed. The course will make
constant reference to the teaching of the relation
between God and evil in the Bible and will
examine the value of theodicy and its future.
LOCATION: AC-Kennedy Building Room 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Gary Shahinian is the Senior
Pastor of Park Congregational Church in
Worcester. He earned a PhD in Philosophy from
The Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He taught
philosophy and theology at Redeemer College in
Ontario, Dordt College in Iowa, and Worcester
State University.
REQUIRED BOOK: Pathways in Theodicy: An
Introduction to the Problem of Evil. Mark S. M.
Scott. Fortress Press. ISBN: 9781451464702.
C23. Human Shape of Films to Come
Fridays 3:15 - 4:45 pm
February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 6
Join us as we bring ourselves up to date on the
most talented and promising film actors who had
hit the big screen since 1990. Do you know Lily
James or Matthias Schoenaerts? Which award-
winning films have they (and others) performed
in? What are some recurring topics in recent
movies that did not even exist prior to 1990 and
which actors and directors seem to gravitate
towards them?
LOCATION: AC-Kennedy Building Room 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Jeff Long has taught film
studies courses at WISE since 2014 and has
written movie reviews for the Worcester
Telegram & Gazette since 2008. He taught film
studies courses at Becker College and is the
author of the reading guide, Remembered
Childhoods (2007).
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
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SESSION D March/April 2020
D1. There’s Something Happening Here
Mondays 10:00 - 11:30 am
March 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20
A look at how rock music changed in the 1960’s.
The course considers the factors that led to this
change and the outcomes that changed the music
industry. Topics to be covered include the cultural
and social elements of the early 60s, the music
trends in the early 60s and the ensuing changes
during the music scene throughout the 60s.
LOCATION: Briarwood Community Center, 65
Briarwood Circle, Worcester 01604
CLASS LIMIT: 60
INSTRUCTOR: Lee Morin has hosted a local
radio show for the past 25 years on WCUW. He
has a good understanding of rock, blues, R & B,
and country music genres. He is retired now but
spent years training/teaching corporate staff at
UMASS Medical School and Hanover Insurance.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D2. “Common Sense” Reforms
Mondays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
March 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20
In 1776, Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common
Sense inspired colonists to revolt against the
British Monarchy and establish a new and
independent country. The original pamphlet
(https://archive.org/details/commonsense00painri
ch) is often called “the most influential political
tract of all time.” In this course, we will seek to
understand the principles of Thomas Paine’s
Common Sense and how they apply to today.
LOCATION: AC - Plourde Recreation Center,
Conference Room
CLASS LIMIT: 22
INSTRUCTOR: Jean Sifleet is a retired attorney
and CPA. During her business career of over 40
years, she worked in a variety of management,
consulting and private practice roles. She taught
business and intellectual property law. In
retirement, Jean has served as an Access to
Justice Fellow and worked with the Mass Law
Reform Institute on immigration policy and
reform initiatives.
OPTIONAL READING: 21st Century Common
Sense: A Bold Reform Agenda for Our Broken,
Gridlocked, Dysfunctional, and Boring Politics.
Bob Spear, Carrie Tazbir. ISBN: 9781733097611.
D3. Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War
and Enlightenment in France
(Continued from C3)
Mondays 1:30 – 3:00
March 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20
LOCATION: Kennedy Building Room 119
D4. The Transcontinental Railroad
Mondays 3:15 - 4:45 pm
March 23, 30 April 6, 13, 20
In the sesquicentennial year of its completion, we
will examine the creation of the first rail line to
cross the USA. It was a tremendous feat of
engineering, a massive public boondoggle, a
vehicle for racial prejudice and virtual genocide, a
death march of cutthroat competition, and a
corrupt political stew all rolling on rails 4’8 ½”
apart.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Victor Saffrin has a BA in
Theater and Economics and an MS in Computer
Science and is now retired from a career spanning
rock-and-roll lighting roadie, laser light show
designer, embedded software engineer, and
engineering process manager. He has taught
WISE courses for several years.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D5. Introduction to Obscure Invented Poetry
Forms
Tuesdays 9:45 - 11:15 am
March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21
Many poets tend to be intimidated by writing in
poetic forms, fearing it will be too difficult and
restricting. Yet the practice can be a freeing
experience. In this course, you will be introduced
to examples of various obscure poetry forms such
as the abecedarian, the minute, the streetbeatina,
and the anagrammatic selfie and will learn their
history and rules.
LOCATION: AC – Plourde Rec Center
Conference Room
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CLASS LIMIT: 22
INSTRUCTOR: Paul Szlosek is co-founder of
the Poet’s Parlor poetry venue and the open mic
and featured poetry reading series The Poetorium
at Starlite in Southbridge. He is a past recipient of
the Jacob Knight Award for Poetry and taught
poetry workshops at the Worcester Art Museum,
the Museum of Fine Arts and the Peabody Essex
Museum. His poems have appeared in various
publications including the Worcester Review and
Worcester Magazine.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D6. The Pilgrimage to Santiago and the Birth
of Romanesque & Gothic Architecture
Tuesdays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
March 24, 31 April 7, 14, 21
This course is a study of the important pilgrimage
route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. We
will examine its impact on the development of
Romanesque and Gothic architecture and in
decorate style if both France and Spain from the
11th to the 13th centuries.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Room 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: James Powers is Professor
Emeritus of History at Holy Cross College. He
has authored two books and dozens of articles on
Spanish history. Recently, he lectured on ocean
liners on the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic
seas. He has led a tour from France to Santiago.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS: Copies of maps will
be provided.
RECOMMENDED: Watch the movie, The Way
(2012), directed by Emilio Estevez.
D7. Imposters, Con Artists, and Their Webs of
Deception (Repeat)
Tuesdays 1:15 - 2:45 pm
March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21
In the history of humankind, we often detect
unusually clever personalities who assume a
double life or use fraudulent methods to deceive
the innocent for their own purposes. The motive
for such deception may be to escape capture and
punishment for a crime; to gain power, prestige,
and wealth; or simply to gain satisfaction in
duping someone in a high position. We will study
the lives of these imposters and con artists, many
of whom have been exposed and brought to
justice, including Whitey Bulger, Adolf
Eichmann, Clark Rockefeller, and Jim Bakker.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Margaret Watson is a product
of the Big Ten, having received her bachelor and
master’s degrees from the University of Michigan
and then pursuing further graduate study at the
Ohio State University. She is professor emerita
from Quinsigamond Community College, serving
both on the faculty and the administration in her
thirty-six years tenure.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D8. Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra
Tuesdays 3:00 - 4:30 pm
March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21
Antony and Cleopatra is Shakespeare’s last great
tragedy. But commentators from the 18th, 19th
and early 20th centuries rejected Cleopatra as a
heroic figure, saw Shakespeare’s dramatic
structure as disordered, and dismissed the play as
not a “true tragedy.” Thus Antony and Cleopatra
became Shakespeare’s least known “great” play
until our current times reclaimed this amazing
drama. Shakespeare’s assaults on dualisms such
as masculine/feminine, rational/intuitive and
comic/tragic make it great.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Helen Whall received her PhD
from Yale University in 1976 and then joined the
College of the Holy Cross retiring in 2017. She
taught courses in Shakespeare, Renaissance
Drama, Modern Drama, Law and Drama, and
Dramatic Comedy. Helen has written plays from
the age of Shakespeare to that of Lin-Manuel
Miranda and has served as the theater review
editor for Theatre Journal.
REQUIRED BOOK: Folger Edition of Antony
and Cleopatra.
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D9. Yiddish Stories in Translation from The
Forward
Tuesdays 4:45 - 6:15 pm
March 24, 31 April 7, 14, 21
The Forward is a renowned Jewish newspaper
published originally in 1897.In 2017, Norton
published an anthology of short fiction in
translation from the Yiddish edited by Ezra
Glinter. The stories reflect 120 years in the life of
the paper telling of the struggles of Jewish
immigrants through poverty, two World Wars,
assimilation and the development of a new
American Jewish identity.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Marcia Tannenbaum is a
longtime WISE instructor who has been teaching
Jewish and secular settings since 1967. She holds
a B.A. and a M.A. in English from Simmons and
a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School
of Law. Marcia grew up hearing “secret” Yiddish
in her home and often hears her grandchildren
speaking Yiddish.
REQUIRED BOOK: Have I Got a Story for
You. Ezra Gilnter (Ed). W.W. Norton and Co.,
2017. ISBN: 9780393062700.
D10. The Rise of American Air Power
Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 am
March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22
This course will look at the evolution of
American air power from its initial development
at the end of the 19th century to the present. It
will examine both tactical and strategic decisions
regarding its development. We will also look at
the impact of the military on commercial aviation
and vice versa. Focus in the course will be on the
pioneers, WWI and WWII, and contemporary use
of airpower.
LOCATION: The Willows, Great Room, 101
Barry Road, Worcester 01609.
CLASS LIMIT: 50
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jed Watters is a former
Assumption College history professor and retired
naval officer.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS, supplementary
materials will be provided by instructor
D11. Flannery O’Connor and the Haunted
South (Repeat)
Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 am
March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22
This course will look at Flannery O’Connor’s life
in context through a biographical sketch and
in her works. We will read one novel and two
short stories. Flannery is arguably one of the
greatest American writers, especially in the genre
of the short story. She was deeply religious,
remarkably witty, and absolutely brilliant.
Writing in the Southern Gothic tradition, she
opens a surprising and transcendent world to us
through violence, the grotesque, and the outsider.
LOCATION: Worcester Jewish Community
Center (JCC), 633 Salisbury St., Worcester 01609
CLASS LIMIT: 25
INSTRUCTOR: Tim Burger lives in Worcester.
He studied at the University of GA (Literature
and Philosophy), The General Seminary, NYC
(Divinity), Union Seminary, NYC (Religion and
Literature) and is currently working on his
MFA at Sewanee, The University of the South.
He has a love of southern writers including
Flannery O’Connor.
REQUIRED BOOKS: Flannery O’Connor,
Wise Blood, Macmillan: FSG Classics. ISBN:
9780374515360. Flannery O’Connor, The
Complete Short Stories, Macmillan: FSG Classics
ISBN: 0374515360.
D12. The Odyssey (Continued from C12)
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00 pm, a 10-week course
March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22
LOCATION: AC – Plourde Rec Center
Conference Room
D13. Removing a President by Impeachment:
The Ultimate but Elusive Check on
Presidential Power (Repeat)
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22
This course will explore the constitutional
framework, theory, procedure, and history of the
authority of Congress to remove a sitting
president by impeachment. Topics will include:
the intent of the Founding Fathers in adding the
impeachment mechanism to the Constitution;
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impeachment and separation of powers; the
constitutional standard for impeachment; the
responsibilities of the House and the Senate; the
procedures governing impeachment inquiries,
articles of impeachment, and trials; historical case
studies of impeachment; and the prospects of an
impeachment of President Trump.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: John S. Ross, III holds degrees
from Yale University and the University of
Virginia School of Law and served as Adjunct
Professor of Law at Washington & Lee
University. He has taught a variety of courses in
the WISE program focusing on constitutional law
and the Supreme Court.
REQUIRED BOOK: Impeachment: What
Everyone Needs to Know, Michael J. Gerhardt,
Oxford Univ Press 2018.ISBN# 9780190903657.
OPTIONAL BOOK: Impeachment: The Case
Against Donald Trump. Neal Katyal. Houghton
Mifflin, to be released in November 2019.
D14. The Nature of Spring
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22
Spring is an exciting time for naturalists. Birds
migrate north. Trees, shrubs and wildflowers
bloom. Frogs and salamanders emerge and ride to
breeding ponds. Early flying insects, mourning
cloak butterflies and bumblebees appear as days
warm. A procession of predictable happenings,
many of them timed to cooperate with each other,
creates a natural calendar. As nature awakens and
the class progresses week by week, we will
explore and look for signs of spring around the
sanctuary.
LOCATION: MA Audubon Broad Meadow
Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Road,
Worcester 01604
CLASS LIMIT: 25
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Choiniere is a lifelong
naturalist with a B.S. in Natural History from
UMass/Amherst. He has worked for Mass
Audubon since 1975. He has taught hundreds of
natural history classes and workshops and has
been an instructor for Fitchburg State University
ALFA series (similar to WISE), teaching
workshops on nature study. He is also an
instructor in Mass Audubon’s Naturalist
Certificate Program.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D15. The News Media We Hate to Love
Wednesdays 3:15 - 4:45
March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22
We want to trust and admire our news sources but
are not sure we can. At least, we can understand
them a little more. We will look at the nature of
news and how we receive and perceive it by
considering topics such as what constitutes
credibility, the benefits and problems of non-stop
coverage, newsworthiness, consumer expectations
and biases, the impact of shrinking newsrooms
and where the lines are among news, opinion and
punditry.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Rosemary McCarthy has a
Master of Arts in Journalism from the University
of Nevada, Reno, where she was also Assistant
Professor from 2002 - 2012. She also has
broadcast experience in television and radio.
REQUIRED BOOK: Bill Kovach and Tom
Rosenstiel. The Elements of Journalism: What
Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should
Expect. Revised and Updated 3rd Ed. (2014).
Three Rivers Press. ISBN: 9780804136785.
D16. An Introduction to African Art and
Architecture
Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 pm
March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22
This introductory course spans approximately
80,000 years of art and architecture of the African
continent, discussing major objects such as the
Blombas Cave and early Rock Art, the pyramid of
Djoser, the Great Mosques at Qairoun and
Djenne, the Great Zimbabwe, and the rock
churches of Lalibela. We will explore major
issues linked to the arts of African including
Eurocentric interpretations, how works are
displayed, provenance, and the impact of
globalization.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
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INSTRUCTOR: Barbara Beall is Professor
Emerita of Art History at Assumption College.
As a Visiting Professor at Clark University, she
currently teaches African as well as Islamic
Architecture. She completed her doctorate at
Brown University and has many publications in
the field of art history and understanding the art
museum.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS, supplementary
materials will be provided by instructor
D17. Living by the Pulse of the Sea: Cape Cod
Women Writers (Repeat)
Thursdays 9:45 - 11:00 am
March 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30
Cape Cod’s unique sense of place as inspiration for
women writers is the core of this course. How
powerful to live on Cape Cod and experience a
unique sense of place - this spit of land, sea and sky.
In this course, we will look at the lives and writings
of Mary Oliver and Anne LeClaire as Cape Cod has
inspired and challenged their creativity. This course
is centered on the themes of nature, specific senses
of place, solitude, creativity, and living deeply.
LOCATION: AC – Plourde Rec Center
Conference Room
CLASS LIMIT: 22
INSTRUCTOR: Ellen Duzak is retired from
Becker College where she was a psychology
Professor. Her favorite sunrise walk on Cape Cod is
Nauset beach with the seals and seagulls as
companions.
REQUIRED BOOKS: Long Life by Mary Oliver.
Da Capo Press. ISBN# 9780306814129. Why I
Wake Early, by Mary Oliver. Beacon Press. ISBN:
9780807068793. Listening Below the Noise, by
Anne LeClaire. Harper Perennial. ISBN: 978-
0061353369.
READING FOR THE FIRST CLASS: Start
reading Long Life.
D18. How to Read Art (Repeat)
Thursdays 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
March 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30
Learn how to read visual stories narrated by
artists from ancient Athens and Rome to colonial
America. Enter these storied worlds and deepen
your appreciation of them. Other topics will
include the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and
the 19th and 20th centuries of America and
Europe.
LOCATION: Worcester Art Museum, Main
Entrance, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester 01609
CLASS LIMIT: 22
INSTRUCTOR: Virginia (Ginny) Powell-
Brasier was a high school teacher of English and
German for 32 years. A big fan of the German
Expressionists, she is currently a docent at the
Worcester Art Museum.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D19. American Imagines the Future: A Social
History, 1930 - 1965
Thursdays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
March 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30
Throughout much of the first half of the 20th
century, Americans imagined a brighter future as
the nation’s rising power and scientific know-how
unleashed a series of imaginative visions. At the
height of American futurism, a life with flying
cars, undersea cities, robots, space travel, and
technological marvels seemed to be on the
horizon. The optimistic spirit persisted despite
world wars, the Cold War, and other challenges.
In this course, we look at the evolution of
American thinking about the future and at how
world events shape our expectations about
tomorrow.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Gordon Arnold is the author of
several books about popular culture and U.S.
society. He is professor of Liberal Arts at
Montserrat College of Art where he has taught
courses in Sociology and film history for more
than thirty years.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS, supplementary
materials will be provided by instructor
D20. Appearance and Reality in North
American Life Today (Continued from C19)
Thursdays 1:15 - 2:45 pm
March 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30
LOCATION: AC – Plourde Rec Center
Conference Room
16
D21. Great Movie Music (Repeat)
Thursdays 1:15 - 2:45 pm
March 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30
What do John Williams, Max Steiner, Maurice Jarre,
Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith, Dimitri Tiomkin,
John Barry, James Horner, Alfred Newman, Andre
Previn, and Vangelis all have in common? They
have written memorable music for films- from
Titanic to Exodus, from Star Wars to Gone with the
Wind and from On the Waterfront to the Magnificent
7 and Mission Impossible. We will examine the lives
and notable contributions of these and other great
composers whose music makes these films even
more memorable.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Corn spent most of his
professional career working as an engineer. He
has also taught in the NYC school system,
Springfield Technical Community College, Penn
State University, and worked as a technical
instructor for Moore Products. Joe has taught a
number of music and technology courses for
WISE and is a former WISE President.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D22. Henry IV, Part 2, One Act at a Time
Thursdays 3:00 - 4:30 pm
March 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30
Even if you were not in the fall course, Henry IV,
Part 1, you will easily pick up the second of the
Henry IV plays which continues the journey of
Prince Hal as he passes through carefree younger
days and moves with an increasing sense of
responsibility towards his ultimate coronation as
Henry V. The play continues to explore the
relationship between Falstaff and Prince Hal (and
the escapades of Falstaff). We will examine this
play one act per session, taking particular notice
of Shakespeare’s insightful counter-balancing of
the world of the court and the world of the tavern
and the ways in which these two worlds interact
and comment on one another.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm. 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Jim Foley is an Emeritus
Professor of English at Worcester State
University with interest in Shakespeare, 19th
century American Literature, and drama.
REQUIRED BOOK: Any edition of Henry IV,
Part 2.
D23. Of Thee I Sing: Contesting Celebratory
and Critical Patriotism in America
Fridays 10:00 - 11:30 am
March 27, April 3, 17, 24, May 1
From the return of “love it or leave it” and
renewed attention to Colin Kaepernick’s anthem
protests to debates over the New York Times’
1619 Project, 2019 has seen a number of
prominent discussions center around critiques of
America. But these are simply the latest salvos in
a foundational and ongoing contest between
celebratory and critical patriotisms. Examining
these competing forms of patriotism helps us
better understand and take part in current debates.
LOCATION: Southgate at Shrewsbury
Retirement, 30 Julio Drive, Shrewsbury 01545
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Benjamin Railton is a
Professor of English and American Studies at
Fitchburg State University. He is author of five
books, most recently We the People: The 500
Year Battle over Who is American (2019).
He also maintains the daily American Studies
blog, contributes public American Studies
scholarship to many other sites including
Huffington Post, and is a member of the Scholars
Strategy Network.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D24. Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone
Fridays 1:30 - 3:00 pm
March 27, April 3, 17, 24, May 1
Rod Serling was an Emmy-winning television
writer when he devised The Twilight Zone.
Sensitive to censorship but wanting to address
subjects deemed controversial in the 1950s and
early 60s, he found the genres of fantasy and
science fiction to be the ideal media to get across
his message. This demonstrated Serling’s
creativity in educating people on controversial
topics in a non-provocative way. Episodes from
the classic series will be shown and discussed.
LOCATION: AC - Kennedy Building Rm.119
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CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Gary Shahinian is the Senior
Pastor of Park Congregational Church in
Worcester. He earned a PhD in Philosophy from
the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. His doctoral
dissertation examines the problem of evil. He
taught philosophy and theology courses at
Redeemer College in Ontario, Dordt College in
Iowa, and Worcester State University.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
D25. We Wanted More – Short but Great
Film Acting Careers
Fridays 3:15 - 4:45 pm
March 27, April 3, 17, 24, May 1
We have been spoiled with the prodigious number
of brilliant performances by some actors like
Meryl Streep, Judi Dench and Alec Guinness.
This course will offer tribute to gifted movie
actors whose careers were too short. Hearing the
names William Holden, Philip Seymour Hoffman,
Jean Harlow and Brittany Murphy makes us
wistful. Which of them received their due in fame
and honor? Which did not?
LOCATION: Kennedy Building Room 119
CLASS LIMIT: 65
INSTRUCTOR: Jeff Long has offered film
studies courses at WISE since 2014 and has been
writing movie reviews for the Worcester
Telegram & Gazette since 2008. He also taught
film studies courses at Becker College and is the
author of the reading guide Remembered
Childhoods (2007).
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
WISE Officers, Committee Chairs & Council Members Executive Officers Tej Maini, President TBA, Vice President Donna Crocker, Secretary Sue Tellier, Treasurer Council Members at Large Joyce Abdow-Dowd Michael Fishbein Ron Crocker Patricia Hertzfeld Mariam Karis Cronin Ginny McNamara Cathy Samko
Coordinators Bobbi Corn, Class Assistants Kathy Drew, New Member Orientation Jane Gilligan, Evaluations Karl Hakkarainen, Technical Advisor
Committee Chairs Karl Hakkarainen, Communications Sue Tellier, Finance Ann (Cookie) Nelson, Special Events Zelda Schwartz, Nominations Barbara Groves, Curriculum College Sponsors/ WISE Administrators Francesco Cesareo, PhD, President, Assumption College Dennis Braun, MBA, Director of Professional & Continuing Education, Assumption College Susan Perschbacher, PhD, WISE Director Jill Lagana, MEd, WISE Office Manager
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WISE Special Events
Save the dates for these upcoming events & trips
January 22, 2020
Caroll Bogert lecture, “The Media’s Influence in Creating and Challenging Mass Incarceration”
Curtis Hall Ballroom, Assumption College, 6:30-8:30pm
January 23, 2020
A conversation with Caroll Bogert and WISE members
Kennedy 119, 1:00-2:00pm
February 12, 2020 (snow date Feb 13)
Brown Bag Lecture, “Eleanor Roosevelt” by Sheryl Faye
Assumption College
March 12, 2020
Worcester Night Out, location TBA
Worcester Men of Song
April 14, 2020
Brown Bag Lecture, Ben Railton will talk about his latest book,
We the People: The 500 Year Long Battle Over who is American.
Assumption College
May 14, 2020
Trip to Mark Twain House & Harriet Beecher Stowe house
Hartford, CT
June 1, 2020
WISE Annual Meeting
La Maison Salon
Assumption College Events
Assumption College plays, lectures or other events of interest are announced by email and posted on the
WISE events calendar on our website. Postings can also be found on the bulletin boards located at; campus
side entrance/ La Maison building, outside of classroom 119/ Kennedy building and the WISE office/ 203B
La Maison.
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WORCESTER INSTITUTE FOR SENIOR EDUCATION – 2020 Spring Registration
Name ___________________________________________________ Phone __________________ Cell______________________________
Address _________________________________________________ Email _________________________________
City/Town ______________________________________________ State____________________ Zip ______________________________
Emergency Contact: Name_______________________________ Phone _____________________________________
1. Indicate Your Membership Category
Spring term Membership -$165 _______ (January-July 2020) *Please note that Spring members may participate in
the WISE June annual meeting, activities, lectures, clubs and trips
Upgrade to Full year membership -$100 _______ (For 2019 Fall members, extends membership to July 2020)
2. Enter Course Numbers (Example C3, D8) In Order Of Preference. (For paper registrants only) Since some courses fill early, please list all alternative courses you may be interested in.
Session C Course Session D Course 1st choice ___________ 1st choice ___________ Session C: Feb. 3–March 6, 2020
2nd choice ___________ 2nd choice ___________
3rd choice ___________ 3rd choice ___________ Session D: March 23–May 1, 2020
4th choice ___________ 4th choice ___________
5th choice ___________ 5th choice ___________
3. Courses per Session If all of your above choices are available to you, how many courses do you want to take for each session? Please do
not state more than you will actually show up for.
Session C: _________ Session D: _________
4. Volunteer Opportunities The organization’s success depends on the network of volunteers within our community.
Refer to the WISE Committee & Volunteer Facts Sheet for descriptions and indicate your area of interest:
Class Assistant Communications Council
Finance Special Events Curriculum
WISE Clubs (Baseball, Book, Movie, Non-Fiction, Writing)
WISE Special Interest Groups (Supreme Court, Environmental)
5. Please complete this form and return with payment Mail: WISE, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609
Office location: La Maison building, Room 203B Mailed in course selections will be recorded starting on December 11th at 9am. Online registration is strongly
encouraged and will be available online starting at 12:01am on December 11th. Registrations after December 11th
are accepted for courses with available space. You will receive a confirmation email for every course you have enrolled
in. Please refer to page 2 of this catalog for more information about the registration process.
{Office Use Only} Amount Received: $________________ Date Received: _____________________ Credit Card: ______ Check: _______
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Worcester Institute for Senior Education Assumption College 500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609 508-767-7513 https://assumptionwise.org
Spring 2020 Catalog
PRSRT FIRST CLASS US POSTAGE
PAID WORCESTER, MA PERMIT NO. 1739