Harrisburg Region

Now more than ever the history of the Holocaust and other acts of genocide cannot be ignored. Through her published memoir Your Name Is Renee by Oxford University Press, Ruth Hartz will present her experiences as a hidden child in Nazi-Occupied France. While she will talk about the horrors of the Holocaust and their perpetrators, the instructor will also talk about the goodness of the Righteous Gentiles, ordinary people who were transformed into rescuers.

Perry County Bicentennial – the nuts and bolts of celebrating one of Central Pennsylvania’s iconic county’s 200th anniversary of independence from Cumberland County, and how its history is representative of the growth, development, and challenges of our Commonwealth.

This will be an entertaining and compelling collection of stories by four established masters and two living writers: Leo Tolstoy’s “After the Ball”; Anton Chekhov’s “A Trifle From Real Life”; William Faulkner’s “Pantaloon in Black”; Ernest Hemingway’s “The Killers”; Ron Rash’s “Back of Beyond”; and Lionel Shriver’s “Exchange Rates.”

The instructor will share with you why he especially enjoys reading, thinking, and talking about three poets: Elizabeth Barrett Browning because of the poetry that she wrote and the love story that she lived; Alfred Lord Tennyson because his poetry so beautifully reflects our search for faith; and Robert Frost because his poetry so successfully captures thoughts and attitudes of his native New England.

Beginning with a short consideration of the nature of poetry, this course will introduce students to the lives and writings of such poets as Phillis Wheatly, Francis E. W. Harper, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou as they expressed in poetry the experiences of black people in America -- their sorrows, joys, despairs, hopes, frustrations, and triumphs.

Beginning around one hundred years ago, three strong African personalities had such an impact that the churches they began continue to this day. William Wadé Harris in the Ivory Coast (1915), Simon Kimbangu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1921), and Johane Marange in Zimbabwe (1932) had visions for starting churches that had virtually no missionary involvement. Why were they so successful? What can we learn from them, both positively and negatively?

The formation of the powerful Hollywood studios turned Hollywood into a worldwide phenomenon. These “factories” included rosters of extremely talented actors, directors, writers, cinematographers, and a whole host of other creative departments that churned out so many wonderful films. During the Golden Era that spanned the late 1920s until the late 1940s, each studio developed its own specific “personality” or style. We will look at each of the major studios: MGM, Paramount, Warner Brothers, RKO, 20th Century Fox, and the minor ones: Columbia, Universal and United Artists. We will watch scenes from many of their great films. We will also learn how they started to lose their grip on the industry that they created.

Whether you’re a native or a newcomer, Pennsylvania’s history offers you a rich smorgasbord of people, events, and ideas. This three-part course hits all the highlights of the Keystone story –  from William Penn’s “Holy Experiment” and the Revolutionary War, through the political turmoil and industrial growth of the 1800s, to the perils and progress that shared the spotlight in the 20th century. Along the way, we’ll explore some icons of Pennsylvania culture, including the Amish, the polka, and the pretzel. You’ll also learn about the best museums and historic sites in the state, where you can experience Pennsylvania’s dramatic and colorful past for yourself.

This course will have four sessions: Session 1. (March 5) An Escaped Slave and a President for White Men (Frederick Douglas on Abraham Lincoln).Session 2. (March 12) A Reactionary President and a Radical Republican Congress (Andrew Johnson 1865-1869 and the 14th and15th Amendments)Session 3. (March 19) An Affirming President disarmed by Corruption — the Shadow Darkens (Grant, Hayes & Tilden)Session 4. (March 26) The WilmingtonMassacre1898 — the triumph of Jim Crow, the end of the Republican Dream for Black Americans.     

Beginning with a short consideration of the nature of poetry, this course will introduce students to the lives and writings of such poets as Phillis Wheatly, Francis E. W. Harper, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou as they expressed in poetry the experiences of black people in America -- their sorrows, joys, despairs, hopes, frustrations, and triumphs.