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THREE-COURSE LECTURES

Polio in 20th Century America Presenter: Katherine Fischer Thursdays, April 1st, 8th, 15th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. The US had to reckon with polio long before COVID-19. This course will investigate how Americans overcame the epidemic through the lens of history and literature, while contextualizing those efforts in today’s pandemic.

Intro to Interior Design & Decorating Presenter: Jessica O’Brien, MA Fridays, April 2nd, 9th, 16th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Are you a creative person with a flair for design? Or maybe the thought of redecorating your living room is stressing you out! Take this class to tackle the basics of designing and decorating a space from floor to ceiling. A Pinterest account will be needed to participate in the class.

SPRING 2021

History of Hollywood Movie Musicals: Part One Presenter: Jessica O’Brien, MA Wednesdays, April 7th, 9th, 16th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Do you miss Broadway? While the industry is on pause, learn about the emergence of the American Broadway musical, its collective impact on pop culture, and how this multi-million-dollar theatrical genre continues to evolve. Part Two to be offered in Fall 2021.

Week One: Late 1800’s – 1930’s Week Two: 1940’s – 1950’s Week Three: 1960’s – 1970’s Choices. The Tough Decisions that Defined American Presidencies Presenter: Diana Rodgers, MA, EdD Wednesdays, April 7th, 9th, 16th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Journalist John Dickerson describes the presidency as “the hardest job in the world,” and it is easy to understand why. The 46 men who have served our country in this role have been required to make agonizing, often lose-lose, decisions. However, it is through these choices that seem so bleak at the outset that presidencies are made. In 3 sessions, we will examine 6 of the most consequential presidential choices. Topics will likely include FDR and the Lend Lease Act, JFK and the Bay of Pigs, Woodrow Wilson’s WWI legacy, and George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq.

The Symbolic and Historical Significance of Gothic Cathedrals Presenter: Helen McDevitt-Smith, MS, MA, MA Thursdays, April 15th, 22nd, 29th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Two years ago on April 15, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught fire, resulting in extensive damage to the structure celebrated for its Gothic architecture and place in the history of France. As a result, there has been a renewed interest in Gothic cathedrals. In this course, we will examine several French and English Gothic cathedrals that are architecturally and historically significant.

SINGLE LECTURES

Take Control of Your Time – Time Management Presenter: Anne Weisbord Monday, March 29th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Do you feel overwhelmed and stressed because you are juggling so many things at once? In this one-hour workshop, you will learn some practical methods to help you take control of your time. You will discover ways to be more effective and efficient by aligning your priorities, eliminating time wasters, and organizing your workspace. Become more productive, manage your activities, and decrease your stress.

Garden School: Adventures in Ecological Gardening Part 1 & 2 Presenter: Neeti Bathala, PhD Session I: Tuesday, April 6th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Join us as we learn basic plant terminology - knowledge that will help you better understand your home garden. Learn the difference between a simple and compound leaf; how to tell a deciduous plant from a conifer; and basic plant reproduction strategies. Apply a combination of plant types to create a visually and ecologically appealing greenspace. This lecture will teach you how to find your growing zone and introduce you to a selection of native and pollinator friendly plants appropriate for our region. Session II: Tuesday, April 13th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Learn the basics for encouraging wildlife in your own backyard and contributing to scientific data right from your garden. Questions answered include ‘what is a habitat’, and what makes a ‘wildlife-friendly garden’. We will explore the concept of citizen science and how the general public, even the novice gardener, can contribute to scientific research. Our course will culminate with the opportunity to contribute to a citizen science project monitoring birds that visit our green spaces.

Stretch and Strengthen with Sinatra Presenter: Jessica O’Brien, MA Tuesday, April 20th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Get your workout in while listening to one of the greatest singers of all time, Frank Sinatra! A stretching and strengthening class using the fundamentals of ballet to increase flexibility, and tone and elongate muscles. Class can be completed seated or standing.

Quarantined with a King: Celebrating Shakespeare's King Lear Presenter: Katherine Fischer Thursday, April 29th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Shakespeare wrote King Lear, a meditation on age and power, during an outbreak of plague in London. Considering that King Lear remains to be one Shakespeare’s haunting characters it prompts the question—did the constraint of quarantine push his writing to explore even more aspects of the human condition? In this course, we will explore that very question and how Shakespeare and the rest of 17th century England coped during quarantine.

Detention! Free Speech in American Schools Presenter: Diana Rodgers, MA, EdD Friday, April 30th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. What can you say in an American public school? Or perhaps more important, what can’t you say? This course will examine four student freedom of speech cases that appeared before the Supreme Court. They are: Tinker v. Des Moines, Bethel v. Fraser, Hazelwood Sch. V. Kuhlmeier, and BONG HiTs 4 JESUS (Morse v. Frederick). We will also examine how the growth of WiFi and internet speech may impact these rulings in the future.

Her Holiness and Mine: Female Saints & the English Reformation Presenter: Katherine Fischer Thursday, April 22nd from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. The absence of female bodies in Protestant churches following the Reformation in England caused a seismic shift for pious women in rural towns. Some of the saints discussed may be found in Rosemont College’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception! Learn about their stories as we consider how iconography impacted daily life for women in this tumultuous period.

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The Spring Splendor of Rosemont

The coming of spring brings signs of life back to campus and, with it a renewed hope that the challenges of the pandemic will soon be behind us and we will be able to gather together once more. Until then, we are grateful for spring beauty all around us.

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Trust in and reverence for the dignity of each person. Diversity with a commitment to building an intercultural community. Persistence and courage in promoting justice with compassion. Care for the Earth as our common home.