CommUniversity: Four Sundays in February

Everyday Acts and Seeking Hope
Dr. Tamara Felden, Augustana College
We will read the novel The Seventh Cross by Anna Seghers. Set during the Holocaust, this novel tells the story of a concentration camp escapee and the many people he encounters as he seeks to evade recapture. The story poignantly illuminates the many small acts by individuals who either help or hinder him, their motivations, and the consequences of choices they make to him and to themselves. The book forces us to confront the question whether there is hope in the face of apparently overwhelming adversity. Students need to have a copy of the book The Seventh Cross by Anna Seghers (any edition). The student does not need to read the book prior to class.

Stories and Myths of Ancient Egypt
Brian Alm, Member of the Oriental Institute, The University of Chicago
Everybody loves a good story and ancient Egypt has many of them. Stories guided their lives on Earth and in the Afterlife beyond while myths explained their world and the universe. Touching, terrifying, gripping, ribald – we’ll cover plenty, and along the way, we will discover a lot about the people, beliefs and culture of this most fascinating of ancient societies.

There’s More to Being Irish than Green Beer and Leprechauns
Dolores Sierra, Retired Professor, Black Hawk College
Who are these “Irish”? What did they contribute to America? And who was the Patrick we celebrate on March 17th? When and why did America choose to acknowledge and celebrate the saint? You might be surprised by the answer.

Why are Americans so Politically Divided by Partisanship and What Can be Done About It?
Dr. Art Pitz, Presenter, Retired Professor, Black Hawk College
We are now to the point where the basic values of democracy are threatened in the U.S. and elsewhere. For our checks and balances system to work, two key norms are needed: 1) Mutual toleration where the competing political parties may have strong differences but each sees the other as a legitimate rival worthy of respect, NOT as enemies; and, 2) Forbearance where if one of the parties gains power it does not use that power to maximum partisan advantage to win by any means necessary. In other words, the parties are committed to compromise for the good of all. Why have those values become so badly eroded and what can be done about it?

Basic Spanish
James Thornton, Retired Teacher
Basic Spanish requires no previous knowledge of Spanish. Greetings, beginning conversation, counting, expressions, etc. are all taught to give students a beginner’s ability in Spanish. There will be games and activities to make learning fun.

Paper Crafting with Becky
Becky Pilcher
Enjoy your time learning to make projects using paper. This will include making cards, sticky note holders and other creative projects. These are projects you can make for yourself or as a gift for others. Your packets, assembled by the instructor, will be available for pick-up the week prior to class starting. A $15 materials fee is payable at time of registration.

* A $15 materials fee is required for the Paper Crafting with Becky session.

The Life and Times of the American Cemetery
Minda Powers-Douglas, Founder-Editor of TheCemeteryClub.com
This lively course will take you around the country as we discuss cemetery histories, symbols on gravestones, and much more. We’ll cover early American cemeteries through contemporary burial trends. Every life has a story to tell, no matter how large or seemingly small. Step into our cemeteries and listen.

The Psychology of Humor
Dr. William Hampes, Professor Emeritus, Black Hawk College
Learn about the types and styles of humor, what makes something funny, and the use of humor in persuasion and advertising, interpersonal attraction, dealing with stress, the workplace and teaching. Commercials, films, television shows and individuals such as Abraham Lincoln will be used to illustrate various concepts. The personalities of professional comedians also will be explored.

The Secrets of a Successful Relationship
Dr. Bachir Djehiche, Mars Venus Certified Life Coach and NLP Trainer
This challenging and exciting workshop is presented with video clips from some of Dr. Gray’s (author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus) previous sessions or workshops, theory, skills, and interactive workshop exercises. You will receive strategies, tips, and tools to create great relationships. The course will provide you with practical ideas and proven relationship strategies that can be immediately applied to your own situation.

Community Development Through the Career of George Davenport
Gena Schantz, Local Historian
We will examine the various careers of George Davenport and how they contributed to the development of the towns surrounding his home on the island of Rock Island. We will also put his town development efforts into the context of national expansion during the period 1835 to 1845. Finally, we will look at Davenport’s murder in terms of developing a sense of community.

Judaism Addresses the Challenging Issues of Our Day
Rabbi Linda Bertenthal and Rabbi Henry Karp
2020 has been a challenging year for the world, especially for America, in so many ways. In what can be described as a “perfect storm” of social and planetary crises. Judaism prides itself on having introduced to the world the concept of Ethical Monotheism; a belief in one God who demands of us ethical conduct as we interact with the world. It is a faith which teaches how we can be our best selves in responding to crises, including the ones which challenge us today. This course will explore several such issues, such as war & peace, equality under the law, treatment of the “stranger,” economic & environmental justice, and balancing social responsibility & individual freedom.

The American Muslims: Conversations
Dr. Lisa Killinger, Muslim Community of the QC
Let’s chat! This class will feature inspiring and sometimes surprising weekly conversations with American Muslim women, who will share perspectives on topics such as: wearing the hijab or head covering, “arranged marriages,” gender roles (and how they actually play out in Muslim households), values, leadership, education and much, much more.