2008 Fall Humanities Strand

2008 Fall Term

Humanities Strand

The Story of Calypso and the Steel Drum Music of Trinidad and Tobago

Thursday, Oct. 2, 1:30
Robert Brudvig, OSU Assistant Professor of Percussion and Music Theory, will trace the history and development of the steel drum. In addition to his teaching, Robert is a prolific musician performing regularly on marimba, steel drums, and as a guest percussionist in regional symphonies. For ALL, he will perform musical examples demonstrating the unique sound and "feel" of the steel drum and will discuss the co-evolution of calypso music, - the national music of Trinidad and Tobago.
Host: Doug Clark

Mercy Corps' Worldwide Humanitarian Work

Thursday, Oct. 9, 1:30
Alissa Kery-Guyer, Mercy Crops Volunteer and wife of the CEO, will present her experiences in the post-tsunami recovery of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, where more than 200,000 people died three years ago, and her return in March 2008 to assess the progress. Beyond disaster relief, she will explain Mercy Corps' conflict resolution and economic development projects around the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Darfur. Mercy Corps is a non-governmental organization utilized by some local humanitarian efforts such as CAAIR (Corvallis & Albany Assisting Iraqi Refugees).
Host: Ruth Arent

The Founding Fathers and the Problem of Slavery

Thursday, Oct. 16, 1:30
Ben M. Mutschler, OSU Assistant Professor of History, will discuss how historians have long wrestled over a seemingly fundamental paradox that lies at the heart of the American Revolution: how was it that the same persons who proclaimed that "all men are created equal" could sanction slavery? This lecture canvasses the writings of the founding generation, from the 1760s through the 1780s, and explores how, when, and why slavery arose as a public issue.
Host: Cliff Trow

NFL and Electoral Politics

Thursday, Oct. 23, 1:30
Professional football is the most popular spectator sport in America-that is, unless you consider presidential campaigns! Michael Oriard, OSU Professor of English and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts-as well as former professional football player and author of several books about the sport-will talk about various aspects of the culture of football in the United States as it has developed since the late nineteenth century, including its sometimes strange relationship to electoral politics.
Host: Dick Weinman

Rx for Sale

This class has been CANCELLED

Originally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 30, 1:30
Paul Hochfeld, MD, ER physician, and creator of the documentary, Health, Money, and Fear, and Dick Weinman, OSU Emeritus Professor of Media Communication, bring together their knowledge and experience in medicine and TV advertising to reveal the marketing techniques (off-screen and on screen) of pharmaceutical companies and their advertising agencies, while analyzing commercials for Rx drugs.
Host: Dick Weinman

Assisted Living: A New Model for the 21st Century

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1:30
Join Scott Bond, Director of Senior and Disability Services for the Cascades West Council of Governments, Lorene Hale, Administrator of The Caring Place, and Carmen Steggell, OSU Associate Professor in the College of Health and Human Services, for a discussion about assisted living and continuing care in the era of the baby boomer.
Host: Sheila Ames

An Iranian Baha'I Perspective on Confict in the Middle East

Thursday, Nov. 13, 1:30
Arfa Aflatooni, an Iranian-born, sociology instructor at LBCC and a member of the Baha'I faith, will examine globalization and the resulting racial, ethnic, and religious conflicts from a Baha'I perspective. He will pay particular attention to Baha'I explanations of the causes of and remedies for current conflict in the Middle East.
Host: Doug Clark

Books and More for the Giving

Thursday, Nov. 20, 1:30
Curtis Keifer, Youth Services Division Manager at the Corvallis Public Library, returns to ALL offering a preview of the best new literature that will make perfect gifts for children through age 18. An annotated booklist will be provided and materials will be available to preview.
Host: Barb Callner

Walking the Mexico/US Border

Friday, Dec. 5, 1:30
Mike DeMaio, retired social worker and meditation practitioner, will share reflections of his 2007 pilgrimage walk along the Mexican-Texas border. The walk was led by Zen Buddhist monk Claud AnShin Thomas, Vietnam veteran and advocate for active non-violence. This presentation will focus on current issues related to migration of the undocumented, as well as the pilgrimage experience.
Host: Barb Callner

Gluten Intolerance & Celiac Disease: #1 Misdiagnosed Disease

Thursday, Dec. 11, 1:30
Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN CEN, will present information about gluten intolerance and celiac disease, the #1 misdiagnosed and undiagnosed disease in America, and how this affects you, your family, and friends. Everyone may benefit by becoming aware of many symptoms that are not routinely recognized as gluten intolerance. Nadine will describe current diet and treatment recommendations. Yes, celiac disease can contribute to many problems people of all ages may suffer.
Host: Ruth Arent