Since the time of Sophocles and before, humanity has used dramatic arts to explore theology and philosophy. This class explores some of the theology of the Summa through the classic British sci-fi TV show.

The Dayton area is blessed with a 360+ mile system of interconnected, paved, off-road bike paths. This active participation seminar will provide an opportunity to explore various sections of the trail system and experience the great opportunities offered for outdoor activity. Each week participants will meet at different access points of the trail system and enjoy a 12 to 18 mile roundtrip ride through parkland and along rivers on well maintained, paved bike paths. The rides will normally include a stop for lunch at a restaurant.

PLEASE NOTE: This is an “active participation” seminar and requires a level of fitness and equipment appropriate for bicycling for 20 miles, including ability to transport bikes to weekly starting points. If you have not ridden a bike for years you are advised to train adequately for weeks prior to the beginning of the seminar. The bike paths permit class 1 and 2 electric assisted bikes. Class 3 e-bikes bikes are not permitted. There will be one "classroom meeting” for participants on April 29 at 4:30 PM to review information regarding equipment/gear, weekly riding options, trail maps, safety issues and to sign university required release forms. A room assignment will be sent to participants prior to the class meeting. 

The influenza pandemic of 1918-19 killed 50-100 million people. Reasons for such fatality included: The influenza variant was highly virulent and infectious. Young adults were killed by their own immune responses. Medical education and practice in the United States was often defective. Government political decisions (elections and World War I) blocked valid scientific recommendations and even spread the disease. This series of talks will examine these factors and explain how diseases spread (epidemiology). It will look at lessons learned. It will also examine the current Covid pandemic in light of these lessons.

It took over 70 years of political activism for women in the United States to obtain the legal right to vote. As one historian has noted, this was one of the longest, most successful and most radical challenges ever posed to the American system of electoral politics. How did the suffragists achieve this victory, what obstacles did they face, what have been the impacts of the female vote, and what is the current status of the women's vote? These are some of the topics to be covered in this seminar.

In this seminar we will be reading and discussing about a dozen of Faulkner's short stories, all available in Collected Stories of William Faulkner, available in paperback from Thriftbooks or Amazon. The reading list will be distributed at the first meeting.

PLEASE NOTE: It would be helpful to read "A Rose for Emily" before the first meeting.