Past Courses

Because of the significant numbers of Latin American immigrants to the United States over the last few decades, many Americans are under the impression that Spanish is largely an immigrant language. Spanish, however, has a long history in the United States that has been forgotten, especially outside of the Southwest. This class will explore the deep roots and use of Spanish throughout U.S. history and discuss recent English-only movements opposed to multilingualism.

This is not a talk about A law. It is a talk about THE law--a complex feature of our world, and our relationship with others, that shapes our day-to-day lives. Recent American history has forced us to think about threats to the rule of law, and the prospect of insurrection. But we cannot really grapple with these ideas if we do not first understand what the law itself is. We'll try to do that together in our two-hour session, with a particular focus on the theories and texts that shape this conversation in law schools and universities today.

Greg will show and discuss 4 selected films from the 2024 Beloit International Film Festival that was just held this past month.

Our home landscapes can support wildlife, sequester carbon and reduce stormwater runoff. But there is no shortage of conflicting advice about how to achieve that. We'll review how landscapes provide habitat with special attention to native plants and the life cycles and ecosystems that depend on them. With those principles in mind, we'll examine what the evidence shows regarding various gardening practices. Does "No Mow May" help pollinators? Should we leave the leaves? We will also consider perspectives on community ordinances and their effect on natural landscaping. Free native plants will be available.

In this course we'll consider some short stories, specifically 4 VERY short ones. These will take you about ten minutes per story to read, and their full text is on the internet if you Google the title plus "full text." They are all masterpieces of depth and brevity. They are: Edgar Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart" Kate Chopin, "Desiree's Baby" Ambrose Bierce, " An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" Ernest Hemingway, "Hills Like White Elephants"

Myracle Jackson, along with her mother Debra Morris, tell the story of Myracle’s right bacillary thrombosis at the young age of 13. They chronicle her continuing recovery at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities in Madison, Rockford, and 2 in Chicago. Myracle, now 28, managed to complete both middle and high school in the allotted time. She went on to attend Rock Valley College and Rockford University; earning associate and bachelors degrees. She is now gainfully employed by the Rockford Public School District.

This lecture begins with how Enlightenment thinkers from Kant and Rousseau to Montesquieu and Vico framed questions seeking to understand social life and social relations; even employing the term “anthropology”. However, the larger purpose of the lecture is “global”; to explore ways in which these questions were asked all over the world during an era stretching from the mid 18th to early 19th century. This era has presented anthropologists and historians alike with the opportunity to explore changing ways of thinking about how people organize themselves in society.

There are few cities in the world with as wide ranging and ambitronous collections as those in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York city. In this session we will continue our virtual tour of the museum. Each lecture is independent so prior attendance is not necessary. This session will cover 20th century art before WWII and after WWII including works by Pollock, Warhol, Picasso, Matisse, Pali Wood and O'Keefe.

During his presentation, Yuri Rashkin will share his personal history, background., and what got him interested in county politics and governance. He will talk about the scope of operation of the county board, its committees and agencies, and staff departments and functions. He will give a recap on how the county board is reorganized after an election. Finally, he will discuss issues facing the county and how Beloit fits into the bigger county picture. Recently, the county board has become a place of increasing controversy, often distracting from the routine functions of basic local governing. Yuri will provide helpful insights to help people better understand the purpose of the county board and local government. A significant portion of the presentation will involve Q&A.

In the modern era it has been common to believe that there is a fundamental conflict between our belief in free will and our belief in determinism. Some modern philosophers accept the incompatibility between them and adopt a dualism where both are true in different realms of reality; others simply say that they are somehow compatible. I will argue that both “free will” and “determinism” are already incoherent so there is no issue of the conflict between them.

What is a college/university alumni magazine and what are some of its best practices? As the editor of Beloit College Magazine from 2001-2022, I’ll offer an overview of the alumni magazine as a publishing genre and talk specifically about Beloit’s alumni magazine: what role it plays, how it’s funded, how stories are selected and executed, how the images, words, and design come together, and how we know if it’s well-received or not. If time allows, we’ll consider potential future stories and talk about best ways to pitch them to editors.

Come and enjoy a visit to the Society, guided by by its Executive Director. She will show us around the Society’s main facility and will introduce us to some of its historical collections. She will also explain the procedures involved in accessing these materials for anyone who may wish to do some serious historical research.

Wisconsin's election laws have been hotly debated over the past legislative session and beyond. There have been bills to change election laws, there are constitutional amendments on the ballot in April and November related to elections, there have been lawsuits about redistricting, ballot drop boxes, and other issues, and there have been high profile fights over the leadership of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Get a behind the scenes look at the legislative debate on these issues and learn what changes have actually been made, what's been proposed, and where things stand for the 2024 elections

The Roscoe Historical Society was established in 2019. They are renting two acres and the 1840 Robert Cross house from Roscoe Township. Their agreement was The Historical Society will do the preservation and pay for restoration costs. Robert Cross built the house at 4562 Hononegah Rd in Roscoe, IL. Robert Cross was the first permanent non-native American to live in Roscoe. The Historical Society has big plans for the Roscoe area.

The Beloit Fire Department will give you advice about keeping your home safe. It will focus on fire safety, medical considerations and home/environment safety,

R.K. “Dickey” Richardson taught at Beloit College from 1901 to retirement in 1947. During those five decades, he inspired hundreds of students through his classroom teaching and his moral leadership. In his final years he served as President of the Wisconsin Historical Society. This presentation draws on the many boxes of Richardson's papers that are preserved in the Beloit College Archives and on my research about the teaching of History in the US during and between the two world wars.

Get an up-to-date analysis of the current situation in the turbulent Middle East. How has the October 7 attack against Israel changed American priorities, strategies, and alliances in the region?

Come to the Beloit Public Library where it’s Director will discuss censorship and the issues libraries are dealing with. Traditionally public libraries have been a “Neutral Ground” reflecting its community values and having something for everyone. Censorship has always been present, an issue dealt with on an individual basis. The past few years have seen an increase in challenges to library collections and programs. This culture war has led library leaders to start a dangerous game of Red Light Green Light; removing “problematic” items and abandoning hard-won principles and professional ethics. Reclaiming “Neutral Ground” as the public library’s mission is the answer to its current troubles.

What kind of human trafficking, labor, sexual, child, or organ human trafficking is aroundus? What is happening in Wisconsin? What is happening in the greater Beloit area? Are the police aware? Legal Statutes? Come, listen to these experts share their experiences.

Before retirement, Joe Reinhard spent 43 years in golf course management. He’d previously earned Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology and Land Management from UW-River Falls. Some of the topics covered will be how is your lawn working, what to do this spring, No Mow May, lawnmower care, horticulture and landscaping, and lawn-care ripoffs. He’ll field any questions.

The Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will discuss details of common scams that target seniors, the warning signs of a scam, and what to do if you or someone you know falls victim to a scam or fraud. Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in the US. The more you learn, the less vulnerable you are. He will explain different types of identity theft, how to recognize it and how to prevent it. Helpful factsheets from the Bureau will be available

Alfred Hitchcock moved from England to Hollywood in 1939. In 1940, before the US entered WW II, he released his first 2 American films: "Rebecca" and "Foreign Correspondent”. Both were nominated for the best picture Oscar; "Rebecca" won the Oscar. We will see the other, which is about the building tensions in Europe leading up to that war, and the efforts to keep Americans informed about them.

The Wisconsin State Climatology Office (SCO) has been revitalized recently with new resources, a new director, and expanding staff. The SCO provides “climate services” to help Wisconsinites use weather and climate information more effectively. The revamped office has a new website and the capacity to conduct basic and applied research. The resulting knowledge will lead to a better understanding of Wisconsin’s fascinating climate and enable information tools to help decisionmakers around the state. This presentation will explain how the SCO monitors Wisconsin’s weather variations and documents long-term climate changes since the 1800s.

The Stateline community Foundation is the leader in philanthropic support for our community. We have funded over 19 million dollars in grants to local non-profits and scholarships for graduating seniors and non-traditional students in the Stateline area. The foundation is dedicated to improving the community through strategic grantmaking, civic engagement, and inspired philanthropy. Areas of funding go to enhance health and human services, children, families and seniors, community enrichment, and the arts and humanities. The foundation also can look at emergent needs as they arise, such as COVID. You will also learn about the programs that the foundation has under its umbrella.

We'll look at the roots of Jackson Pollock as he was taught by Thomas Hart Benton and influenced by Benton's favorite Mannerist painter El Greco.

RSVP, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is a program specifically designed for persons age 55 and older to share their talents, expertise and time with their community. We connect volunteers with local organizations, provide drivers for rides to doctor appointments and connect seniors with students as Intergenerational Heroes, just to name a few.

Organic agriculture has come a long way since Rachel Carson shocked readers with Silent Spring (1962) and spotlighted conventional agriculture’s environmental costs. Sixty years later agricultural stewardship is more important than ever as carbon sequestration and resource conservation play critical roles in the broader environment. Our food choices have very direct links to our natural environment’s health and eating organically produced food helps preserve those natural resources.

In August of 1943, while the world was waging war, Eleanor Roosevelt embarked on a secret three-week mission at the request of her husband, President Roosevelt. She boarded a military transport plane and headed to the Pacific theater while the war with Japan was far from being decided. Her quest was to discover and report back first-hand accounts of the war, in such a way that only she could do. Her journey was a closely guarded secret until news broke ten-days into the mission that she had left the country on a risky expedition. Join us for this presentation that follows her rigorous and daring trek to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and military bases along the way. Learn what she not only discovered and reported back to her husband, but also the unexpected responses she received from military service persons from the top leaders of the war to the foot soldiers in the trenches.

Mr. Barnett will talk about teaching inmates and other stories

We all have to much STUFF!!! Laura will take us through the process of downsizing and decluttering. She will help simplify it as it can be a daunting experience.

This 2 part class will examine the many aspects of the West from 1865 to 1897: cattle and mining frontiers, homesteaders. conflict with Native Americans and the lore. We will attempt to separate fact from fiction to learn the story of the real West.

This talk will discuss two of the biggest and best tools for finding information about your German ancestors: Germans to America and Meyers-Ort Gazetteer. G2A is a database of about 4 million German passengers who came to America in the years 1840 to 1897. Meyers lists every place name within the German Empire in 1912. Both contain much useful information associated with each of their entries. The Hedberg Public Library in Janesville has the printed versions of both, but both have come online in recent years. You will learn how to access and use them and see what sort of information you will be able to glean from them.

This program describes the 3 maintypes of DNA tests (autosomal-, mitochondrial- and Y-DNA tests), their testing labs, costs and interpretation using case studies for each. It goes into greater depth with the most popular autosomal-DNA for ethnicity estimates and for finding new cousins with whom an ancestor is shared. There is brief discussion about medical insights, adoption and the future of DNA testing.

Rod Gottfredsen, Beloit's favorite barber, will show many old photos. of Beloit (some may never have been seen). Walk down memory lane and enjoy.local history, people and places.

Join Petrea Meier, an expert on Essential Oils and Holistic Wellness, for a session on their benefits for those who are aging. Learn about Essential Oils, their uses, and natural remedies for graceful aging. Experience the power of Essential Oils firsthand.

The Voices of Praise is one of four choirs of the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Beloit, WI, led by its minister of music, Carol Hendrix. The pastor of Emmanuel is Rev. Orienthal J. Newburn. The Voices sing two or three Sundays out of each month and at other functions at EBC, such as funerals, special occasion programs, and at other churches here in the Stateline area. The choir will be singing songs chronicling the history of gospel music and will include songs by well-known spiritual and gospel singers. The choir regularly sings songs written and recorded by such artists as Joe Pace, Mississippi Mass Choir, Maurette Brown Clark, Thompson Community Singers, John P. Kee, Rev. Timothy Wright, Kirk Franklin, and Hezekiah Walker, just to name a few.

The discovery of moveable-type printing revolutionized many aspects of book production in the west after the fifteenth century. While Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press radically changed the way books were published and sold, the following centuries continued to see changes in innovations in producing, illustrating, and marketing printed materials of all kinds. This class will survey the beginnings of the age of print and how the printed book continued to evolve well into the twentieth century–and into our own day.

John Wong is the oldest son of the oldest son of Charles Wong, one of the earliest Chinese immigrants to Beloit. Based on Beatrice MacKenzie’s book on the Wong family and his own reminiscences, John will trace the many lives of a resilient multigenerational family whose experiences parallel the complicated relationship between America and China in the twentieth century. In the early 1900s, Charles Wong moved from Guangdong Province to the United States and opened the Nan King Lo Restaurant in Beloit. Soon after, his wife Yee Shee joined him to build the “Chop House” into a local institution and start a family. In 1938, Charles’s tragic murder left Yee Shee to raise their seven children—ages one through fourteen—on her own. Rather than return to family property in Hong Kong, she and her children stayed in Beloit, buoyed by the friendships they had forged during the worst parts of the 1930s.

Retired local physician, Ken Gold, will discuss data from the medical literature concerning blood-pressure control.

Veterans relive WWII:  A sailor boards the sinking USS Arizona searching for survivors; waves of GIs are slaughtered on Omaha Beach; a POW is captured by headhunters; in Iwo Jima, a sergeant throws himself on a grenade saving his buddies; body parts burn in Dachau’s ovens.  In honor of Veterans Day, Dr. Ulferts will share stories and photographs from his book Always Remember – World War II Through Veterans’ Eyes fulfilling his promise to 140 WWII veterans to keep their stories alive.

Ben will present an update on Alliant Energy’s Clean Energy Blueprint – which is Alliant Energy’s roadmap to accelerate Wisconsin’s transition to renewable energy – something that has become especially important as the organization works to sustain the economic and environmental health of the communities they serve. Alliant Energy’s vision centers around putting more renewable energy to work for their customers, while keeping rates affordable and delivering reliable service to all. Ben will update SLU on how Alliant Energy has been advancing renewable energy for more than a decade and precisely why the company has been accelerating their sustainability goals to include eliminating all coal from their generation fleet by 2040 and aspiring to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity they generate by 2050.

The Stateline Works of Mercy started operations in September 2022 at the United Church of Beloit annex in Beloit. The mission came about after two years of organizing when a small group realized there was a growing need to serve the homeless population with basic services such as free showers and laundry.  The name of the organization comes from the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that we are all called to do; to help those less fortunate in our area. These services are provided in a clean, comfortable, and welcoming environment where we get to know each other and can assist in obtaining referrals to the many services the guests might need. (The organization is currently staffed by all volunteers and continues to see, and serve, more guests every month.)  Come and learn more about our Mission to serve in Beloit!

Abraham Lincoln made two extensive trips to Wisconsin before he was president.  The first was in 1832 as a 22-year-old militia member in the Black Hawk War.  The second was in 1859 as a dark-horse candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination.  This presentation will discuss these two visits and point out the various locations in the State where his visits took him.  Beloit and Janesville feature prominently in both trips.

We are living in a politically polarized country that has caused issues from the governing of the nation to family division. This class will examine polarization including the causes, make-up of the groups, historical perspective, and the effects.  The class is based on a book by Ezra Klein entitled Why We Are Polarized, a book of great insight and a must read for those interested in what is happening in America. Join us for this thought-provoking class that will examine the most significant issue facing our country.

Tom has escorted groups on trips to Salem, Massachusetts. He grew up in a small New England town near Salem and less than a mile from the Rebecca Towne Nurse homestead. He is a direct descendant of Rebecca Nurse, a tragic victim of the witchcraft hysteria

When Mr. Burns, the corrupt corporate mogul in THE SIMPSONS, asks his flunkie, Smithers, whether or not it's wrong to cheat to win a baseball game, Smithers says yes. But when he asks him if it's wrong for him, Mr. Burns, to do so, Smithers says no. Note two things: Mr. Burns thinks the means justify the ends, and Smithers is always loyal. These two aspects of the human drama, means/ends and loyalty, also appear in Shakespeare and give us insight into what we mean by "evil."

Loren will concentrate on the history of the theater building, including all the renovations that have taken place. He will show pictures of many of the shows and comment on backstage stories about many of the shows.

We all suffer from stress. Terra will discuss stress, how it affects your health and wellbeing, and suggest ways of dealing with it.

In this talk, I’ll introduce SLU members to The Worldly Adventures of Master Leng Yubing, Daoist Immortal（Lüye xianzong), an eighteenth-century Chinese language novel that I’m currently translating. After some preliminaries concerning the novel’s author, Li Baichuan, and the themes of his work, I’ll read for you an excerpt of my translation that features a moment of intense domestic discord between a husband and wife. Following that, I’ll interpret the episode with particular reference to issues literary translators tend to deal with.

In this class you will make a beautiful and func-tional spoonrest using our glass template. Using our embellishments (colored glass, dichroic glass, frit, stringers, noodles, rods…) you will decorate the glass to your individual style. We will fire it flat first and then slump it into one of our spoonrest molds. Cost includes base glass, assorted scrap glass and embellishments. If you need a specific color of glass, you will have to purchase it. Glass cutting experience is not necessary! Bring: glasses. No shorts or open-toed shoes.

Jerry Gabrielatos became City Manager of Beloit in spring of 2023.  Since then, he has met many of us and listened to what we have to say about his new home town – our joys and concerns.   His SLU presentation will let us in on what he has learned and what he sees as priorities for the future.  He also will share experiences and settings that influenced him, developing the occupational background that made him assume the administrative leadership of Beloit’s government.  A significant part of his presentation will find him listening to us, and responding.

Dr. Sage will discuss foot care health with us.  Foot discomfort is not normal and foot care is very important to all of us.  Dr. Sage will discuss the importance of taking good care of our feet.

Selected films from the 2024 season of the Beloit International Film Festival will be shown and discussed.

The move to electric vehicles is on its way. The traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles that we all drive will become scarcer in the very near future. Even though you may not like it, the reality is that the momentum towards electric is building more and more every day. Soon you may not care how much gas costs per gallon. This talk will point out some of the factors that have created this change along with some of the challenges that need to be addressed as the industry migrates away from gasoline power in our cars and trucks. Do we have the infrastructure? Do we have the safety? Do we have the ability to make electric vehicles environmentally friendly? Can they be produced economically? You will not get the answers to these questions, but this talk will help give you some foundation as you read and hear more about this massive shift that will affect all of us. Like it or not, here comes the electric revolution.

Join Brenda Plakans for a discussion of Big Hill Park improvement efforts since the 1970s, culminating in the relocation of Welty to Big Hill Center. The class will begin at the Center for a presentation on park history and current Welty activities. Then, weather permitting, we will take a short (half mile roundtrip) walk through the prairie and woodland to experience some of the park. The walk will start from the upper parking lot, so folks can choose whether to participate or not.

There are few cities in the world with as wide ranging and ambitious collections as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. In this session we will continue our virtual tour of the Museum. Each lecture is independent so prior attendance is not necessary. The first session will cover the arts of Africa and Oceania, the Ancient New World, and musical instruments and arms and armor. The second session will discuss costumes and textiles and American Art from 1650-1865.

In this slide-illustrated presentation, Professor White will explain Skinner’s one big idea—the law of effect—and its application to training animals, token economies, teaching machines, and intentional communities like Walden Two. Come learn why this scientist, author, inventor, and social philosopher was voted the most influential psychologist of the 20th century.

"The China Syndrome" is a film about the risks of nuclear power plants. It stars Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda as journalists who witness a malfunction scare at a California nuclear plant, and Jack Lemmon as the facility's conscientious manager. The movie was released on March 16, 1979. Twelve days later, the Three Mile Island nuclear plant incident began in Pennsylvania.

Every seven minutes, someone in this country is dying from an overdose, and 84% of those overdoses involve illicit fentanyl. Anyone with a cell phone and a cash app (Paypal, Venmo, parent's credit card) can buy pills online that the purchaser thinks are pain pills or ADHD medication, but these pills can be pure fentanyl. Death can occur within five minutes if Narcan is not present. McKearn will bring Narcan (the Narcan is free) and resources and advice for concerned family members. If people have concerns or questions before 9/28, contact Brooke at 608-364-4027 (office); 608-774-6202 (cell); or 800-359-9272 (toll free).

John Martin will use his years of experience teaching art at elementary, high school, college and senior levels in this discussion of methods and techniques in art.

This lecture will provide a brief introduction to history, culture, and life-as-lived in Japan. The lecturer has lived in Japan over the course of several years and does both historical and ethnographic research dealing with aspects of life there. Japan’s distinctive history has echoes of its neighbors, China and Korea, as well as many Pacific Ocean territories farther afield. We will begin with an overview of Japan’s fascinating mythology before connecting the narrative to its historical past. Throughout, the lecturer will discuss anecdotes from his own time living in Tokyo, Kyoto, and in a small city (Hikone) on the shores of Lake Biwa, including a tour of sorts through the endlessly fascinating Japanese language.

Learn about our boarding and riding facility in Monroe and its programs such as lessons for individuals of all ages and skill levels and a summer day camp for children ages 6-16. We offer training for your horse for basic skills, western, dressage, and trail as well as space for hands-on learning for Equine Science classes from Highland Community College. Equine Empowerment is our nonprofit that aims to give back to the community, impacting and enriching lives through equine interaction. We strive to reach those who might benefit most from equine interaction such as victims of a traumatic experience, veterans, and those who are financially unable to benefit from equine interaction.

Beloit College’s Wright Museum of Art is a teaching museum that holds about 6,000 works of art in its permanent collection. Significant collections include American Impressionism, Modernist paintings, a collection of 19th century plaster casts, German Expressionism, and Japanese Modern prints. On exhibit will be the collection built by Laura Aldrich Neese, as well as our faculty show featuring George Williams and Scott Espeseth. The museum tour will begin with a talk by Jeff Henderson about a triptych by the late John Nicholson Colt that was inspired by an Edvard Munch painting.

“Lute” Moseley from Beloit wrote often to his parents and younger brother, describing camp life, exhausting marches, bitter conflicts between regimental officers, capture and imprisonment, skirmishes and battles while serving in the Wisconsin 22nd “Abolition Regiment,” 1862-1865. Sara DeLuca will describe her journey in acquiring the letters and researching her recently published book, Heavy Marching. The presentation will include readings from the Moseley letters, interspersed with Civil War music performed by pianist Susan Hellerud (Sara’s identical twin sister) and vocalist Don Ofstedal.

There were 18 genealogy buffs in this May 2022 Heritage Tour to the Lippe region of Lower Saxony Germany. As individuals, we each visited our own ancestral village. I saw my family houses (to 1700), parish church, and nearby towns with their markets, churches, castles, museums, and mausoleums. As a group we saw the Pied Piper, Herman the German, an outdoor living history museum, the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia signing site, a State Archive, and the Bremerhaven Auswanderer (emigrant) Museum. I will show you all these interesting sights. Except for Bremerhaven, they showed no damage from WWII, and are rarely seen by non-German tourists.

Jacqui will explore the history of Kerry—how it grew in 50 years to be an $8 billion global business from five farmers and ten acres—and what exactly it does now.

Scott Marquardt will discuss the local mental health problems in Rock County and surrounding areas. What can we do to help? He will offer suggestions and discuss solutions to this very important problem.

Iran was rocked by months of protests in 2022-23, spurred by the death of a young woman who was in the custody of the morality police. These protests, which spread rapidly across the country, represented the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic since its founding in 1979. What is driving these protests? How has the regime responded?

Regina will recap her recent trip to Kenya and will discuss experiences as a solo traveler. Hendrix visited Kenya to trace her roots and received a warm welcome-home message, inspiring her to pursue unity and to live in the moment. She will include photos of her five-day trip.

We will see a different side of Dr. Tomaro at the opening; he will be playing smooth jazz solos such as Girl from Ipanema, Sunny, and My Favorite Things and singing songs that will work as background music for the event such as Desperado, and some James Taylor, Elton John, and Van Morrison.