The Atlantic is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science.

It was a monthly magazine for 144 years until 2001, when it published 11 issues; it has published 10 issues yearly since 2003. It dropped “Monthly” from the cover beginning with the January/February 2004 issue, and officially changed the name in 2007. Each week the group will select up to 3 articles for discussion the next week. The articles can come from the magazine or the short daily articles available electronically via The Atlantic app.

New members are welcome as everyone brings expertise and a viewpoint to the table that enriches the discussion.

Reading Material: All participants are expected to have access to The Atlantic in print or digitally. The Atlantic is available through many libraries (including the University Library with OLLI Scholar iCard access) and is also available by subscription.

Weekly presentation by class members on a poet along with selected readings. Wild Card presentation of two poems by different class members. A presentation might also focus on a group of poets or a poetic movement, with representative poems.

The first session will involve a presentation about a poetic topic selected by co-facilitators with representative poems. Wild Card poems will be solicited from the class roster. At the first class, a signup sheet will be circulated with dates for class members to participate in leading a session.

Weekly presentation by class members on a poet along with selected readings. Wild Card presentation of two poems by different class members. A presentation might also focus on a group of poets or a poetic movement, with representative poems.

The first session will involve a presentation about a poetic topic selected by co-facilitators with representative poems. Wild Card poems will be solicited from the class roster. At the first class, a signup sheet will be circulated with dates for class members to participate in leading a session.

This group will read stories by 20th century dramatist Tennessee Williams. We will discuss characters, plots, language and ideas from each story. Although this study group will follow-up on "Early Stories by Tennessee Williams," it is not necessary for participants to have been in that group.

Reading materials: Most of the stories will come from The Collected Stories of Tennessee Williams, Introduction by Gore Vidal, New Directions, 1985. A few stories will come from unpublished manuscripts shared by Tom Mitchell.

In the 1960’s, painting had been declared dead. Conceptualism and Minimalism became the “Avant-Garde” and painters, especially of the figure, were pushed aside. However, in the late 1970’s and 1980’s painters asserted themselves and showed that painting had not died. They challenged the coolness and detachment of the styles of the Avante-Garde. They drew upon paint’s emotional and narrative power. The style of this time-period is sometimes referred to as “Neo-Expressionism.” Painting of this period, however, went beyond the expressionism of the early 1900’s. This Study Group will follow artists who painted in Germany, came to full recognition in the 1980’s and served as an inspiration to artists in other countries for the revitalization of painting. This group will first observe how German artists, who had been very young during the war, used paint to express their angst over the role of Germany in WWII and its division into East and West after the War. Then the group will see how they and younger artists used paint to express their attitudes about the post-war economy and society’s restrictions. Some of these artists will deconstruct painting to create an uncertain yet fertile field for new possibilities.

Reading materials and sources: The facilitator will post art for each week in the Study Group Downloads. She will send optional readings to members of the group.

Note: This study group is primarily lecture/presentation style.

In the 1960’s, painting had been declared dead. Conceptualism and Minimalism became the “Avant-Garde” and painters, especially of the figure, were pushed aside. However, in the late 1970’s and 1980’s painters asserted themselves and showed that painting had not died. They challenged the coolness and detachment of the styles of the Avante-Garde. They drew upon paint’s emotional and narrative power. The style of this time-period is sometimes referred to as “Neo-Expressionism.” Painting of this period, however, went beyond the expressionism of the early 1900’s. This Study Group will follow artists who painted in Germany, came to full recognition in the 1980’s and served as an inspiration to artists in other countries for the revitalization of painting. This group will first observe how German artists, who had been very young during the war, used paint to express their angst over the role of Germany in WWII and its division into East and West after the War. Then the group will see how they and younger artists used paint to express their attitudes about the post-war economy and society’s restrictions. Some of these artists will deconstruct painting to create an uncertain yet fertile field for new possibilities.

Reading materials and sources: The facilitator will post art for each week in the Study Group Downloads. She will send optional readings to members of the group.

Note: This study group is primarily lecture/presentation style.

This group will watch and discuss the six one-hour episodes of The Leopard, a historical drama of the Italian Risorgimento (Unification) of 1860. It is available as a Netflix series and will be viewed in that form. The six episodes of the series deal with members of an aristocratic family whose way of life is threatened by the upheavals of Italian unification. Background information will be provided by the facilitator before each episode is viewed.

Suggested reading materials: Giuseppe di Lampedusa, The Leopard (1960) is the novel on which the series is based and could be read in conjunction with the films. A few essays and other handouts will be provided to the group members.

This group will watch and discuss the six one-hour episodes of The Leopard, a historical drama of the Italian Risorgimento (Unification) of 1860. It is available as a Netflix series and will be viewed in that form. The six episodes of the series deal with members of an aristocratic family whose way of life is threatened by the upheavals of Italian unification. Background information will be provided by the facilitator before each episode is viewed.

Suggested reading materials: Giuseppe di Lampedusa, The Leopard (1960) is the novel on which the series is based and could be read in conjunction with the films. A few essays and other handouts will be provided to the group members.

This group will watch films that deal with resistance to authoritarian, fascism and oppressive regimes.

Tentative list of Films: 

• Alone in Berlin (Germany)
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Iran)
• Z (Greece)
• Never Look Away (Germany)
• Leviathan (Russia)
• I am Still Here (Brazil)
• Night Train to Lisbon (Portugal)

 

The New Yorker provides a unique mix of articles and reviews on current topics, literature, and the arts. This study group is designed for readers of The New Yorker who want to get together to discuss current articles from the magazine. The weekly selection of the articles is made by a consensus of the group. Members are encouraged to choose and lead the discussion of one or more articles during the sessions. When not leading the discussion, members are encouraged to participate in the discussions. New members are welcome as everyone brings expertise and a viewpoint to the table that enriches the discussion.

Reading materials: The New Yorker magazine. Participants are expected to have access to The New Yorker in print or digitally. The New Yorker is available through many libraries and is also available by subscription.

This study group is a follow-up to the Fall 2025 course that surveyed Modern Art of India, but having taken the course is not a prerequisite for this study group. The study group will go into a more detailed consideration of selected artists and artworks from that course, and especially of art historical issues (such as artist intention, viewer reception, cultural context, formal elements) related to the artists and works. Participants will be encouraged to express their own ideas about and reactions to the artworks. This group will review each artist, artwork, and idea before beginning the discussion on the topic, so that prior acquaintance is not required. What we learn from this focused study of artists, artworks, and art historical issues is not limited to Indian art only; it will be transferable to the study of art of any time and place.

Each session will likely discuss a few (2 or 3) artists, works, or issues (that is, about 30 minutes per topic). Topics are flexible, depending on student interest and suggestions. However, one session will be dedicated to discussing some of the South Asian artists and works that will be highlighted on the connected November 14th OLLI trip to The Art Institute of Chicago and the South Asian Institute (SAI).

The text for this class will be "Object Lessons": the Paris Review Presents the Art of the Short Story. To create this anthology editors of the Review asked 20 well-known authors to select their favorite from the Review's archive and add an introduction to the story. The Review, founded in 1953, is known for introducing new voices to the literary scene. Authors whose work is represented here include, for example, Joy Williams, Raymond Carver, Jorge Luis Borges, and Lydia Davis, as well as less familiar names. This group will read and discuss one or two stories per week.

Reading materials: “Object Lessons”: the Paris Review Presents the Art of the Short Story. Lorin Stein and Sadie Stein, eds. (New York: Picador) 2019

The British Economist Magazine supplies an outside viewpoint on the United States and a deep historical understanding of the rest of the world. It tackles economic and financial issues in detail but most often writes about the weekly issues in the news in impressive depth. All areas of the world are covered as are updates in science, justice, international relationships, climate change, race, cybersecurity, family, and culture. We welcome new members wholeheartedly as everyone brings expertise and a viewpoint to the table that enriches the discussion.

Reading Material: The Economist Magazine. All participants are expected to have access to The Economist in print or digitally. The Economist is available through many libraries and is also available by subscription.

The British Economist Magazine supplies an outside viewpoint on the United States and a deep historical understanding of the rest of the world. It tackles economic and financial issues in detail but most often writes about the weekly issues in the news in impressive depth. All areas of the world are covered as are updates in science, justice, international relationships, climate change, race, cybersecurity, family, and culture. We welcome new members wholeheartedly as everyone brings expertise and a viewpoint to the table that enriches the discussion.

Reading Material: The Economist Magazine. All participants are expected to have access to The Economist in print or digitally. The Economist is available through many libraries and is also available by subscription.

This study group will read and discuss 2 books:

The Work of The Future, Building Better Jobs in An Age of AI and Intelligent Machines by David Autor

Building on findings from the multiyear MIT Task Force on the Work of the Future, the book argues that we must foster institutional innovations that complement technological change. Skills programs that emphasize work-based and hybrid learning (in person and online), for example, empower workers to become and remain productive in a continuously evolving workplace. Industries fueled by new technology that augments workers can supply good jobs, and federal investment in R&D can help make these industries worker friendly. We must act to ensure that the labor market of the future offers benefits, opportunity, and a measure of economic security to all.            

Leading Unionized Workforces in the Age of AI: Managing Skilled and Unskilled Labor in a Changing World by Nick Gilewski, PhD

Managing unionized workforces has never been more challenging - or more essential - than in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. Leading Unionized Workforces in the Age of AI is the essential guide for managers, HR professionals, union stewards, and executives seeking to lead skilled and unskilled labor with confidence, clarity, and integrity.

Six OLLI members will present six of their favorite films, one per week. Each facilitator will present a film of their choice, giving a brief introduction, then the film itself, and then lead a discussion of the film with some possible additional background provided.

Russia's economy seems to be faltering. Europe seems to be stepping up with increased military assistance for Ukraine and a renewed committment to resisting Russian expansionism. The USA seems to have hardened its position against Russia and is lifting restrictions on how Ukraine uses US-supplied weapons. Ukraine seems to be fielding a new generation of cruise missiles capable of striking deep against Russia's defense industry and oil industry.  What's true and what's propaganda?  What's coming next? We'll try to sort that out week by week in this study group.

 

Russia's economy seems to be faltering. Europe seems to be stepping up with increased military assistance for Ukraine and a renewed committment to resisting Russian expansionism. The USA seems to have hardened its position against Russia and is lifting restrictions on how Ukraine uses US-supplied weapons. Ukraine seems to be fielding a new generation of cruise missiles capable of striking deep against Russia's defense industry and oil industry.  What's true and what's propaganda?  What's coming next? We'll try to sort that out week by week in this study group.

An informative and wide-ranging exploration of how AI will alter every facet of democracy, and how to harness the technology to distribute rather than concentrate power.

AI will change democracy. The only question is how. AI’s impact on democracy will go far beyond headline-grabbing political deepfakes and automated misinformation. Everywhere it will be used, it will create risks and opportunities to shake up long-standing power structures. In this highly readable and advisedly optimistic book, Rewiring Democracy, security technologist Bruce Schneier and data scientist Nathan Sanders cut through the AI hype and examine the myriad ways that AI could dramatically change every aspect of democracy - for both good and ill.The authors describe how the sophistication of AI will fulfill demands from lawmakers for more complex legislation, reducing deference to the executive and altering the balance of power between legislators and administrators. They show how the scalability of AI is enabling civil servants to enforce regulations on corporations used to skirting the rules, which will reshape private-sector behavior. They also explain how both lawyers and judges will leverage the speed of AI, upending how we think about law enforcement, litigation, and dispute resolution.Whether these outcomes enhance or degrade democracy depends on how we shape the development and use of AI technologies. Powerful players in private industry and public life are already using AI to increase their influence, and AIs built by corporations to drive shareholder value aren’t designed to deliver the fairness and trust necessary to enhance democratic governance. But, steered in the right direction, the broad scope of an AI-augmented democracy would help citizens build consensus, express their voice, and organize against anti-democratic policies.

Democracy is facing new challenges worldwide, and AI will be a part of that. It can inform, empower, and engage citizens. It can also disinform, disempower, and disengage them. The choice is up to us. Schneier and Sanders blaze the path forward, showing us how we can use it to make an AI-infused democracy stronger and more participatory.

Reading material: The study group will read from Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship by Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders (Release date: Oct 21, 2025)

An informative and wide-ranging exploration of how AI will alter every facet of democracy, and how to harness the technology to distribute rather than concentrate power.

AI will change democracy. The only question is how. AI’s impact on democracy will go far beyond headline-grabbing political deepfakes and automated misinformation. Everywhere it will be used, it will create risks and opportunities to shake up long-standing power structures. In this highly readable and advisedly optimistic book, Rewiring Democracy, security technologist Bruce Schneier and data scientist Nathan Sanders cut through the AI hype and examine the myriad ways that AI could dramatically change every aspect of democracy - for both good and ill.The authors describe how the sophistication of AI will fulfill demands from lawmakers for more complex legislation, reducing deference to the executive and altering the balance of power between legislators and administrators. They show how the scalability of AI is enabling civil servants to enforce regulations on corporations used to skirting the rules, which will reshape private-sector behavior. They also explain how both lawyers and judges will leverage the speed of AI, upending how we think about law enforcement, litigation, and dispute resolution.Whether these outcomes enhance or degrade democracy depends on how we shape the development and use of AI technologies. Powerful players in private industry and public life are already using AI to increase their influence, and AIs built by corporations to drive shareholder value aren’t designed to deliver the fairness and trust necessary to enhance democratic governance. But, steered in the right direction, the broad scope of an AI-augmented democracy would help citizens build consensus, express their voice, and organize against anti-democratic policies.

Democracy is facing new challenges worldwide, and AI will be a part of that. It can inform, empower, and engage citizens. It can also disinform, disempower, and disengage them. The choice is up to us. Schneier and Sanders blaze the path forward, showing us how we can use it to make an AI-infused democracy stronger and more participatory.

Reading material: The study group will read from Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship by Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders (Release date: Oct 21, 2025)

This semester we will read 18 of the 20 stories in The Best Mystery Stories of the year 2024 edited by Anthony Horowitz, with series editor Otto Pennzler.

Horowitz concluded his introduction with "What it (crime fiction) offers is kindness, decency, justice, and truth in a world that inclreasingly seems to have none and at a time when is has never mattered more".

No prerequisites or special knowledge is needed except the ability to research an author and start a discussion of the work. Group members will be expected read and be ready to discuss three or four stories each week, totaling 50 to 75 pages. Group members will also be asked to volunteer to lead discussions of a story or two, including researching the authors of the stories and developing study questions.

Members are all invited to go out to lunch after the session to further our discussions. 

Reading material(s): The Best Mystery Stories of the year 2024 edited by Anthony Horowitz, with series editor Otto Pennzler

This will be a continuation of the discussions on Climate Change that began in the Summer 2025 Study Group. This series of discussions will feature actions both public and private regarding the mitigation of effects of the change; resilience of the communities and hope that humans will work to stabilize the climate. Information for each meeting with be presented both before the session and during the session.

Topics: (subject to change)

• Illinois efforts to mitigate climate change
• Green Construction
• Global Actions for resilience
• Art and Climate Change
• Native groups approach to Climate Change mitigation and resiliency
• Physical effects on the human body as result of the climate changing

(These topics may not be the exact order for discussion.)

This will be a continuation of the discussions on Climate Change that began in the Summer 2025 Study Group. This series of discussions will feature actions both public and private regarding the mitigation of effects of the change; resilience of the communities and hope that humans will work to stabilize the climate. Information for each meeting with be presented both before the session and during the session.

Possible topics: (subject to change)

• Illinois efforts to mitigate climate change
• Green Construction
• Global Actions for resilience
• Art and Climate Change
• Native groups approach to Climate Change mitigation and resiliency
• Physical effects on the human body as result of the climate changing

 

(These topics may not be the exact order for discussion.)

Participants will write poems and share them with the group weekly. Special attention is paid to using model poems by published poets to learn about the tools in the poet’s tool kit and how to use them. No previous experience with reading or writing poetry is needed. For each session, we’ll start with an open mic-style reading of our poems, followed by discussion of the next model poem, then some light critiquing of our poems by study group participants.

Reading Materials: Facilitator will provide materials.

Participants will write poems and share them with the group weekly. Special attention is paid to using model poems by published poets to learn about the tools in the poet’s tool kit and how to use them. No previous experience with reading or writing poetry is needed. For each session, we’ll start with an open mic-style reading of our poems, followed by discussion of the next model poem, then some light critiquing of our poems by study group participants.

Reading Materials: Facilitator will provide materials.

Each week this group meets to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages members have written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. This group includes all genres and forms: children’s stories, young adult, science fiction, historical fiction, memoir, poetry, song, travel – you name it.

All levels of experience are welcome. We all start somewhere, and the best place is in the company of those who are working toward the same goals.

Reading materials: None

Each week this group meets to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages members have written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. This group includes all genres and forms: children’s stories, young adult, science fiction, historical fiction, memoir, poetry, song, travel – you name it.

All levels of experience are welcome. We all start somewhere, and the best place is in the company of those who are working toward the same goals.

Reading materials: None