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.

Facilitators: Trisha Crowley and Jean Paley are experienced study group facilitators and have facilitated The Atlantic in past study group sessions.

Read and discuss selections from the recently published Early Stories of Tennessee Williams to explore how they expand understanding of the author, the 1930s time period, and the midwestern locations.

Tentative Schedule:

• Week of July 7: Family in St. Louis: “Middle West” and “Apt F, 3rd Flo, So.”
• Week of July 14: Parental Portraits: “Useless” and “Grenada to West Plains”
• Week of July 21: Sister Rose: “God in the Free Ward” and “Ate Toadstools but Didn’t Quite Die”
• Week of July 28: College Life: “Byron, the Campus Poet” and “Square Pegs”
• Week of Aug 4: Working Despair: “Corduroy Pants” and “Stair to the Roof”
• Week of Aug 11: Ozarks: “Season of Grapes” and “Till One or the Other Gits Back”
• Week of Aug 18: Life and Death: “The Caterpillar Dogs” and “Cold Stream”

 

Reading Materials: Early Stories by Tennessee Williams, edited by Tom Mitchell

Facilitator(s): Tom Mitchell recently published this collection of previously unpublished works by Tennessee Williams. He regularly presents on topics related to the playwright/author at conferences and festivals around the country. He is interested in hearing reactions to the stories and other perspectives.

This study group will introduce participants, who may or may not be familiar with the issues, to current climate change issues that the earth is facing through fact-based information on climate change in the environment. This will include a series of six weeks of presentations, video, and discussion to inform the group of the latest scientific data/ lingo on specific climate systems. The Facilitator will present additional information of the impacts, mitigation, adaptation and/ or resilience efforts of various communities.

Tentative Schedule of Topics:

• Week 1 – “Are we at a Tipping Point” PBS video; Power point on natural cycles and climate systems.
• Week 2 – “Adapt or Leave” PBS video; Power point case studies of communities experiences.
• Week 3 – “The Heat is on” PBS video; Power point extreme heat data for US and Champaign County.
• Week 4 – “Water Whiplash” PBS video; Power point Sea level rise projection and extreme weather events
• Week 5 – “Not Business as Usual” PBS video; Power point mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Week 6 – “Climate Crossroads” PBS video; Power point on community resilience

 

Reading materials: Facilitator will provide on a weekly basis prior to that week's session.

Facilitator(s): While getting a degree in Landscape Architecture, Barbara Schleicher researched various conditions in the environment related to the effects of climate change and mitigating strategies. She also took the U of I Extension course on "Climate Advocacy and Stewardship." This class structure was part of her capstone project. 

 

This study group will introduce participants, who may or may not be familiar with the issues, to current climate change issues that the earth is facing through fact-based information on climate change in the environment. This will include a series of six weeks of presentations, video, and discussion to inform the group of the latest scientific data/ lingo on specific climate systems. The Facilitator will present additional information of the impacts, mitigation, adaptation and/ or resilience efforts of various communities.

Tentative Schedule of Topics:

• Week 1 – “Are we at a Tipping Point” PBS video; Power point on natural cycles and climate systems.
• Week 2 – “Adapt or Leave” PBS video; Power point case studies of communities experiences.
• Week 3 – “The Heat is on” PBS video; Power point extreme heat data for US and Champaign County.
• Week 4 – “Water Whiplash” PBS video; Power point Sea level rise projection and extreme weather events
• Week 5 – “Not Business as Usual” PBS video; Power point mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Week 6 – “Climate Crossroads” PBS video; Power point on community resilience

 

Reading materials: Facilitator will provide on a weekly basis prior to that week's session.

Facilitator(s): While getting a degree in Landscape Architecture, Barbara Schleicher researched various conditions in the environment related to the effects of climate change and mitigating strategies. She also took the U of I Extension course on "Climate Advocacy and Stewardship." This class structure was part of her capstone project. 

Review Machiavelli’s professional career, his ideas, and his impact. Emphasizing his book called The Prince. Discussion around what ideas of Machiavelli are relevant today.

Reading materials: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Facilitator(s): Bruce Walker frequently lectures on Machiavelli with his Western Civilization courses.

Review Machiavelli’s professional career, his ideas, and his impact. Emphasizing his book called The Prince. Discussion around what ideas of Machiavelli are relevant today.

Reading materials: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Facilitator(s): Bruce Walker frequently lectures on Machiavelli with his Western Civilization courses.

The United States has too many low-quality, low-wage jobs. Every country has its share, but those in the United States are especially poorly paid and often without benefits. Meanwhile, overall productivity increases steadily and new technology has transformed large parts of the economy, enhancing the skills and paychecks of higher paid knowledge workers. What’s wrong with this picture? Why have so many workers benefited so little from decades of growth? The Work of the Future shows that technology is neither the problem nor the solution. We can build better jobs if we create institutions that leverage technological innovation and also support workers though long cycles of technological transformation.

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.

Reading material(s): The Work of the Future: Building Better Jobs in an Age of Intelligent Machines by David Autor

Facilitator(s): JIm Kirk has a lifelong interest in Economics, especially Labor and Labor Policy, and has led many OLLI study groups throughout the years.
 

With peace proposals now being floated from Ukraine, the USA, and Europe, the three-year-long war may be coming to an end. Each week we'll discuss recent developments and revisit the causes and course of the war to date.

 

Reading materials:  none

 

Facilitator:  Frank Chadwick previously taught a course on the Ukraine War and then a follow-up study group.

With peace proposals now being floated from Ukraine, the USA, and Europe, the three-year-long war may be coming to an end. Each week we'll discuss recent developments and revisit the causes and course of the war to date.

Reading materials:  none

Facilitator:  Frank Chadwick previously taught a course on the Ukraine War and then a follow-up study group.

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.

Facilitators: Kathleen Holden is a retired UIUC administrator. She has been a member of several interesting OLLI study groups, including The New Yorker.

Marilyn Resch is a retired attorney. Since joining OLLI in late 2013, she has participated in a number of study groups on a variety of topics. The New Yorker is one of her favorites.

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 Econimist is available through many libraries and is also available by subscription.

Facilitator(s): 

Claire Barker has facilitated this group for 4.5 years. For 3 years, she has also participated in the monthly International Economist Readers Group (Britain, Canada, US). She is a retired internist and geriatrician who grew up in a financial family in Toronto and NYC. She’s enjoyed learning economics but even more so the wide variety of issues presented.

Doug Staske is a retired Civil Engineer that has been a member/moderator with The Economist Study Group for the last 7 years. It is a rewarding experience to read a quality weekly publication of the news and stories from around the world, and learn from the experience and ideas of other OLLI members in our study group. He looks forward to each week's meeting.

Jeff Gordon has been facilitator of The Economist study group for eight years until 2019 and now is back as co-facilitatort! Jeff is a retired UIUC researcher and educator in the field of building science. An enduring curiosity about world events led him to The Economist magazine. He enjoys the lively conversation and sharing of viewpoints that the study group encourages.

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 Econimist is available through many libraries and is also available by subscription.

Facilitator(s): 

Claire Barker has facilitated this group for 4.5 years. For 3 years, she has also participated in the monthly International Economist Readers Group (Britain, Canada, US). She is a retired internist and geriatrician who grew up in a financial family in Toronto and NYC. She’s enjoyed learning economics but even more so the wide variety of issues presented.

Doug Staske is a retired Civil Engineer that has been a member/moderator with The Economist Study Group for the last 7 years. It is a rewarding experience to read a quality weekly publication of the news and stories from around the world, and learn from the experience and ideas of other OLLI members in our study group. He looks forward to each week's meeting.

Jeff Gordon has been facilitator of The Economist study group for eight years until 2019 and now is back as co-facilitatort! Jeff is a retired UIUC researcher and educator in the field of building science. An enduring curiosity about world events led him to The Economist magazine. He enjoys the lively conversation and sharing of viewpoints that the study group encourages.

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. 

Reading materials: none

Lead Facilitator(s): Robert O'Daniell has participated as a facilitator in many of the Favorite Films study groups. He works with the other facillitators, all of whom have participated in previous favorite films study groups and have volunteered to show and discuss their favorite film. Some are veteran study group presenters, some are new to the role, and all of them are interested in sharing ideas with the OLLI community in this team-led format.

As an introduction to political theory and science, this standout collection of writings by the great philosophers contains such fundamental concepts as Democracy, the Rule of Law, Justice, Natural Rights, Sovereignty, Citizenship, Power, the State, Revolution, Liberty, Reason, Materialism, Toleration, and the Place of Religion in Society.  They are traced from their origins, through their development and changing patterns, to show how they guide political thinking and institutions today. Among the authors in this volume: Sophocles, Plato, Artistotle, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Cicero, St. Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Martin Luther, Calvin, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, and Montesquieu.

No prerequisites or special knowledge needed.

Topics:

1. Seneca,Marcus Aurelius, and Cicero
2. St. Augustine and St. Aquinas
3. Machiavelli
4. Martin Luther and Calvin
5. Hobbes and Spinoza
6. Locke and Montesquieu

 

Reading Materials: Michael Curtis, The Great Political Theories V.1

Facilitator(s): Bob Strauss is ABD in Philosophy. Norm Klein is a Rabbi who studied philosophy in rabbinic school. Together Together both have led numerous study groups in philosophy at OLLI.

As an introduction to political theory and science, this standout collection of writings by the great philosophers contains such fundamental concepts as Democracy, the Rule of Law, Justice, Natural Rights, Sovereignty, Citizenship, Power, the State, Revolution, Liberty, Reason, Materialism, Toleration, and the Place of Religion in Society.  They are traced from their origins, through their development and changing patterns, to show how they guide political thinking and institutions today. Among the authors in this volume: Sophocles, Plato, Artistotle, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Cicero, St. Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Martin Luther, Calvin, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, and Montesquieu.

No prerequisites or special knowledge needed.

Topics:

1. Seneca,Marcus Aurelius, and Cicero
2. St. Augustine and St. Aquinas
3. Machiavelli
4. Martin Luther and Calvin
5. Hobbes and Spinoza
6. Locke and Montesquieu

 

Reading Materials: Michael Curtis, The Great Political Theories V.1

Facilitator(s): Bob Strauss is ABD in Philosophy. Norm Klein is a Rabbi who studied philosophy in rabbinic school. Together Together both have led numerous study groups in philosophy at OLLI.

This study group is for general audience interested in scientific advance and the possible implications for society. 

Each semester, the group will explore six engaging topics focused on science advances.

Facilitator: Roy Campbell is a computer scientist generally interested in scientific advances and their impact on society.

This study group is for general audience interested in scientific advance and the possible implications for society. 

Each semester, the group will explore six engaging topics focused on science advances.

Facilitator: Roy Campbell is a computer scientist generally interested in scientific advances and their impact on society.

This group will read and discuss the 17 stories in Happiness Is a Warm Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles (Josh Pachter, Ed.). Amazon (which is not the only source for this book) notes that "the lyrics of the Beatles’ inspired the contributing authors to imagine a world in which murder, kidnapping, blackmail, and theft are as common as meter maids and yellow submarines. Each story was inspired by a song from one of the Fab Four’s studio albums: seventeen albums, seventeen songs, seventeen stories....Many of the contributors, like the Beatles themselves, come from England.

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 to read and be ready to discuss two or three stories each week. 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 to the session to further our discussions.

Reading Material(s): Happiness Is a Warm Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles edited by Josh Pachter and published in October 2023 by Down and Out Books.

Facilitator(s): Bev Herzog is a retired research geologist an avid reader of mysteries. She has co-led an OLLI mystery short stories study group since 2011. Sandy Camargo has been a member of this group for several years and has co-led it the past two years. She is a retired Senior Lecturer in English and Adjunct Professor of Cinema Studies at the U of I.

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.

Facilitator: John Palen has been a published poet for more than 50 years, both in literary journals and in nine books. He’s won a few prizes along the way. He has led this group for a number of years and first used this approach to poetry workshopping years ago as part of the Michigan Poets in the Schools program.

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.

Facilitator: John Palen has been a published poet for more than 50 years, both in literary journals and in nine books. He’s won a few prizes along the way. He has led this group for a number of years and first used this approach to poetry workshopping years ago as part of the Michigan Poets in the Schools program.

Each week we meet to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages we’ve written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. We write 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

Facilitator: Frank Chadwick is a published historian and novelist, and his Desert Shield Fact Book reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list. He has facilitated numerous OLLI study groups and taught many OLLI courses, including Writing the Novel; The 1973 Arab Israeli War; World War II: A Look Behind the Curtain; Greece and Persia: The War that Created History twice; and The Art and Craft of Writing as Portrayed in Film.

Each week we meet to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages we’ve written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. We write 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

Facilitator: Frank Chadwick is a published historian and novelist, and his Desert Shield Fact Book reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list. He has facilitated numerous OLLI study groups and taught many OLLI courses, including Writing the Novel; The 1973 Arab Israeli War; World War II: A Look Behind the Curtain; Greece and Persia: The War that Created History twice; and The Art and Craft of Writing as Portrayed in Film.