POLIS Spring 2013 Courses and/or Lecturers
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1. Title: What They Don't Want You To Know.
This is a wide ranging presentation on interesting historical information that is not widely known, as well as some serious debunking of commonly accepted notions. It is largely centered on economics questions and events, but strays a bit from time to time just for fun. (1 session)
Lecturer: Burnard McHone, , Mr. McHone was born in Adams County and raised in Bowen, Illinois. He served in the U.S. Army, and attended Roosevelt University, De Paul University, and University of Illinois studying economics, finance, and
public accounting. After 9 years in state and federal law enforcement, Mr. McHone had a 30-year career as a senior executive at two commercial banks. He retired as president of Illini Corporation and Illini Bank in 2007, both of
Springfield, Illinois, and moved to Quincy.
Date: Jan 15
2. Title: African-American Slave Narratives
In the nineteenth century, as America moved toward literary independence, the autobiographical narrative became a very popular genre. British writers traveling our shores, Native American leaders, well-known outlaws, and many others used it to convey a wide variety of adventures. African-American slave narratives offer an especially interesting use of this genre and a unique window into the time period. Our course will examine segments of narratives by Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Jacobs. We will place them in their historical context, reading them in conjunction with sections of Abraham Lincoln's writings. We will also explore the literary traditions they draw from and those to which they contribute.
Lecturer: Caroline Collins, PhD, Assistant Professor of English, Quincy University
Dates: Jan 17, 24
3. Title: Quincy Architecture
A light overview of the earlier styles of Quincy Architecture to include; Classical Revival, Italianate, Romanesque, Prairie, Vernacular, Gothic and others.
Lecturer: David Schlembach, MBA, LEED-AP. Vice President of Architecture for Poepping, Stone, Bach and Associates, Licensed Architect in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, Member of Quincy Preservation Commission, Member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Date: Jan 25
4. Title: Attention, Memory, and Cognition
We will discuss the nature of human thinking with particular focus on attention and memory. In particular we will discuss many of the limitations of our attention and memory and discuss many of the common errors that occur that lead us to fail to notice things or fail to remember them.
Lecturer: Brian C. Nolan, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology, Quincy University
Dates: Jan 29, 31
5. Title: Rules of War: An Oxymoron?
Born on the battlefield, the Red Cross has been educating citizens of the world about the rules of war since its founder initiated the first Geneva Convention in 1864. What are the rules, and how well do they work? Join Red Cross volunteer and International Humanitarian Law Instructor Bob Wiltz in this four-hour interactive course and learn how the rules limit warfare, protect individuals, and introduce humanity in the midst of war.
Lecturer: Bob Wiltz, PhD. is a practicing clinical psychologist and recipient of the 2012 Illinois Governor's Volunteer Service Award for his years of volunteer work with the American Red Cross. He has been a part of the Red Cross effort to disseminate information about international humanitarian law to citizens of the United States for the last five years.
Dates: Feb 1, 8
6. Title: Investing: The Reason, The Choices, and Possible Outcomes.
This is a course on what everyone should know about investing their funds. This begins with listing and analyzing all the investment choices one has, a brief history of investing from con games to Ponzi schemes to legitimate investment, the background to modern investing, an explanation of financial markets including the bond and stock markets, and ends with a recommended plan to guide the intelligent (and not so intelligent) investor. (2 sessions)
Lecturer: Burnard McHone, Mr. McHone was born in Adams County and raised in Bowen, Illinois. He served in the U.S. Army, and attended Roosevelt University, De Paul University, and University of Illinois studying economics, finance, and
public accounting. After 9 years in state and federal law enforcement, Mr. McHone had a 30-year career as a senior executive at two commercial banks. He retired as president of Illini Corporation and Illini Bank in 2007, both of
Springfield, Illinois, and moved to Quincy.
Dates: Feb 5, 7
7. Title: History of the Red Cross
The American Red Cross has become known as the premiere humanitarian organization in the nation. In this course we will cover its rich 131 year legacy, from its humble beginnings to becoming the official organization chartered by Congress to provide aid to the armed forces and disaster victims at home and abroad.
Learn the story behind Red Cross founder, and former schoolteacher Clara Barton, who founded the Red Cross with a group of friends in 1881. We will also discuss the European organization, known as the International Committee of the Red Cross, which inspired Clara to create the American Red Cross in the United States.
Since the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Red Cross has served the armed forces and their families throughout war and peacetime. Learn about their role in major conflicts such as World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, the Persian-Gulf War and our current war in the Middle East.
We will also discuss the American Red Cross's involvement in times of national tragedy such as the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, when 3 million received assistance from the Red Cross. The Red Cross has also been involved in numerous natural disasters and has aided the victims and communities of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and locally during the floods of 1993 and 2008.
Currently 1.2 million American are involved with the American Red Cross. Over 60 million Americans have been certified through Red Cross courses. Come. Learn about the organization that has responded to the call of disaster for more than 125 years.
Lecturers: Amanda Chavez, AmeriCorps Member
Date: Feb 12
8. Title: The Federal Idea
An overview of attempts to create federal systems of governance, past and present, and a consideration of how the federal idea could help meet global challenges in the future.
Lecturer: Robert Gervasi – PhD, President Quincy University
Dates: Feb 14, 21
9. Title: Sustaining wildlife with native plants
The talk will focus on the advantages of using native species in our yards and gardens. Overdevelopment has left back yards as the last remains of habitat for wildlife. Yet, for decades most have extensively used exotic trees, shrubs, and flowers to vegetate their yards. Such non-natives support almost no insect herbivores, which mean no butterflies and no food for birds. Native plants provide a broad food chain, allowing many desirable species to thrive. This slide-lecture presentation will show lots of colorful photos of plants and animals.
Lecturer: Joe Coelho, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, Quincy University
Date: Feb 15
10. Title: Historic Quincy Churches - Unitarian Church
DThis course will explore the history of Quincy's Unitarian Church, established in 1839. The current location of the church is the fourth in its history. The church, located at 1479 Hampshire St., was built in 1913. The course will take place at the church itself.
Lecturer: Robert Manning, PhD, Professor of Philosophy, QU
Date: Feb 22
11. Title: Plea Agreements: Dirty words or an important tool.
Why are "plea agreements" used in the judicial system? The variables that affect the types of plea agreements, as well as the important role they play within the criminal justice system will be explored and discussed.
Lecturer: Jonathan Barnard, Adams County State's Attorney
Date: Feb 26
12. Title: Life and Death Planning: What Everyone MUST Know to Protect Themselves and Their Loved Ones!
In this two-hour information-packed course, participants will learn: Legal solutions to reduce the stress that a healthcare crisis can cause in a family, the NEW 2012 Nursing Home/Medicaid laws that are being implemented in Illinois, the truth about Hospice and the benefits that can help ease difficult end of life decisions.
Lecturer: Jeri Conboy, PhD – Director of Blessing Hospice and Palliative Care
Bill Siebers, Elder Care & Estate Planning Attorney
Date: Feb 28
13. Title: Astronomy 102
We will finish our discussion of the stars by investigating variable stars, binary and multiple star systems, T Tauri stars, super nova and star clusters. We will then turn to the Milky Way and other galaxies beyond the Milky Way. Time permitting; we'll discuss what astronomers know about dark matter & dark energy. Come get some answers to your questions about our amazing universe.
Lecturer: Jerry Collins, retired electrical engineer and manager, high school/college math and science instructor
Dates: Mar 1, 15, 22
14. Title: The Construction of Sexual Identity in Shakespeare: The Examples of Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus
Sexual identity is often thought of as something given by nature. In Shakespeare, it seems clear that sexual identity is also a product of culture. We'll look at two of Shakespeare's late plays with this proposition in mind: that sexual identity is largely fashioned by the pressure of society. The struggle of the individual to deal with this pressure may be studied as an important element in many of Shakespeare's plays, and it seems to me an especially excruciating struggle in the two tragedies we'll read together.
Lecturer: Joe Messina, PhD, Emeritus Professor of English, Quincy University
Dates: Mar 12, 14, 19, 21
15. Title: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time III -- John's Gospel
What is the relationship of John's Gospel to the other three Gospels? What is John's particular understanding of Jesus? What is the purpose of his miracle stories, and his long dialogues? How does he understand discipleship? What elements of the passion and resurrection narratives are peculiar to John?
Lecturer: Leonard Biallas, PhD, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Theology, Q U
Dates: Apr 2, 4
16. Title: What Americans Need to know about Islam
Description This course will focus on the following topics.
• Verses from the Qur'an describing the main focus of Islam.
• Islam's emphasizes on the interconnectivity of all the people – universal humanity.
• What Islam is and what it is not.
• Islam, peace, and justice
• What Islam says about violence and terrorism?
• Islamic sharia.
• How U. S. government deals with the Muslim world? The good and bad policies.
• Islam and the current financial crisis.
• Islam and environmental issues
• Building together a strong America. What entails Islam's vision of a strong, peaceful and prosperous America and the world?
Lecturer: Mohammad A. Siddighi , Ph. D. Director, Journalism Program, Professor of Journalism & Public Relations, Faculty Adviser, PRSSA President, Islamic Center of Macomb, Department of English and Journalism Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455
Date: Apr 5
17. Title: Sultans of the Ottoman Empire
The course will look at the history of the Ottoman Empire through the lives of some of its most important Sultans. The subject is timely because the Ottomans ruled the Middle East from the beginning of the Renaissance until the end of World War I. Some historians believe that contemporary instability can be explained by the failure to find an effective replacement.
Lecturer: Dr. C. Patrick Hotle, The John A. Sperry Endowed Chair of Humanities Associate Professor of History Director of Study Abroad Office, Culver Stockton College
Dates: Apr 11, 18
18. Title: "Talent Education: Can talent be taught/learned?"
This course will discuss Suzuki's Talent Education and will include a performance by Suzuki Strings of Quincy. Violin students from 4-60 something and who are students of Robin Walden will be featured.
Lecturer: Robin Walden – Certified Suzuki Instructor on Suzuki Principles in Action, Violin Foundation 1A, Violin Foundation 1B, Violin Book 2, Violin Book 3, Violin Book 4, Violin Book 5, Violin Book 6, Violin Book 7, Violin Book 8, Violin Practicum
Date: Apr 12
19. Title: Holocaust – Ghettoization and Aktion Reinhard death camps
I would like to cover 2 areas of the Holocaust.. The first deals with ghettoization. I will explain why, when, and how the Nazis set up ghettos in the former Poland, Eastern Europe and occupied Russia and also how the Jewish people tried to survive as human beings in the ghettos.
The second topic I will address is the Aktion Reinhard death camps. Though Auschwitz is by far the most well known of the Nazi death camps, the Aktion Reinhard death camps (Chlemno, Sobibor, Blezec and Treblinka) actually murdered far more people than did the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. We know much more about the Auschwitz murders because a number of prisoners survived to talk about it since this camp was a concentration/work camp as well as a death camp. The Aktion Reinhard death camps in contrast were only murder centers not work camps meaning there were literally only a handful of survivors to tell the story about the murders of millions of Jews. We will explain when, where, and how these camps were set up and when and why these were shut down long before Auschwitz.
Lecturer: Wendell Mauter, PhD, Professor of History, QU
Dates: Apr 16, 23
20. Title: Lincoln
Despite the huge quantity of books (and now movies) on Lincoln's life, there are aspects of the Lincoln story not generally known. My purpose is to address some of these lesser known themes. But I need to point out that I am not into trivia. I would be delighted if our sessions stimulate numerous questions.
Lecturer: David Costigan, Emeritus Professor of History, QU
Dates: Apr 19, 26
21. Title: Clinical Pharmacy in the US
We will discuss the history and progression of Clinical Pharmacy in the US as well as questions to ask your pharmacist. Additionally, I will go over some common cardiovascular medications.
Lecturer: Andrea Chbeir, Pharm.D., BCPS Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, Cardiology Clinical Specialist, Blessing Hospital
Date: Apr 30
22. Title: Country Blues Series
The "Carolina/Piedmont" Style. One of several early blues guitar styles, marked by its distinctive "alternating base" rhythm, with roots in Ragtime and Celtic music, and popularized by artists such as Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, John Hurt and others, this unique branch on the blues guitar "tree" will be explained and performed.
Lecturer: Jonathan Barnard, Adams County State's Attorney
Date: May 2