Fall 2008 Courses

 Political Communications                   

With Darlene Hantzis, Professor of Communication and Women’s Studies, Indiana State University

The course provides an opportunity for students to pay very close attention to the 2008 Presidential campaign and election. It will enhance student understanding of the communication and social strategies and impact of such events as well as challenge students to think critically about the impact of a presidential election on social and public policies that follow. Much of the textual material for the class will be “of the moment” generated by the campaigns themselves; some foundational material will be required early in the term. After the election, our attention will shift to understanding the effectiveness of the campaign for presidential action. The course includes a significant co-curricular component as our ISU students will be expected to participate in campus-wide opportunities to engage the campaign (e.g. Pizza and Politics, Debate Watch, Election Night).

Here are some additional details about readings/texts: We will read UnSpun early (Prior to Kathleen Jamieson’s visit September 15); Honors students will read a brand new book about exporting American “spin.” We will read from at least one analytical text about presidential campaigns (early). I intend to group students together and have each group monitor a campaign site (probably blogs like Politico.com, FactCheck.org, partisan sites, open sites, etc.). Groups will let the class know what’s happening on those sites. After we have the framework, we will spend most class sessions looking closely at current campaign messages and research about purpose and effectiveness. After the election, we will examine the results and speculate on policy implications if campaign promises align with presidential actions (In another book, which we will read from as well, Kathleen Jamieson concludes that mostly the promises are truthful and aligned).

Date/Time: Tuesdays, September  2- November 25, 2008 from 3:15 - 5:15 PM

Place: ISU Dreiser Hall, Rm 302

Cost: $10

Cameras & Computers: How they Interact

With Todd Riker, ISU Information and Technology Student

This class will cover the basics of what happens after you take your digital pictures: using them with your computer. We will cover how to email photos, online photo services (Snapfish/Flick), the basics of interfacing your camera and computer, and other related topics. It is necessary to have a digital camera for this course. It is also strongly recommended you have a basic knowledge of your digital camera before the course begins.

Date/Time: Mondays, September 15, 22, & 29, 2008 from 4:45 - 6 PM

Place: ISU College of Business, Rm 315

Cost: $10

A Little About Sound

With Mike Moloney, Professor of Physics, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology                                                                                                    

This course offers two lectures with lots of demonstrations and hands-on activities with sound. Waves on strings will be demonstrated, and the connection shown between frequency and wavelength. Beats between two sound sources will be demonstrated. Some loud sounds will be generated from long rods and pipes. Flat plates of different shapes will be made to oscillate, and the shapes of the motion will be shown using a fine powder on the plate (Chladni plates).

Dispersion of sound waves will be demonstrated with a slinky and with piano wire (higher frequencies travel faster than slower ones). The frequencies of a chime (long metal rod) will be demonstrated. Some simple amplifications of sound will be done. A simple speaker consisting of plastic cup and magnets will be shown.

The physics of organ pipes will be demonstrated with simple pvc pipes. A Native American flute will be demonstrated, and the physics of its behavior discussed.

Date/Time: Tuesdays, September 16 & 23, 2008 from  4:20 -6 PM

Place: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Exact location will be sent out before course starts

Cost: $10

Introduction to Wetlands Ecology

With Ella Ingram, Assistant Professor of Applied Biology & Biomedical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Professor Ingram’s current study is to discover whether or not the J.I.C. Wetlands is functioning properly. This course will give an overview of amphibian life as well as the quality of water of the wetlands. The first class will meet in Olin Hall room 101. The last two sessions will be outside. For the last two outside sessions please dress in casual clothes and wear sturdy shoes.

Date/Time: Wednesdays, September 24, October 1 & 8, 2008 from  9:30 AM -11 AM

Place: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Olin Hall 101

Cost: $10

The 2008 Presidential Election: Domestic and Foreign Policy Issues

With Michael Chambers, Political Science Associate Professor International Relations, Comparative Politics, Asian Politics and Department Chair, Indiana State University

This series of discussions will focus on domestic and foreign policy issues that will be (or should be) affecting the presidential election campaign.  The discussions will be led by ISU faculty with expertise in the policy issue areas.

Date/Time: Thursdays, October 2, 9 & 16, 2008 from 4 - 5:30 P.M.

Place: ISU College of Business, Rm 209

Cost: $10

Microsoft Office: Word: Introduction to the leading word processing software

                                                                                                                                                                                                           With Todd Riker, ISU Information and Technology Student

We will cover the ins-and -outs of Microsoft Word: from the basic features (spell check and opening/saving documents) to more advanced features such as creating and printing labels and envelopes. We will also cover topics as the class participants desires. It is necessary to know the fundamentals of computer operation (double-clicking, mouse and key board operation, etc.) for this course. It is recommended you have a personal computer to access outside of class.

Date/Time: Mondays, October 13, 20 & 27, 2008 from 4:45 - 6 P.M.

Place: ISU College of Business, Rm 315

Cost: $10

Going Green

With Debra Israel, ISU Associate Professor of Economics; Paul Reed , Director of ISU Recycling Center; Gregory Bierly, ISU Associate Professor of Geography/Geology/Anthropology

October 23rd will feature a lecture examining what it means to live a “greener” lifestyle, with Debra Israel, Associate Professor of Economics. What is your ecological footprint (your contribution to environmental problems)?  How do each of us contribute to these environmental problems and how can we be a part of the solution? We will explore the challenges faced in tackling environmental problems at the local, statewide, regional, national and global levels.

October 30th will feature a tour and presentation at the ISU Recycling Center. Paul Reed, Director of the Indiana State University Recycle Center, will provide a tour of the facility and discuss the University’s recycling program.  A brief history of the program, the environmental impact, University savings as a result of the program, impact on the Terre Haute Community, and current and future trends of sustainability will be discussed.

November 6th will feature a presentation by Greg Bierly, Associate Professor of Geography & Director of ISU Climatology Laboratory. Essentially we will talk about 1) how the earth's atmospheric systems work, 2) what factors cause climate change and how rapidly, 3) climate change in the past, and 4) how the current projected climate change may manifest, with impacts.

Date/Time: Thursdays, October 23, 30 and November 6, 2008 from 1 -3 P.M.

Place: ISU College of Business, Rm 209

Cost: $10

Discussions on History

With Donald Layton, ISU Professor Emeritus of History

Judgment without Trial: The fate of Japanese-Americans During World War II: This lecture will discuss the internment, in isolated camps, of over 100,000 Japanese Americans, many of them United State citizens, during World War II. There will also be a discussion of the Japanese Americans who fought in the American military during that conflict.

Five Empresses: The Women who ruled Russia: This lecture will discuss the five women in whose hands the fate of Peter the Great’s Empire rested during the 18th Century. Only one is really well known to history--Catherine II or Catherine the Great. The other four, however, played significant roles in the preservation of what we now know as Imperial Russia.

Date/Time: Thursdays, November 13 and 20, 2008 from 1 - 3 P.M.

Place: ISU College of Business, Rm 209

Cost: $10

To register for any of these courses, call the Osher Lifelong Learning registration office, 812-237-8707.