Lifelong Learning Institute provides unique educational opportunities to seniors this fall

GOSHEN, Ind. – The fall course schedule offered by The Lifelong Learning Institute of Elkhart County ranges from theater, art and music to local history, health care and international issues.

The courses are designed to provide stimulating and affordable short courses in many fields for active seniors. Any interested adult may participate. The two-week courses are held at area locations including Goshen College and the Goshen Public Library.

The upcoming courses include:

"Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing" with Ervin Beck, on Aug. 31, Sept. 2, 7 and 9, 2-3:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Administration Building Room 28
Love and war, wit and wisdom, men and women, seeing and knowing — all are examined in one of Shakespeare's best romantic comedies. Instead of reading the text, Kenneth Branagh's wonderful film version will be viewed starring Branagh, Emma Thompson and Denzel Washington. With introductions to each segment and discussions following, the class will examine the play's complexities and understand why Shakespeare is as famous for comedies as for tragedies. Beck is professor emeritus of English at Goshen College, where he regularly taught Shakespeare.

"Islam, Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict" with Marlin Jeschke, on Sept. 13, 15, 20, and 22, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Music Center Room 110
A brief survey of Islam to uncover its basic, controlling beliefs, to examine Western claims of "terrorism" against Islam's claim to be a religion of peace and to assess the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the light of the biblical vision. Jeschke taught world religions, philosophy and theology at Goshen College for 33 years and published several books in theology as well as Rethinking Holy Land: A Study in Salvation Geography.

"Women Artists of the 20th Century" with Judy Wenig-Horswell, on Sept. 27, 29, Oct. 4 and 6, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Music Center Room 110
This class will offer a survey of selected women artists working in a range of media during the 20th century, including Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Judy Chicago and Lorna Simpson. It will look at their work, processes and intents in order to understand how being female may or may not have influenced their art, including their connections (or not) to the women's movement of the 1970s. Wenig-Horswell recently retired from Goshen College as a professor of art.

"Joshua: The Bible's Most Dangerous Book" with Jim Brenneman, on Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 3-4:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Music Center Room 110
From new atheists to most Christians, the book of Joshua has been a stumbling block to belief in God or in the peace-loving God of Jesus. The class will learn "how the Bible came to be" and why that matters for reading the Bible's most violent book. The class will enter the inner biblical debate over ownership of the holy land, the person of Joshua as violent savior and how the book might serve as divine revelation. Bring a Bible to class. Brenneman is president of Goshen College and an Old Testament scholar.

"Local and Indiana History 101" with Earlene Nofziger, on Oct. 11, 13, 18 and 20, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Music Center Room 110
Explore Indiana history and the mysteries of Indiana's underground railroad by way of several former teachers and two field trips. The class will examine the elegance and historical contexts of the century-old Ruthmere mansion in Elkhart and the Copshaholm mansion in South Bend. Entrance fees of $6 and $6.50 are extra. Earlene Nofziger is a retired Goshen elementary teacher and principal and the current president of the Goshen Historical Society.

"Local Perspectives on Health Care Delivery" with Delmar Good, on Oct. 25, 27, Nov. 1 and 3, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Music Center Room 110
How healthy is our community? How might federal health care "reform" affect us? What resources will help us be a "healthy community"? Four guests will address these questions: Dr. Daniel Nafziger, Elkhart County Health Officer, will discuss the local status. Neil Pickett, Director of Health Policy Research for Clarian, will discuss implications of recent national reform legislation. Pam Karsen, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Goshen Health System, will discuss implications of Magnet status for Goshen General Hospital and key trends in nursing. Dr. James Gingerich will reflect on his learnings as a founder and director of Maple City Health Care Center. Good recently retired as professor of economics at Goshen College and is a member of the Goshen Health System Board of Directors.

"Aging: Living One's Passion" with Anne Hershberger, on Nov. 8, 10, 15 and 17, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Music Center Room 110
Passionate people attract our attention. The class will ask, "From where did this passion emerge, and can this excitement be sustained in the later years?" Four guests will share what they have learned from different areas of experience: the arts, finances, education and bioethics. As part of the discussion, class participants will be invited to share their own observations and experiences. Hershberger is a retired associate professor of nursing at Goshen College and has edited several books related to ethics and sexuality across the life span.

"Festival Music and Beyond" with Mary Oyer, on Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 6 and 8, 12:30-2 p.m. in the Goshen College Music Center Room 153
The annual "Festival of Carols" (Dec. 3-5) features Goshen College students and faculty with a new set of Christmas music — ancient and modern. The class will study these works in preparation and hope to attend the Dec. 2 dress rehearsal. During the second week, the class will study either the music for the Moravian Love Feast or the Christmas section of Handel's Messiah through historical details, live and recorded performance, and singing together. Goshen College Professor Emerita of Music Mary Oyer brings a lifetime of teaching, consultations and guest appearances in music and the arts. "Festival of Carols" performance tickets are available separately.

Registration for any course may be made at the Goshen College Welcome Center, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, Indiana. Registration may also be made by phone and paid by credit card by calling (574) 535-7566. Limited scholarship assistance is available for seniors on Medicaid or living in HUD housing.

"There are no tests," notes co-director Wilbur Birky, "just the joy of learning, combined with connections to other seniors interested in stimulating thought, conversation and exploration." Everyone is welcomed and no previous college or other studies are required.

The Lifelong Learning Institute sponsors a series of two-week courses in the fall and the spring, as well as a lecture series in mid-winter. Past courses have ranged from literature and the fine arts to politics and philosophy, and from African music and international cooking to Amish life and local wildflowers.

Wilbur and Fanni Birky are co-directors of the Institute. Wilbur is a former professor of English and director of international education at Goshen College; Fanni is retired from housing and volunteer programs management at Greencroft Goshen. They may be reached at (574) 533-6352 or by e-mail at lifelonglearning@live.com. Course information is also available online at www.goshen.edu/lifelong.

The Lifelong Learning Institute of Elkhart County is sponsored by Goshen College and Greencroft Communities. It is part of a grassroots movement for seniors seeking stimulation, continued growth, and connections to others with similar interests. The local institute is a member of a national network of similar programs, The Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN).

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.