Published: September 10, 2008 11:41 am            

OLLI at OSU classes begin Tuesday

The fall session of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Oklahoma State University begins Tuesday, with some delicious new items on the menu.

A new series of classes called “The Cultivation of Taste” will be offered during the fall session. Students can taste wine and cheese, sushi, chocolate – and much more – in the classes.

“The Chocolate Connoisseur,” taught by Barbara Mintmire, proved to be highly popular in this year’s OLLI summer session, and OLLI leaders believe these fall classes will be just as enticing.

Course schedules and enrollment forms are available at the Stillwater Public Library or by calling 744-5868 or 1-800-765-8933. OLLI at OSU offers classes in Tulsa, as well, and anyone interested in classes at that site can call the same numbers.

Classes meet once a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Stillwater Public Library, with a town hall meeting every Tuesday afternoon. OLLI courses begin Tuesday and end Oct. 23. Classes in “The Cultivation of Taste” series may be at other times.

Any adult interested in lifelong learning can become a member of OLLI. RuthAnn McCarthy Sirbaugh, director of OLLI at OSU, points out that membership in OLLI also includes participation in social events, travel opportunities, luncheons and the annual celebration dinner.

The following classes are scheduled for the fall session:

“The History of Native Americans in Oklahoma” will be taught on Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to noon, by Dr. Mary Jane Warde. Warde has served as the Indian historian and archivist with the Oklahoma Historical Society and is highly regarded as a teacher and researcher in Oklahoma history.

Also on the schedule for Tuesday morning is “Three Philosophers,” taught by Dr. Neil Luebke. Luebke will guide the class through works by Plato, Aristotle and Descartes, who are widely regarded as three of the half-dozen most influential thinkers in western civilization. Luebke, whose Ph.D. is from Johns Hopkins University, taught for 37 years at OSU. After retiring, he served as national president of the honor society Phi Kappa Phi.

On Tuesday afternoons, from 1 to 3, OLLI members will be able to take part in the Town Hall series. This fall’s series is titled “Town Hall: On the Road Again.” A series of speakers will discuss the different parts of the world that they have visited.

On Thursday mornings at 10, Dr. Jerry Gill will teach a class on “The Immigration Experience.” The course will focus on the reality of immigration in America, with core classes in immigration history, literature, film, food and culture. Gill, who has a Ph.D. in history from OSU, was the president and CEO of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association for more than 22 years.

Thursday morning will also feature a class on “Climate Change.” Dr. Beth Caniglia, OSU professor of sociology; Dr. Steve Stadler, OSU professor of geography; Dr. Larry Sanders, OSU professor of agricultural economics; Dr. David Lewis, OSU emeritus associate professor of forestry; and Dr. Kent Olson, OSU professor of economics, will all discuss questions related to climate change and then conclude with a panel discussion.

On Thursday afternoon, Dixie Mosier-Greene will lead a class called “The Seven Deadly Sins: A Short Story Sampler.” The course looks at the deadly sins through the lens of short stories by such writers as Rudyard Kipling, William Faulkner and D.H. Lawrence. Mosier-Greene has a B.A. and M.A. in philosophy from OSU.

“Complementary and Alternative Medicine” will be featured on Thursday afternoons at 1. Classes will be led by Ann Hargis on Samatva yoga; Tamera Daniel on equine therapy; Rajesh Tiwaari on herbs and herbal treatments indigenous to India; Dee M. Dutt on Tai Chi and therapeutic massage; Steven Bond on ethnobotany and traditional medicinal plants; and Nancy Van Winkle with an overview of complementary and alternative medicine. Dr. Esther Winterfeldt will summarize the course at the final session.

“The Cultivation of Taste” will feature a variety of classes at various times. For more information about these classes, call 744-5868 or 1-800-765-8933. “Wine & Cheese, A Match Made in Heaven . . .” will be led by wine guide Charles Hunt. Meeting dates are Sept. 24 and Oct. 3.

“The Artisan Brewer” will include a visit to the Marshall Brewery in Tulsa on Oct. 27. “Shabu, Shabu” is a dish thought to have been created in the 13th century by the soldiers of Genghis Khan. On Oct. 22 and 29 the class will meet in Stillwater’s Tokyo Pot, where manager Dean will show how to make your own lunch creation.

“The Chocolate Connoisseur,” taught by Barbara Mintmire, will meet Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. Mintmire will also teach “Discovering Your Chocolate Profile” Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon.

For more information about OLLI at OSU, go to www.okstate.edu/olli. You may also e-mail OLLI at olli@okstate.edu or call OLLI at 744-5868 or 1-800-765-8933.

        

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