“... the best education in upstate New York.”
– Warren Roberts, U. at Albany
Quick Links
| Spring 2012 | |||
| Day/Time | Course Title | Instructor | |
| Monday A.M. | The Writing &
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution |
Bob Wells, Chauncy H. Winters Professor of History, Union College |
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| Starts: March 5 Time: 10:00-12 noon Place: Delmar Reformed Church |
This course will examine the writing and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. We will start with the English and colonial roots of the document, i.e., what the authors had to draw upon as they sat down in Philadelphia in 1787. We will give the actual Constitutional Convention close attention, and will conclude with the ratification process (no sure thing) and the writings that helped result in the addition of the Bill of Rights in 1791. We will also consider the social and political assumptions behind these documents and their connection to contemporary issues confronting the United States. | ||
| Tuesday A.M. | Perspectives on Politics— Trend Lines in National & New York State Politics |
Bruce Gyory,
Adjunct Professor of Political Science, University at Albany (SUNY), and political consultant |
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| Starts: March 6 Time: 10:00-12 noon. Place: Delmar Reformed Church |
We will analyze some of the major
political issues facing America as the 2012 elections approach. These will include the implications of the “Great Recession;” an examination of presidential politics, focusing on the Republican primary battles; and analysis of the impact of ethnic, racial, gender gap, and sexual orientation issues on national politics. The course will conclude with a look at major New York State trend lines and their implications for the State’s political future in both the short and long term. |
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| Tuesday P.M. | The Art & Architecture of Islamic Lands from the Umayyads to the Early Ottomans: 7th-17th Centuries |
Louisa Matthew,
Professor of Visual Arts, Union College |
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| Starts: March 13 Time: 1:30-3:30 P.M. Place: Delmar Reformed Church Note: To accommodate professor’s schedule, remaining 5 classes will meet at same time on the following dates: Thursday, March 15; Tuesday, March 27; Thursday, March 29; Tuesday, April 3; Tuesday, April 10 |
This course will examine the art &
architecture of the Middle East, the Maghreb, Central Asia, and India following the Muslim conquest. It will concentrate on the era starting with the Umayyad caliphate and ending with the first two centuries of the Ottoman Empire. In addition, we will look at the art in Spain, North Africa, Iran and northern India under Muslim rule. We will focus on artistic processes and materials, from manuscript painting to ceramics and metal work as well as architecture. Finally, we will consider to what extent the cultural production in these societies should be termed “Islamic”, and as a corollary, what this art owes to earlier traditions and contemporary neighbors, including China, the Byzantine Empire, and even Western Europe. |
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| Wednesday P.M. | Spring Sampler | A lecture series, each session presented from the perspective of an expert in that area. | |
| Starts: March 7 Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Place: Delmar Reformed Church |
March 7 - When do People Revolt? INSTRUCTOR: Victor Asal, Associate Professor of Political Science & Director of the Center for Policy Research, Co-Director of the Project on Violent Confl ict, University at Albany (SUNY) March 14 - The Brain and Behavior INSTRUCTOR: Carol Weisse, Director of Health Professions, Union College March 21 - Arab Spring INSTRUCTOR: Michele Angrist, Associate Professor of Political Science, Union College March 28 - Memory and Myth in Commemorating the American Civil War INSTRUCTOR: Andrea Foroughi, Associate Professor of History & Director, Women’s & Gender Studies Program, Union College April 4 - Cultural Responses to Natural Disasters INSTRUCTOR: Michael Brannigan, Pfaff Endowed Chair in Ethics & Moral Values, The College of St. Rose April 18 - The History of the Future INSTRUCTOR: David Hochfelder, Assistant Professor of History, University at Albany (SUNY) |
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| Thursday A.M. | Feminism’s Literary Classics | Peter Heinegg, Professor
of Comparative Literature, Union College |
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| Starts: March 8 Time: 10:00 a.m. -12 noon Place: Delmar Reformed Church Note: The 5th Class will meet on Monday April 2, 1:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M. instead of Thursday, April 5 |
This course will identify and analyze
some of the major literary works that defined and shaped modern feminism. Feminism, one of the most important revolutions ever, had a slow start, was fiercely attacked, and is only now winning widespread support. From the beginning, however, the movement had reason and justice on its side. Powerful thinkers, including those we will study, have argued that most of what society has said about and done to women is, in one way or another, simply wrong. Please see the Reading lists Page in the HILL web site for a list of the books that will be discussed in this course. |
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