OWLL FALL 2026 Courses:
Notable Supreme Court Cases of 2026, with retired judge Douglas Wilkins; on Zoom. ?For 8 of the court’s 2026 decisions, we will read summaries of the court’s own language, view PowerPoint presentations and ask this: Did the court’s majority stay within its judicial lane in each case, or did it jump existing guardrails? The first session (Sept 9) will be in person at the Community Center; Judge Wilkins will recount his own experience arguing before the Supreme Court. The next 4 sessions will be on Zoom. 5 Wednesdays, 10:00–12:00, Sept 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct 7.
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, with Cammy Thomas; in person. Two hundred years ago, a young woman wrote a terrifying story about a scientist creating and animating a creature made of body parts and then abandoning his creation. Come discuss Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein and what it says about science, psychology, and community. 5 Thursdays, 1:00–2:30, Sept 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, 22.
Please purchase 1831 edition of Frankenstein for this course.
Today’s Humanitarian Emergencies: The World’s Wars Continue, with Robert Rotberg; on Zoom. This course will cover the seemingly never-ending wars of the world and the humanitarian emergencies that flow from them: Iran, Ukraine, Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Sudan, Sahel, Somalia, Congo, Myanmar, Haiti (maybe others). 5 Wednesdays, 11:00–12:30, Oct 14, 21, Nov 11, 18, 25.
Gustav Mahler: A Life of Music Amid Tragedy and Triumph, with Dotty Burstein; in person. ?The course will examine the life, career, and music of Gustav Mahler. 5 Tuesdays, 10:00–12:00, Nov 3, 10, 17, 24, Dec 1.
Midsummer at Midwinter: Love, Jealousy, Madness, and Moonlight in Shakespeare’s Play, with Elizabeth Kenney; in person. ?A Midsummer Night’s Dream is known as a hilariously funny examination of different kinds of love at different social levels. But even at his most comic, Shakespeare views love as complex and nuanced, and he explores the fragile relationships among love, violence, desire, possession—and magic. 5 Thursdays, 10:00–12:00, Nov 5, 12, 19, Dec 3, 10.
Please purchase Folgers edition of the play and bring it to class