May 20, 2013 ... Sure, I was there to see “The Guns of Navarone” with the great stars of 1961 ... '
Navarone' was because Gregory Peck himself had made a ...
FROM THE ROOFTOP 2013
The Newsletter of the Fromm institute For lifelong learning
SPRING
Issue #4. May 20, 2013
A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS I don’t know about you, but ever since I was a young boy the ‘previews’ were always a favorite part of going to the movies. More often than not they were better than the popcorn, the Dots or the magic of twinkling stars and rolling clouds that seemed eternally projected on the ceiling of the Oriental Theater in Mattapan, Massachusetts. Sure, I was there to see “The Guns of Navarone” with the great stars of 1961 — Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn and Irene Pappas — but beyond the allure of a great war story told again the backdrop of the human condition in CinemaScope and all its Technicolor glory, thanks to those previews, I could anticipate “El Cid,” “101 Dalmatians” and “Snow White and the Three Stooges.” (Hey, I was 13!) As a matter of fact, the very reason I was in the balcony at ‘Navarone’ was because Gregory Peck himself had made a previews promise that this cinematic adventure would be “one of the greatest films ever seen!” Nothing has changed and today’s version of me still looks eagerly forward even as I’m sitting in the present. Perhaps that’s why I love writing for this particular issue of our newsletter. Issue No. 4 presented in the sixth week of eight, always shares a glimpse of what courses will be offered in the next session at the Fromm Institute. While our “previews” From the Rooftop lists only the professors and course titles, just putting them in print begins the anticipation of good things to come. Though you’ll have to wait a few more weeks for the descriptions and bios, the mere noticing of them here builds a level of interest and excitement that is palpable. So here goes. Without further ado, here are the twenty-eight courses that will be waiting for all of us Monday through Thursday next September. Enjoy these Fromm Institute Previews of Coming Attractions that appear on the next page. Robert Fordham, Executive Director
Fall 2013
Open House Classes Begin Classes End
Academic Calendar 2013-2014
Wed., Sept. 4 Mon., Sept. 9 Thurs., Oct. 31
Winter 2014
Open House Classes Begin Classes End
Friday, Jan. 3 Mon., Jan. 6 Thurs., Feb. 27
Spring 2014
Open House Classes Begin Classes End
Thursday, April 3 Mon., Apr. 7 Thurs., May 29
the Fromm institute For lifelong learning
at the University of San Francisco 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117-1080 • 415-422-6805 (t) •
[email protected] (e)
FALL SESSION 2013 SCHEDULE OF COURSES
Monday 10 a.m. Prof. William Turner Prof. Ernest Newbrun Prof. Michael Zimmerman Prof. Thomas Lewis Monday 1 p.m. Prof. Rod Handeland Prof. Sonny Buxton Prof. John Rothmann
Tuesday 10 a.m. Prof. Gabriella Mautner Prof. David Watts Prof. Charles Fracchia Prof. Albert Jonsen Tuesday 1 p.m. Prof. Elaine Safer Prof. Adela Roatcap Prof. Martin Carcieri Prof. James Keolker Wednesday 10 a.m. Various Lecturers
Wednesday Lunchtime Prof. Lisa Wagner
Wednesday 1 p.m. Prof. James Kohn* Prof. Peter Pierson Prof. Larry Eilenberg
Thursday 10 a.m. Prof. Bernice Goldmark Prof. Robert Keahey* Prof. Gloria Neumeier Prof. Jon Bailey Thursday 1 p.m. Prof. Joan Minninger Prof. William Garrett Prof. Mark Levy* Prof. Patrick Hunt
From the Horse’s Mouth: A First Amendment ‘Good Reads’ Seminar Self Portraits: How Modern Artists See Themselves ‘American-ness’ of Moby Dick & Huck Finn Night Falls In November: Neuroscience, Story & the Mysterious Death of JFK Electricity: From Morse & Edison to Today’s Silicon Valley and Beyond Jazz Goes to Hollywood The Making of the President 1940 True to Our Own Self: A Creative Writing Seminar Poems for the Time Capsule City Built on Hills; San Francisco 1880 to 1915 Five Popes, A Popess & A Pirate A Seminar on Roth’s Historic Trilogy Michelangelo & the Medici Great Equal Protections Cases A Verdi Celebration Medical Lecture Series Co-ordinated by Mel Cheitlin, M.D. Communication Across the Generations The American Language The U.S. Civil War: Origins to Aftermath O’Neill, Shepard & Mamet: Dramatists of the American Dream Turned Nightmare William James’ The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Seminar The Impact of Digital Technology Burma/Myanmar & Its Neighbors Listening to Architecture From Memory Blanks to Memory Banks: A Seminar The Cultural & Religious Roots of National Socialism Deciphering Asian Art & Philosophy History of Wine: 7,000 Years of Joy * new Fromm Institute faculty
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FUTURE FEES FOR FROMM INSTITUTE A reminder that thanks to the generosity of the 554 people who gave to the Friends of the Fromm Institute Annual Appeal this year, the membership fee increase for the next academic year will only rise by a mere $25 a session — keeping Fromm Institute classes exceptionally reasonable. effective with enrollment for Fall which will begin with “earli-enrollment” on Monday, May 20, Session Membership will be $250 (formerly $225). For those who wish to and usually do enroll as Annual Members, your $50 discount will still be in place. As you have in the past, annual Members will be able to enroll for the entire year and pay only $700. Scholarships will still be available for all who request them, with the caveat that everyone must pay some amount (whatever they can afford) toward their scholarship. nOte: Now along with cash or checks, you can pay your membership fees in-person with Visa, MasterCard, american express or Discover credit cards. At this time we are only able to swipe your card as you enroll and cannot accept your verbal or written transmission of a credit card number, expiration date, and authorization code.
SO HOW SOON CAN YOU SIGN UP FOR THE FALL CLASSES????? — RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT! —
the 2013 Fall Course Catalog will be on-line and on its way through the U.S. Mail on tuesday, June 11, after 5 p.m. Fall Pre-Enrollment, that time when everybody has an equal chance of getting all their first choice classes runs from Wed., June 12 through 3 p.m. Fri., June 14. If you want to avoid sending an email or leaving your enrollment choices on our phone line during PreEnrollment, and you know the classes in which you’d like to enroll based on the course titles and professors teaching them, you can pick up an earli-enroll Form in the Fromm Institute Office. Select your classes and leave a check or pay in-person by credit card for your membership fee or scholarship contribution. We’ll cash your check/process your credit card and keep your application on-hand, handling it right along with all the others received before 3 p.m. on Friday, June 14. Written confirmation of your enrollment will be mailed out shortly after that date. For those of you who get anxious about your classes, or are travelling on a summer jaunt before school ends, this is a great way to get the task of your Fall enrollment out of the way. As noted above, your applications will be randomly processed with the hundreds of others received during the Pre-Enrollment Period. There’s no preferential advantage to Earli-Enrollment, but you’ll have the piece of mind that you have taken care of business before the summer begins, and that’s always worth quite a lot. AND WHAT ABOUT PARKING? For those interested, there will be an application for an On-Campus Parking Permit included in your confirmation of enrollment packet. the deadline for the return of these applications will be august 15 and the check you must submit with your application will not be cashed until then.
Please note that just as the University is raising its rates for its student/faculty/staff permits, it will also increase the rate it charges for Fromm Institute student parking. Next year, those who receive permits will pay $60 per day attending (eight days @ $7.50 per day). This increase should remind drivers of the benefit of carpooling where riders can chip in on the cost. Also, as we have done in the past, our limited inventory of parking permits will consider Disabled Drivers first, then carpools second in the distribution. We are always able to get permits to those two groups, so being among them is a plus.
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“EVERYONE’S ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION”
Of course, that’s not how the oft spoken adage goes, but please don’t let that stop you. Your opinion counts, both singularly and collectively, in a process that helps the Fromm Institute measure the 2013 Spring Session’s success. So starting tuesday, May 28, the Course evaluation/program evaluation form will be on the on the information table in every classroom. These evaluations ask a simple task of all students enrolled in a particular class. On a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), rate the course content and professor’s style of presentation. Using the same numerical scale, offer your overall opinion of the class explaining in as many words as you need why you evaluated this course the way you did. Then, turn it over. On the back, you can register your feedback about the Fromm Institute in general. This Program Evaluation is where you can record your constructive criticism about our general attributes and shortcomings. This back of the form segment called the Program Evaluation needs to be completed only once for the session. Remember, the evaluation process lasts through the end of the session, don’t wait until it’s too late!
FrOM WHere DO FrOMM prOFeSSOrS COMe?
and Other Faculty insights by Prof. Al Jonsen, Fromm Faculty Advisor
Did you ever wonder how your Fromm professors got here? Well, they just showed up! Mr. and Mrs. Fromm suspected that just as there were lots of senior folk eager to advance their education, there were also lots of teachers who would love to extend their careers in an abbreviated fashion. They were right. As soon as Fromm Institute opened, professors at Cal, Stanford, USF, Cal State and other local schools heard about it. As the Fromm Institute began to grow into its second decade, the Fromms asked Dr. Leslie Lipson, retired as professor of political science from UC Berkeley to be their “faculty advisor,” to sketch out an educational program and to sort out those who might best teach the students who would attend Fromm’s courses. Twenty-five years later our “recruitment” is essentially the same. Robert Fordham stands in for the Fromms and I am the fourth Faculty Advisor. There is little doubt about the qualifications of most applications. Their home institutions had hired them through rigorous competitive searches and tenure committees had vetted them through the promotion process. Now, however, they were posed a new question: can you teach our kind of student? College professors assume that their students know little or nothing about the subject; they aim to impart mastery of the topic, demonstrated first in tests and essays and ultimately in a competence that can be translated into a lifelong occupation. As Fromm professors they encounter persons who have a lifetime of experience and who have lived through a long slice of history. They do not need to master a subject; they expect to hear new perspectives or to have old ones refreshed. They enjoy having their curiosity led into corners of art or history unfamiliar to them and to have the familiar sounds of music explained. In other words, experienced professors coming from university to Fromm do not merely abbreviate his courses: they have to rethink them for experienced persons. Some professors get it right away; some need testing. At Fromm, the students are not tested: the professors are. The student evaluations, that we beg you to fill out after every course, are all read and analyzed and graded. The results—with all student comments—are given to each professor. Robert Fordham and I speak with the rare professor who falls distinctly below the average. Occasionally one will decide that they are not for Fromm and not apply again. Those who need to improve some point usually do. Our custom is to give all faculty at least two or three chances to make the grade. Almost universally, professors who have excelled in their careers excel at Fromm. “Bring her back” is frequently scribbled on the evaluations. Fromm also has a cadre of professors who have not come from academe. These are professionals or performers who have been vetted by their life rather than by their peers. They reach a point where they feel the urgency to impart their experience and seek to teach, for the first time. While it is more difficult to evaluate their pedagogical potential, it turns out that they are often natural teachers—perhaps less hindered by the formalities of the college classroom. We are pleased with our faculty. We hope to maintain it and develop it to your satisfaction.
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FROMMTASTIC SERIES COVERS FROMM HERE TO THE END OF THE FROMMTASTIC SESSION Until the end of the session the Frommtastic Series’ lectures scheduled on Wednesday morning at 10 in the Xavier auditorium are:
On May 22, prof. John Bailey, who taught an American musical theater course last fall, will return to ask us to consider the power of music in ordinary and extraordinary places. His lecture will be entitled “Where We Make Music.”
On May 29, under the auspices of the Fraenkel endowed lecture, former President of the Oakland A’s, former Executive Director for the California Academy of Sciences, and current member of the Friends of the Fromm Institute Board of Directors, roy eisenhardt, will lecture on “Current topics in Sports law.” He’ll provide a glimpse into examples of the more pressing issues today, such as regulation of amateur sport by the NCAA, the ongoing labor/management tensions in the professional sports, drug use, and on-field violence.
On June 5, prof. ernest newbrun will close the series with “the exodus in Song & art” which will include excerpts from classical and non-classical music as well as well known and not so well known paintings that focus on the journey of the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt’s slavery and onward toward the future of the promised land.
“MOTHER,” MENTOR AND FELLOW — TRUDY PATCH, RSCJ
What a delight to see and visit with our former teacher, Mother Patch, in the atrium, the Society Court of Fromm Hall. There are at least seven former students who attended the then San Francisco College for Women, Lone Mountain, who are now students at Fromm. They are: Maureen Aggeler, Marlene Albach, Barbara Bankovitch, Charlene Trudy Patch, RSCJ Duke, Mary McCaffrey, Florence O’Malley, and Janet Schroder. “Mother Patch was an outstanding English teacher,” remarks one. While another chimes in that she “always sat straight and was so very formal around the wooden table in our seminar room.” John Donne, the 17th century poet, came alive for us, there. Trudy, as she is called today, knew her field so well and had a genuine love and appreciation of poetry. It’s been such a privilege to reconnect with such a formidable presence. She touched our lives so deeply. Thank you, Trudy! — Your Grateful Students
JENNIE WONG — ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT
She had just been relating her latest journey sitting in my office on a Thursday that would include her Mozart class with Prof. Houle and later her singing practice with the Frommtones and Faith Winthrop. When I came to school the following Monday, I was shocked to hear that longtime student and past Treasurer of the Fromm Institute Student Association, Jennie Wong, had passed away that next day. Jennie was always in the present. She made sure that she made a contribution to life wherever she was — as a daughter and sister, as a mother and grandmother, teacher, Fromm Institute student and friend. By her actions, commitment and involvement she let you know she was there. Bless you for that Jennie. There is less of an emptiness now because of the way you lived your full life and how often you touched others. I’ll still miss your sweet little laugh, though. robert Fordham, executive Director
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COVERT OPERATIONS ANYONE?
Professor Richard Covert would like to invite you to join him on a private tour of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, June 5 at 10 a.m. He’s been a docent there for the past three years and says for those who sign up in the Fromm Institute Office, “You’ll spend a little more than hour on your feet, but it should be fun.”
“The Beaux Arts/ American Renaissance U.S. Circuit Court House at 7th & Mission is certainly the most beautiful government building in San Francisco and arguably on the entire West Coast. Built between 1900 and 1905, it features lavish use of Carrara, Sienese, Numidian, and Georgia marble; mosaics; bronze over cast iron chandeliers and elevator cages; lush plaster carvings and much, much more. It is a monument to the power and grandeur of the United States in the age of Teddy Roosevelt. It has a rich history including heroics by postal workers who saved the building from destruction in the great fire of 1906, famous trials including Tokyo Rose and Patti Hearst, and a devoted federal judge who saved the building after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.”
There is no charge to attend this tour, just sign up in the Fromm Institute Office, wear comfortable walking shoes and PLEASE for the security there, BRING an ID and LEAVE KNIVES and such at home. You’ll need to be at the building entrance off McAllister between Polk & Larkin, no later than 9:45 a.m. that day as the group will enter as one. Parking should be available at the Civic Center Garage. Prof. Richard Covert
VOLUNTEER JURORS NEEDED JUNE 1 & 2 AT USF SCHOOL OF LAW
Are you surprised by the outcome of a court case and wonder, “What was that jury thinking?” Do you consider yourself fair and impartial? Would you like to help USF’s Law School and its students? If you have answered “yes” to any of the above, then you might be the perfect volunteer for the concluding trials in USF’s Intensive Advocacy Program, a chance for law students who want to practice skills as trial lawyers before a judge and live jury. The mock trials are based upon actual civil and criminal cases. As a volunteer juror you will hear the student lawyers plead their case, deliberate with other jurors, and ultimately, render a decision on Dixon v. Providential Life — a widow’s ability to collect on her husband’s life insurance policy or State v. Diamond — a first degree murder case. Program dates are Sat., June 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun., June 2, again from 11 a.m.until 5 p.m., in USF’s School of Law, Kendrick Hall, 2199 Fulton Street (Fulton & Parker Streets, across from St. Ignatius Church). You may volunteer for one or both sessions. Free lunch will be provided. Parking permits will also be provided, if requested. This is another great opportunity to help the students at USF. Fromm Institute students who’ve volunteered before found it to be an enriching experience. For further information, or to volunteer as a juror, contact USF School of law at 415-422-5896 or
[email protected].
FrOMMtOneS inVite YOU tO a SUMMer Sing
Remember the fun of community singing? That was where everyone just got together, indoors or outdoors, with people of all ages, and let their voices rise just for the pure enjoyment of it all. It was such a great experience. Well, to end the Spring Session and welcome in the summer months, Faith Winthrop and the Frommtones, our own Fromm Institute singers, invite you to join them for lunch and a sing along session they have put together. To be a part of it all, sign up in the Fromm Institute office today! Seating is limited to the first 125. Join for our end-of-the session sing along on thursday, June 6 from noon to 12:45 in Xavier Hall.
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FISA NEWS * FROMM INSTITUTE STUDENT ASSOCIATION * FISA NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT
“THANKS FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE”
TOUR & TRAVEL NEWS
“TUNISIA ANYONE?”
Weeks ago, we celebrated our “ConneXions” to the USF undergrads with strawberry, vanilla and chocolate ice cream rapidly melting under our glass atrium. Then Hershey chocolate nuggets, courtesy of student dues, were grabbed at lunch hour by our classmates and, hopefully, professors since it was Teacher Appreciation Week. This leaves our administrative staff in need of special culinary recognition. Personally, I think a non-caloric generous portion of gratitude, respect, understanding and patience would be acceptable to the staff in lieu of sweets. The amount of work they do is enormous and is often interrupted by unexpected emergencies and students pouring into the office. While we students were adjusting to the first week of the Spring Session, Robert Fordham was tucked in his office finishing faculty contracts for the fall, winter, and spring sessions of 2013/2014! Consider rounding off my suggestion of non-caloric treats with dollops of (1) cooperation with the Care Corps student volunteers who assist the staff, (2) constructive criticism through the suggestion box at Magnolia’s or via a FISA Officer or Steering Committee member and (3) comportment that includes dispute resolution and good behavior. I think those are the kinds of sweet treats that will make life better for all. Joan Cucek, FISA President I’d like to invite all of you to travel to Tunisia with a familiar guide, someone who is a respected lecturer at the Fromm Institute as well as an expert tour leader. His name is Douglas Kenning and from November 4 to 15, he’ll offer us the chance to see this North African nation rarely visited by even the most seasoned of Fromm Institute travelers. If you’d like to hear more about the trip, its itinerary and cost details, join Professor Kenning and me in the Maier room at noon on thursday, May 23. His intention is to cover everything from the Punic Wars to the Arab Spring on the tour, and he will give highlights of sites to be visited during his 40 minute presentation in Fromm Hall that noontime. Bring your lunch along with you. As always, cookies will be present and paid for by the voluntary dues so many of you offer to the Fromm Institute Student Association.
Also keep in mind other trips are noted on flyers in the racks of the Activities Hallway by Magnolia’s Canteen. They are always open to Fromm Institute students, their families and friends. Your questions about all of our travel opportunities can always be directed to me at (707) 257-1804 or
[email protected]. Susan Kennelly
COMMAND PERFORMANCES “‘WORD FOR WORD’ AND MORE ”
tues., May 21 at noon in the Maraschi room, “Word For Word” will be here to perform, talk about their 20 year history, and tell you all about their upcoming performance. If you’ve ever wondered what it is like to take a short story and perform it as a play, without changing a word, then this is your chance to find out. I’ve always been astonished by their performances and urge you to meet founders JoAnne Winters and Susan Harloe. San Francisco Symphony has completed their renewal deadline for those who’ve previously used the Fromm 50% student discount. If you haven’t renewed, call their box-office to do so. New subscribers can still pick up a brochure/instruction sheet from our activities racks. With exchange privileges beyond your series, you’ll have lots of options and save 50%. Select your series (or 2) and call their box-office and say “I am a Fromm Student who wants a 1/2-price student series.” Tickets are mailed in June and as a subscriber, you can order additional discount single tickets before they go to the general public, including performances that will surely sell out. San Francisco Opera 40% discounts are still available for the 3 summer operas but you must act in the next 2 weeks to get the savings. The Fall 2013-14 Season has 40% off for certain series noted on the brochure in the activities racks. Call their box-office for complete details for your Fromm 40% Off Student Savings. Bob Morgan
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COMING SOON tHe “FROMMTASTIC” SerieS Wed., May 22, 10 a.m. Xavier
Wed., May 29, 10 a.m. Xavier Wed., June 5, 10 a.m. Xavier
“Where We Make Music” with John Bailey
“Current Topics in Sports Law” with Roy Eisenhardt “The Exodus in Song & Art” with Ernest Newbrun
“BROWN BAGS” anD OtHer nOOntiMe eVentS Tues., May 21, Noon, Maraschi
Thurs., May 23, Noon, Maier Thurs., June 6, Noon, Xavier
Command Performances presents “Word for Word”
Tour & Travel News presents “Tunisia”
Faith Winthrop & The Frommtones in Concert
DOn’t FOrget MOnDaY, MaY 27, MeMOrial DaY iS a HOliDaY. FrOMM inStitUte ClaSSeS Will nOt Be HelD anD tHe OFFiCe Will Be ClOSeD.
the Fromm institute For lifelong learning
at the University of San Francisco 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
415-422-6805 (t) •
[email protected] (e)
