WINTER 2025 Course dESCRIPTIONS

Truth Decay 2025

Coordinator

Course Description

This three-week mini course explores the collapse of mainstream news media and the implications for our public life. We will discuss talk radio, cable news, social media, and the Internet as causes for the decline. More fundamentally, we will examine the strengths and weaknesses of two traditions in journalism, the First Amendment faith that truth emerges from a marketplace of ideas, and the objective journalism confidence in scientific methods to identify truth. Download the syllabus.

Drawing as a Sacred Activity

Coordinator

Course Description

Explore the Heart and Soul of your creativity with Heather's unique approach to drawing. Bring 2B and 8B pencils and paper. The Power is within you. It is time now to draw it out.

Exploring Creativity

Coordinator

Course Description

This class is an ongoing workshop where individuals work on their personal art goals in a sharing environment. Participants can exchange knowledge and offer “gentle” feedback to each other if they want to. Bring the supplies you will need for your own project. We are fortunate to use this space. Come and make a commitment to yourself to do art at least two hours per week. Join a group of people who enjoy working on their art together in a peaceful and supportive environment.

Alicia's Book Club

Coordinator

Course Description

Join the new Westside Book Group, which meets the second Tuesday morning of the month at Alicia Ashman library on Old Sauk Road in Madison. Participants will receive the first assigned book after registering for the course. Come meet new friends and enjoy interesting book discussions. 

Pinney Lane Book Discussion Group

Coordinator

Course Description

This book discussion group meets on the first Wednesday of the month to discuss a novel. The book selections are determined in the spring of each year and assigned to a specific month. Group members volunteer to lead the discussion one month out of the year, and also select a month to bring treats to share with the group one month out of the year. Download the January & February 2025 Reading List for the titles of the books.

Fictional Detectives

Coordinator

Course Description

We will read a detective novel a week prior to class and in the following order: 1/9 The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett; 1/16 The Doorbell Rang, by Rex Stout; 1/23 The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler; 1/30 The Devil in the Blue Dress by Walter Mosley; and 2/6 Kiss the Girls by James Patterson. We will watch a movie based on the assigned book at our weekly meeting. A discussion will follow.