February 28, 2008

Dear Friends,

Learning for the joy of learning. That’s the laudable concept behind the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Boise State University.

Billed as “a spa for the mind,” the Osher Institute’s membership-based program for adults is open to anyone who wishes to participate. This series of lectures, noncredit courses and special events, given by Boise State professors and visiting experts, includes a broad spectrum of topics.

In the current season, you can discover the contributions of music to architecture, consider the role of religion and politics in America, or explore the literary history of Irish authors. This month an OLLI group went to Cuernavaca, Mexico, for a travel/study experience on Spanish language and Mexican history. Another field experience will occur in April with a tour of the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls.

This great program, formerly known as the Renaissance Institute, is a perfect example of Boise State’s role in enhancing the quality of life in our community. The new name connects us with the national Bernard Osher Foundation, which has awarded us $100,000 programming grants in each of the past two years. Boise State has joined a lifelong learning network that includes Duke University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Washington and the University of Utah.

If you are intellectually curious, this is an ideal way to keep learning. Your membership opens a door to new experiences and knowledge. The cost for a season is $35, or $55 for two successive seasons, which includes reserved seating for the independent lecture series and the opportunity to register for the institute’s short-term courses. Boise State Alumni Association members can enjoy a discounted two-season membership fee of $40. More information on the OLLI at Boise State can be found at www.boisestate.edu/osher or by calling (208) 426-1709.

There are hidden gems throughout our campus, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State is one of them. If you aren’t already a member, I encourage you to look into this fulfilling opportunity for intellectual challenge and social exchange. And if you are a member, be sure to tell your family and friends about OLLI.

As always, thank you for your support of Boise State University and our Broncos.

Sincerely,

Bob Kustra

 

Here are a few recent or upcoming items of interest from Boise State University:

• Boise State adjunct professor Heather Rae won the coveted grand jury prize for drama at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. “Frozen River,” produced by Rae and written by Courtney Hunt, is set in upstate New York. It focuses on two women in desperate financial straits who turn to smuggling illegal immigrants across the Canadian border. “Frozen River” has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for $1 million. Prior to “Frozen River,” Rae served as producer of “Out of the Blue,” the documentary about the Boise State Broncos’ dramatic January 2007 Fiesta Bowl win against football powerhouse Oklahoma.
• Boise State University’s dynamic growth is evident in the record-breaking spring enrollment figures. The university set another all-time record for higher education institutions in Idaho with a head count of 18,860 students this semester. The total was a 3.8 percent increase – the largest spring-to-spring enrollment increase in five years. The planned growth is due to the improved retention of continuing students and the targeted outreach to attract more high-achieving students to Boise State.
• Boise State University’s Ahsahta Press has released its 2007 Sawtooth Poetry Prize winner, “The True Keeps Calm Biding Its Story,” by Rusty Morrison. Morrison, of Richmond, Calif., became the sixth winner of the prize last year when poet Peter Gizzi selected her manuscript for the $1,500 award. The poems in “The True Keeps Calm Biding Its Story” give a step-by-step accounting of the speaker’s transformation as she reconciles herself to the death of her father. Publisher’s Weekly gave the book a starred review.
• Cypress String Quartet will perform at the Morrison Center Recital Hall March 7 at 8 p.m. Presented by the Boise Chamber Music Series. The Cypress Quartet has brought audiences to their feet for more than a decade with virtuoso performances at major concert venues around the world, including the Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Ravinia Festival and many more. Their Boise concert will have a special all-American twist, featuring Barber’s “Op.11,” Giffes’ “Two Sketches for String Quartet Based on Indian Themes,” and Jennifer Higdon’s “Impressions,” a four-movement commission by the Cypress Quartet. $25 general, $20 seniors and students by calling 426-1216.
• Internationally recognized author Mark Kurlansky will shed light on the Basque role in whaling and throughout the exploration and settlement of the New World in a lecture at 7 p.m. March 14 at the Basque Center, 601 Grove St. in Boise. His presentation is co-sponsored by the Boise State University Center for Basque Studies and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. Kurlansky is the author of a number of popular books, including “Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World,” and “The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell.”