• Asian American Wars from the Asian Perspective

• The Courts and the Movies

• Geology of National Parks in the Northwest

• Mastering and Mining the Internet

• Islam vs. the West

        • Comparative Religion with Dr. Elton Hall

Asian American Wars from the Asian Perspective

Certain dates stay in our mind such as December 7, 1941, and September 11, 2001. But these dates, and the days’ events, have fuller meaning when we contextualize them. Similarly, the United States’ decision to wage four wars in East and Southeast Asia during the twentieth century is best understood from a larger context. This course will explore why and how the United States became involved in bloody wars in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. The course will be taught from the Asian historical perspective, and will also provide a lens through which we can view the U.S. future in Asia

Presenter: Dr. Shelton Woods professor of East/Southeast Asian History at Boise State University, is the author of four books and numerous articles on Asia. He received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1993 and has been at Boise State University since 1994. Dr. Woods was born in Southeast Asia and spent his first eighteen years in the Philippine highlands. This will be the fourth course Dr. Woods has taught for the Osher Institute.

Date: Thursdays, September 4, 11, 18, 25

Time: 10 a.m.-Noon

Location: The Flicks Theater, 646 Fulton Street.

Cost: $40

Parking: Parking is available adjacent to and in front of the building

The Courts and the Movies

Join with us as we examine how the court system is portrayed in motion pictures, and how this portrayal comports with reality. Students will discuss then view movies examining the role of courtroom actors (prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge); movies that examine various aspects of the legal process (such as pretrial matters, trial situations, and jury deliberations); movies dealing with evidence law; and movies from different time periods. The movies will be used as the basis for a discussion, which will follow the showing of the films, of the legal issues raised and the disjunction between how courts really operate and how courts are portrayed by Hollywood.

Presenter: Dr. Craig Hemmens, author and Director of the Honors College, is a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Boise State University. He holds a J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. He has previously served as Academic Director of the Paralegal Studies Program and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice.

Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, September 8, 10 15, 17, 22, 24

Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: TownePlace Suites (Marriott), 1455 South Capitol Boulevard. Turn west from Capitol Boulevard at the light on Capitol and University Drive onto Ann Morrison Drive. Turn left at the next corner onto Lois. The hotel is directly ahead.

Cost: $55

Parking: Park in the lot in front of the building.

Geology of National Parks in the Northwest

Although Idaho has no national parks, except for a strip of Yellowstone, Idahoans can readily enjoy those parks to the east, in the Rocky Mountains, and west, in the Cascade and Coast Ranges. These five lectures will consist of slide illustrated “visits” to the seven national parks in the Northwest (Olympic, North Cascades, Mt. Rainier, Crater Lake, Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier.) Attention will be given to the diverse landscapes, as well as to the geologic materials, processes and history of each of these magnificent areas. This “tour” of national parks, along with minor detours to Craters of the Moon and other sites in the Columbia Plateau/Snake River Plain and Idaho Batholiths, will provide insight into the geologic framework of our region.

Presenter: Dr. Monte Wilson joined Boise State’s faculty in 1969 and retired in 1997. He also spent time as a visiting professor at the U of I, the University of Salzburg and Sheldon Jackson College. Research interests include Geomorphology (the study of landscapes & surface processes) and Environmental Geology. The recipient of a Fulbright Senior Fellowship and numerous teaching awards, he also claims over 40 publications, including several describing geologic studies in national parks. He says he is socially presentable although occasionally a bit cranky.

Dates: Wednesdays, October 1,8,15, 22, 29

Time: 10 a.m. - noon

Location: The Flicks Theater, 646 Fulton Street.

Cost: $50

Parking: Parking is available adjacent to and in front of the building.

Mastering and Mining the Internet

Back by popular demand! Glenna Rhodes will repeat her course for the Institute. In this course participants learn how to access libraries’ free electronic collections. The classes will spotlight the collections, focusing on different resources and topics in each session. In addition to learning how to use the Internet as a resource for research, participants will learn how to use the Net to pursue recreational pursuits, keep healthy, explore family genealogy, invest wisely, study current events, and more

Presenter: Glenna Rhodes is an Electronic Resources Librarian for the Boise Public Library. She also provides research services for small businesses and occasionally teaches graduate library courses at Emporia State University.

Date: Fridays, October 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7

Time: 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Location: Albertsons Library, located at the center of the Boise State campus between the Administration Building and the Boise River.

Cost: $50

Parking: Best parking will be in either of the Boise State parking structures, at University Dr. and Brady St. or at Lincoln St. and Belmont St. Parking fees are $1.00 per hour.

Islam vs. the West

Join us for a course lecture on Thursday with guest presenter David Grimland, who will provide an overview of the general Muslim beliefs and practices and the life and times of Islam’s founder, the Prophet Mohammed. He will move on to discuss the divisions that followed Mohammad’s death and led to the split in the faith (Shi’as and Sunnis). Next, he will take a historical look at the impact upon Muslim world of the medieval Crusades, Mongol invasions and the West’s expansion from the 15th century forward. He’ll discuss the impact of Western colonialism, Zionism, and western support of Israel as well as the perceived gap between American and European rhetorical commitment to democracy in the western world vs. the expedience of our actual support for authoritarian regimes. Bring your questions for discussion.

For those who want to expand their understanding further, the Friday seminar will pick up the discussion and delve into more detail regarding the differences within Islam, the Sunnis, Shi’as—and Jihadists. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the often-less understood internal Muslim divisions that have caused sectarian carnage in Iraq-- and that also influence events all over the world. The major division between the huge majority of non-violent Muslims and the tiny minority of those willing to commit violence to advance their views will also be discussed. Discussion handouts and reading list will be provided

Guest instructor: David Grimland served six tours abroad in American diplomatic missions in countries with Muslim majorities or politically significant Muslim minorities. Serving with the U.S. Information Agency, he has been a press spokesman, cultural officer and has been honored for his outstanding performance as Public Affairs Counselor. In addition to his formal education (B.A. and M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin) he has studied western philosophy and Islamic mysticism. Now retired, he lives in Montana where his work in explaining Islam has been recognized by major articles in the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun.

Course lecture Date: Thursday, October 2
Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Cost: $10

Seminar Date: Friday, October 3,
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Cost for both course lecture and seminar: $40
(There is not a separate price for those wishing to attend only the seminar)

Location: Hatch Ballroom, Student Union Building, Boise State University.

Parking: Best parking will be in the parking structure at Lincoln and Belmont Street. Fees are $1 per hour.

Comparative Religion with Dr. Elton Hall

So many religions, so many practices! What are the similarities among the major religions of the world? In what significant ways do they differ? Where are the worldviews that inform the lives and actions of their followers? Consider joining us as we study the faiths, practices and origins of the major living religions of the world—Hinduism. Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Presenter: Professor Elton Hall was Professor of Philosophy at Moorpark College and Oxnard College as Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Morehead State and California State University. Many of you met Prof. Hall when he led a session in our “Question of God” class last fall. Now retired, he and his wife live in Boise.

Date: Tuesdays, Oct 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18

Time: 10 a.m.-noon

Location: TownePlace Suites (Marriott), 1455 South Capitol Boulevard. Turn west from Capitol Boulevard at the light on Capitol and University Drive onto Ann Morrison Drive. Turn left at the next corner onto Lois. The hotel is directly ahead.

Cost: $50 plus text. The text for this course, The World’s Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions by Houston Smith, is readily available on line and in local bookstores.

Parking: Park in the lot in front of the building.