Lifelong Learning, Landiss offer class options to prep for debates, Election Day

Janel Shoun  |  08/21/2008

With all the focus in the past few months on the presidential election infusing the youth of America with enthusiasm for change, it’s easy to forget that it is seniors who are the largest and most influential voting block.

All seminars are held in the Ezell Center on the Lipscomb campus. Campaigns and Elections – American Style Sept. 8-Oct. 6, 2:30 p.m. The Early Years of American Democracy Sept. 9-Oct. 7, 2:30 p.m. Diversifying the Presidential Talent Pool: Who Can Be President? Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. America and the New World: A New President and the Way Ahead Sept. 20, 9 a.m. The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates: A Viewer’s Guide Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m. The Elections of 2008 Oct. 22, 2:30 p.m.

Lipscomb University’s Lifelong Learning Program and Landiss Lecture Series has not forgotten the power of the senior set and next month brings the beginning of a series of four classes and a two-lecture special series designed to help local seniors get the most out of the election season this fall.

“Senior citizens have proven over the years to be the most loyal and dedicated voters, so we decided to take the issue of politics head-on in this election year and provide several ways to learn about the upcoming election,” said Patty Dugger, director of the eight-year-old Lifelong Learning program. “Taking all four classes will allow a student to study campaigns of the past, learn about the foundations of American democracy, explore what global challenges the new president will face and look specifically at the issues involved in the 2008 campaign.”

Lipscomb’s Lifelong Learning Program offers Campaigns and Elections – American Style and It Was a Rising Sun: The Early Years of American Democracy, beginning Monday, Sept. 8, and Wednesday, Sept. 10, respectively, and continuing once a week for five weeks. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the program will offer a one-day seminar taught by former senior national security officer Don Cole called America and the New World: A New President and the Way Ahead, and on Wednesday, Oct. 22, The Elections of 2008, another five-week course taught by Lipscomb’s provost Craig Bledsoe, will begin and continue beyond Election Day.

The cost of each of these Lifelong Learning opportunities is $50 and each is held at 2:30 p.m. on the Lipscomb campus in the Ezell Center.

Lipscomb University’s Lifelong Learning program is designed for people of retirement and semi-retirement age who want to expand their knowledge and explore new ideas in an informal, noncompetitive environment. More than 800 people attended Lipscomb’s Lifelong Learning program in the 2008 spring semester.

Other topics in the program’s fall session include Handel’s Messiah, history of the Stone-Campbell religious movement, ethics and beginning computer skills. The program will also offer a day trip to Sgt. Alvin York’s home town on Saturday, Oct. 25, for $75.

To register for Lifelong Learning at Lipscomb, click here to print out a registration form, call the Lifelong Learning office at 615.966.5733, or e-mail patty.dugger [at] lipscomb.edu (patty[dot]dugger[at]lipscomb[dot]edu).

The Landiss Lecture Series will feature two free lectures: Diversifying the Presidential Talent Pool: Who Can be President?on Monday, Sept. 15, and The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates: A Viewer’s Guide,on Monday, Sept. 22.Michael Nelson, the Fulmer professor of political science at Rhodes College and author of 22 books on politics and public policy, will be the speaker for both lectures at 7:30 p.m. in Lipscomb’s Ezell Center.

The Landiss Lecture Series has brought programs from outstanding writers to the campus for more than 21 years. Given that the topic of politics is on everyone’s mind, this year the coordinators chose an author also recognized as a preeminent scholar on the American presidency, said Bledsoe, Lipscomb provost and professor of political science.

Nelson has written books on the origins of the American presidency, the elections of 2004 and how the presidency fits into the political system. He has published numerous articles in scholarly journals such as the Journal of Politics and Political Science Quarterly and in periodicals such as Newsweek and the New York Times.

For more information, contact Carolyn Wilson at 615.966.5837 or e-mail carolyn.wilson [at] lipscomb.edu.