Microblocks: 2-3pm Friday, October 3rd
Gen Alpha Arrives
President Manya Whitaker
Tomorrow's students belong to a rising generation with experiences and expectations that differ in meaningful ways from past cohorts. What do these differences mean for Generation Alpha (born 2010-2025) will learn, interact, and approach the future?
CC President and Professor of Education Dr. Manya Whitaker will share insights into Gen Alpha's early development during the COVID-19 years, their relationship with technologies like AI, evolving social patterns, and changing definitions of success. She'll also discuss how these factors influence students' expectations of college - and how institutions like 华体会 are preparing to meet them.
By gaining generational insight, alumni and families can deepen their connection to our evolving campus culture - and better understand the students soon to arrive at CC.
Introduction to Iyengar Yoga
Peggy Berg, Professor Emeritus
Based on the teachings of BKS Iyengar who wrote and is photographed in the renowned text “Light on Yoga”, (Mr. Iyengar has often been referred to as “the teacher’s teacher”), this class will guide you through some of the fundamental poses of asana practice and offer a brief introduction to the philosophical basis of yoga.
Students are encouraged to have stretchy clothing (nothing in pockets) and bare feet to allow for greater movement and sensitivity. While those who struggle with basic physical difficulties (stiffness, low back, knee, and/or shoulder pain) are encouraged to attend, anyone who has had recent surgeries (within 2 months) or serious illness should not attend.
If you have questions, please contact Professor Berg prior to registering.
Location: Cossitt South Studio, Cossitt Hall, 906 N. Cascade Ave.
History of Men's Soccer at CC
Horst Richardson, Professor Emeritus
Horst Richardson, who coached Men's Soccer at CC for 50 years, will share stories and reflections from his half century on Stewart Field. He, and his wife Helen, will highlight their recently published book, "The History of Men's Soccer at CC."
Topics will include such trivia bits as: soccer in Camp Carson for German prisoners of war, CC Soccer and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, CC Soccer in China, the roots of Women's Soccer at CC, Final Four appearance, and even a connection to Romeo and Juliet, plus many more stories from a remarkable era. No need to bring soccer boots or shin guards for this event.
Location: TBD
Speech is More than Speaking
Doug Edlin, Professor
The United States is often described, for various reasons, as the most speech-protective nation in the world. We will discuss what that means. By thinking about the history, theory, and legal foundation of the First Amendment, we will explore the progression of the constitutional protection of speech about matters of public concern, to a marketplace of ideas, to our current preoccupation with individual self-expression. We will also consider what these different conceptions of free speech mean for the current political climate around the country.
Location: TBD
Friluftsliv (free-loofts-liv): Can the Scandinavian Concept of 'Open Air Life' Lead to Health and Happiness?
Anthony Bull, Associate Professor
Said to have been coined in the 1850s by Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen, the idea of Friluftsliv, or spending time in the mountains, allows you to think freely and enjoy physical activity at your own pace. Friluftsliv has evolved into the idea of spending time in nature, usually engaged in physical activity, for personal wellness, but without the pressure to achieve a goal or compete. Is Friluftsliv part of the reason Scandinavian/Nordic countries rank among the seven happiest countries in the world (World Happiness Report, 2024)?
Anthony Bull, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Human Biology and Kinesiology will discuss ideas related to Friluftsliv and the possibility of a future CC alumni trip to Scandinavia to practice Friluftsliv while exploring Scandinavian history and culture.
Location: TBD
Singin’ in the Rain (1952): What Is the Heartbreak That Makes This the Greatest of All Film Musicals?
George Butte, Professor
Horst Richardson, who coached Men’s Soccer at CC for 50 years, will share memories from his half century on Stewart Field. He, and his wife Helen, will focus on their recently published book, entitled “The History of Men’s Soccer at CC.” Highlights will include such trivia bits as: soccer in Camp Carson for German prisoners of war, CC Soccer and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, CC Soccer in China, the genesis of Women’s Soccer at CC, in the Final Four, CC Soccer and Romeo and Juliet, and innumerable other delightful stories. No need to bring soccer boots or shin guards for this event.
AI in Business: Ethics, Equity, and Impact
Lora Louise Broady, Visiting Executive in Residence
This workshop will provide a brief introduction to the ethical considerations surrounding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the business world. We'll explore key questions such as:
- Data Privacy: How do businesses collect and use your data ethically?
- Algorithmic Bias: Can AI systems be fair and unbiased?
- The Future of Work: How will AI impact jobs and the workforce?
Through a combination of discussion and real-world examples, this mock class will help you understand the ethical challenges of AI and its potential impact on the future.
Location: TBD
Just War Theory
Tim Fuller, Professor
This session explores the origins and development of theories justifying, and also seeking to limit, resort to war and conduct in war. We’ll examine both ancient and modern formulations of the principles of justifying war, which have also gained recognition in international law. We will also consider the changing historical circumstances in which the principles are to be interpreted and applied to the use of force, especially in relation to the issues of our time such as nuclear weapons and terrorism.
Location: TBD
Orientalism and You: Approaching the Middle East
Sofia Fenner, Assistant Professor
What does it mean when we describe something as “Orientalist” — and why might we want to avoid it? In this session, we’ll explore the concept of Orientalism, learn about its common tropes and assumptions, and discuss how it distorts perceptions of the Arab and Muslim worlds. Then, in true CC style, we’ll go beyond theory and practice identifying Orientalist tropes in art, news media, and political commentary. Channel your inner CC student — bring curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Location: TBD
Thinking About Nature
Susan Ashley, Professor
How have people understood their place in the natural world? Do they see themselves as part of nature, or as destined to dominate it? How have these views affected their actions?
This micro-block will be a very short venture into arguments about the origins of the modern ecological crisis.
Location: TBD
Cultural Contact: The Spaniards’ March to México City
Mario Montaño, Professor Emeritus
Many scholars consider the discovery of the Americas as one of the most shocking encounters of our history. This session explores how foreign cultures were experienced and represented by explorers, colonial administrators, and later anthropologists, focusing on Hernán Cortés's march to México City and the forms of writing associated with the Aztec conquest and colonialism. We will also examine the construction and representation of different types of cross-cultural encounters and their history, politics, and ethical implications.
Location: TBD
The Arctic Brooks Range: An Alaskan Journey of Landscape & Light
Taz Talley '73, CC Spirit of Adventure Award Winner 2025
Join Alaska-based author, photographer, adventurer, and 2025 Spirit of Adventure Award recipient, Taz Tally '73 as he shares photographs, videos, and stories of his 13 years of all-season treks — on foot and by cross-country skis — exploring Alaska's Brooks Range, North America’s only mountain range located entirely north of the Arctic Circle. You'll see and hear about one of the world’s last great wilderness areas in all kinds of weather, from 70 degrees above zero to 40 below, and marvel at the vastly varying seasonal textures, fabrics, and colors. Immersed in this fascinating, little-known world of the Arctic tundra, you will journey between soaring snow and ice-covered craggy peaks and ridgelines, to sweeping tundra-covered montane slopes that seem to go on forever.
Join Taz for a beautiful and unique sensory adventure through a wild and extraordinary place few have ever seen.
Location: TBD
Open-Hearted: Exhibition Walkthrough — What Does Art Have to Do With Healthcare?
Katja Rivera, FAC Curator of Contemporary Art
Join us for a guided walkthrough of Open-Hearted, an exhibition exploring how artists from the 1980s to today have engaged with the language, spaces, and systems of medicine. Discover how contemporary artists — including 华体会 faculty — respond to the aesthetics and ethics of care, from the architecture of hospitals to the rituals of healing. Led by the curator of contemporary art, Katja Rivera, this tour offers fresh insights into the intersections of art, illness, and the body.
Location: The Fine Arts Center, 华体会, 30 W. Dale St.
Breathe Easy! Environmental Health and Science of Indoor Air
Associate Dean of the Faculty Andrea Bruder and Jim Rosenthal ’70
Fun fact: The average person spends 90% of their time indoors and inhales more than 2,000 gallons of air each day. While we tend to think of air as an empty space, it turns out that it is anything but. In this micro- block, we will talk about the contents of indoor air and reflect on our relationship with the air surrounding us. What can be measured? How can we make the invisible visible? Participants will leave with knowledge and practical skills to evaluate and improve indoor air quality in their living and working environments. All are welcome, no prerequisites needed!
Location: TBD