Course Schedules

Most programs (except trips) will be available via Zoom. For classes listed as hybrid, the presenter will be in person in room 106 University Suites (map of University Suites) (pdf) and the class will also be on Zoom. For all programs listed as “Zoom with remote presenter,” LIRA members will have the option of viewing it from University Suites, and if University Suites is closed, the program will be listed as “Zoom only.” Please check your email for the weekly program announcement, and for any last-minute changes or additions.

*Denotes a LIRA member.

LIRA 2026 Winter Intersession Course Descriptions

Wednesday

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Analyze the 2026 Great Decisions Topics
Wednesday January 7: 10 a.m. - Noon Hybrid
Presenters: Neal Berenson*, Steve Cerand* and Jon Boroshok

Developed by the Foreign Policy Association, the 2026 Great Decisions Program offers an opportunity for LIRA members to learn about and discuss the most critical global issues and world affairs facing America. In this LIRA session, Professor Jon Boroshok will teach us how to use AI tools to access and evaluate relevant research to support presentations, discussion and understanding of these topics. The topics for the 2026 Great Decisions Program include: America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy, Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy, U.S.- China Relations, Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation, Ukraine and the Future of European Security, Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order, U.S. Engagement in Africa, and The Future of Human Rights and International Law. Please come to this session to help us raise important questions and to prepare for LIRA’s 2026 Great Decisions program.

Coordinator: David Troughton*

Reconstructing the Voice of James Stevens, Revolutionary Soldier
Wednesday January 14: 10 a.m. - Noon Hybrid
Presenter: Antoine Trombino-Aponte

This roughly 2-hour program examines the Journal of James Stevens, a Revolutionary War diary written in 1775, notable for its phonetic spelling and unique vernacular, which provide a firsthand look at the dialect of colonial-period English that Pvt. Stevens spoke. The presentation explores the development of colonial English from the 16th century through to the Revolutionary Era, and analyzes a selection of key sources from the time period, including other war diaries, literary works, historical dictionaries, and more, in order to reconstruct the Colonial English dialect of the Merrimack Valley as spoken by James Stevens circa 1775. The dialect is brought to life via audio recordings of several passages from Stevens' Diary read aloud in his reconstructed dialect, which are included in the presentation and are currently on display alongside the diary at the North Andover Historical Society in an interactive exhibit.

Coordinator: Peter Sebelius*

Travel Experiences
Wednesday January 21: 10 a.m. - Noon Hybrid
Presenters: Chris Geggis* and Lisa Hertel*

LIRA members Chris Geggis and Lisa Hertel will share several travel experiences. The talk will include a discussion regarding how photo and media sharing on the internet has evolved over the years, and where things appear to be headed. There will be a deep dive into a recent Viking river cruise from Prague to Budapest. Then, a fall trip around Norway featuring the Northern Lights. Lisa will explain what causes this amazing natural display.

Coordinator: TBD

Victorian Dress
Wednesday January 28: 10 a.m. - Noon Hybrid
Presenter: Lisa Ashton

With antique photos and detailed photos of antique garments, we'll talk about the Victorian Era, and fashion milestones, how dress related to social status, available fabrics, and how clothes were made. We'll look at how dress changed during the Civil War, and fashion by decade and occasions, such as mourning and pregnancy. We'll also look at accessories, tools, undergarments, quilts, and more, as time permits.

Coordinator: Lisa Hertel*

Introductory Yoga
Wednesday February 4: 10 a.m. - Noon In Person Only
Presenter: Diana Dellogono

Join the Campus Recreation Staff for a tour of the facility (LIRA members can obtain a Campus Recreation Center Membership) and a short exercise class designed to help improve balance, muscle strength and endurance. The exercises performed are designed so that you can complete them on your own at home. You will have to sign a waiver upon entry.

Coordinator: Jim Rutter*

Trade, Its Expansion and Restriction
Wednesdays February 11 and 18: 10 a.m. - Noon Hybrid
Presenter: Jim Pope*

Humans have traded throughout history, though only in the past few centuries have theories and systems of trade evolved. We will begin by focusing on past trade and the evolution of the theories governing it. We will follow with the implications of these theories in practice and how the approach to trade has developed over the years, focusing on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and will then concentrate on post-WWII with the establishment of GATT, the IMF and the World Bank, with their benefits and problems. We will finish by studying the period from 1990 to the present, with globalization, the WTO, NAFTA and the subsequent reaction against globalization. This will include Brexit, the varieties of trade restriction techniques used by governments, their rationale and their implications. We will finish by trying to look ahead at the continued evolution of trade theory.

Coordinator: Jim Rutter*

Introduction to Homer’s Iliad
Wednesday February 25: 10 a.m. - Noon Hybrid

Presenter: Alan Friedman*

The Iliad is one of the oldest complete surviving literary works in the Western canon. Surprisingly, for such a work, it is still extensively read and studied today, still accorded the status of masterpiece.

According to Bernard Knox in his introduction to the 1990 Robert Fagles translation of the Iliad, the accepted version of the Greek text consists of 15,693 lines of dactylic hexameter verse. It gives an account of events that occurred over 3,000 years ago in a time and place with beliefs and customs vastly different from our own. A careful reading of the Iliad is extremely rewarding but extremely demanding as well. The time and commitment required for such a course might discourage many students, not to mention the presenter.

In a single two-hour class, we will not be able to come close to a full appreciation of the Iliad. I hope, however, that we will provide an interesting introduction to some aspects of the work, dispel a number of common misunderstandings, and perhaps even motivate one or two students to embark on their own study of this fascinating work.

Coordinator: Simon Curry*

Dance Historian
Monday March 2: 10:00 a.m. - Noon Hybrid
Presenter: Susan de Guardiola

Beyond the Conga Line: the original Conga fad from the social dance floor to Hollywood!

“Do that conga!” The conga line has been a popular party dance since the 1930s, when it was danced at the engagement ball of the future Queen Elizabeth II. But the original conga fad encompassed much more than the line. Conga could be a simple dance for couples, a highly choreographed theatrical number, or even incorporated into a square dance. It appeared everywhere from Hollywood movies to cartoons, performed by everyone from Desi Arnaz and Judy Garland to Popeye and Bugs Bunny. Social dance historian Susan de Guardiola will discuss the wide variety of conga in a presentation filled with fabulous video clips from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Simple conga dancing will follow for those who wish to participate.

Coordinator: Lisa Hertel*