February   

**Materials needed for the class will be provided free of charge at the first class. This class meets twice per week.

There are many claims about the positive benefits of Tai Chi, and it is our hope that with regular practice, you will notice a difference in overall flexibility, fitness, and your ability to relax. This course is advanced in the sense it is a continuation of the Beginning OLLI Tai Chi course the instructor taught. Rather than learn forms and routines from scratch, as in the beginner’s class, we will begin with a week or two of thorough review. Videos from past classes will also be made available. Depending on the interest of the class, new material may also be introduced. Beginners are very welcome, although you should contact the instructor (at daniel.alexander@drake.edu) in advance to discuss whether the class is right for you – if you have a spirit of adventure (and are comfortable learning to swim by swimming) or have any experience with Tai Chi, you should be ok. This course is taught with the spirit that any movement is good movement. If any parts of our routine are not comfortable, you do not need to do them. If you have any health concerns about taking the class, we recommend that you consult your physician.

Join Ellen for a monthly update on the current happenings in international relations and European politics. This class examines the resurgence of a world organized in major poles – three at this time – who contend with each other for dominance. The unipolar world centered around the United States from 1989 (the end of the Cold War) to roughly 2008 is gone. The United States faces major challenges from Russia and China, each of whom has global ambitions. Their goals will be examined and we will look to the future in this fast-evolving situation.

Join Ellen for a monthly update on the current happenings in international relations and European politics. This class examines the resurgence of a world organized in major poles – three at this time – who contend with each other for dominance. The unipolar world centered around the United States from 1989 (the end of the Cold War) to roughly 2008 is gone. The United States faces major challenges from Russia and China, each of whom has global ambitions. Their goals will be examined and we will look to the future in this fast-evolving situation.

Bruce Martin will lead discussions of literary texts from various time periods and cultures. Authors to be read during the Spring 2026 semester will include: Stephen Milhauser, W.G. Sebald and Willa Cather. Anyone having questions or concerns, or wanting additional information should contact Bruce Martin: brucekmartin85@gmail.com or 515-612-3508.

Join us as we read and reflect on four books that represent a smorgasbord of genres and a few “firsts,” as well. A Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s first novel; the historian who wrote her own history (her first and only book, to date) and achieved global acclaim; a poet turned essayist, melding those genres in delightful ways; and a new nonfiction from a world-renowned novelist, who will also deliver the Bucksbaum Lecture this semester.

Discussions will take place online each month. The schedule looks like this:.

February 11:  
The White Hot by Quiara Alegría Hudes.
March 11: 
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green.
April 8: 
Educated by Tara Westover
May 13:
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. 

Leading the Book Club discussions this spring is Lori Blachford, the former Chair of Magazine Journalism at Drake University. Her most recent storytelling efforts support a variety of nonprofits organizations in Central Iowa. She describes herself as a voracious reader, an eager listener, and a tireless learner.

Ever since its earliest offering during the 2008 financial crisis, the Economic Roundtable has strived to better understand the tumultuous economic environment of the last 17 years. The Spring 2026 class continues its mission with a focus on considering the potential for a future recession, the current state of the labor market, and the impact of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to stop inflation. Please join us in discussing what are often conflicting economic signals and political rhetoric in a quest to better understand the current economic environment.

Ever since its earliest offering during the 2008 financial crisis, the Economic Roundtable has strived to better understand the tumultuous economic environment of the last 17 years. The Spring 2026 class continues its mission with a focus on considering the potential for a future recession, the current state of the labor market, and the impact of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to stop inflation. Please join us in discussing what are often conflicting economic signals and political rhetoric in a quest to better understand the current economic environment.

This class is offered in collaboration with Osher at William and Mary University.

The Bauhaus was a now-famous German school for aspiring young designers, artists and architects that began in Weimar in 1919, moved to Dessau in 1925, and was closed by the Nazis in Berlin in 1933. It was arguably the most influential school of art and design in history. Among its faculty and students (both men and women) were Walter Gropius, Paul Klee, Josef Albers, Wassily Kandinsky, Gunta Stolzl, Herbert Bayer, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Oskar Schlemmer, Marcel Breuer, Anni Albers, Marguerite Wildenhain, Joost Schmidt, Marianne Brandt, and others. Its curriculum areas included Woodworking, Cabinetmaking, Metal, Ceramics, Weaving, Printing and Typography, Theatre, Drawing, Painting, Photography, and Architecture. This series of talks is a slide-illustrated overview of how and why the school began at the end of World War I, its philosophy, the challenges that it faced (political and otherwise), and the enduring effect that it had (and continues to have) on art, design and craft-based training. The course presenter, at age 17, studied in California with Master Potter Marguerite Wildenhain, who had been one of the first students at the Weimar Bauhaus.

The fourth session is live from Bauhaus University, Weimar, Germany with Sam Koltinsky who will do an exclusive Zoom tour of the iconic Bauhaus University, celebrating its rich history and innovative design. In this two-hour live session from Weimar, Germany, we will showcase the university’s main buildings and treasures, highlighting over 100 years of design heritage. With students attending from around the world, Bauhaus University thrives across its four academic departments: Architecture, Design, Fine Arts, and Media. Esteemed guest speakers will discuss the relevance of Bauhaus today and we’re sure to have a few surprises in store! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the allure of Bauhaus and connect with fellow enthusiasts globally!