This Week at OLLI – March 21, 2022

March 21, 2022

Week of March 21

SPRING REGISTRATION CONTINUES. Classes start March 28. We have several classes in danger of being canceled due to low enrollment, so if you’re interested in a class, don’t wait….register today!

SPRING CLASS CHANGES: There were several date/time changes to the printed version of the catalog. The software and online catalog are up-to-date. Please note these important schedule/class changes and refer to your class confirmation for accurate information: 

  • Great Decisions class topics for April & May have changed. APRIL 22: Russia and MAY 20: Myanmar & ASEAN
  • The course Frederico Fellini is a 6-week course (not 4 as originally listed in the catalog) and the cost is $55
  • The Newport Colonial Walk is Thursday, May 26, not April 26 as listed in the catalog.
  • There is a $25 supply fee for the Rug Hooking class paid directly to the instructor.
  • The time of The House of Mirth class has been changed to 3:30PM to 5:00PM

Monday

  • Office open 9AM-3PM

Tuesday

  • 10AM Cyber Seniors-Max
  • 12:30PM Bowling Group

Wednesday

  • 11AM Cyber Seniors-Jada
  • 1PM Walking Group
  • 4PM Advisory Council

Thursday

  • 9:00AM Skating @ Boss Arena
  • 9AM Cyber Seniors-Max
  • 1PM Mah Jonng
  • 3PM SIGS Comm Meeting

Friday

  • Office Open 9-3

OLLI PET DRIVE: Since we are offering a tour of  Animal Rescue Rhode Island, we thought it would be a great time to collect donations of food, toys and other pet items. We will have a donation box in the office. Please stop by and drop off your items! ARRI runs a community pet food pantry for pet owners having financial challenges. It used to be a small part of their operation, focused on S. County residents. However, with Covid, the need to help has grown exponentially. They’re now helping about 150 clients a month, including those as far away as Woonsocket, E. Providence, and Tiverton. In fact, more than 300 pets are receiving meals from ARRI every month!  They have a greater need for cat food (dry and wet).  Their goal is to make sure pets are fed so that pet owners aren’t compelled to give up the pets they love. Thank you for your support!

INTERGENERATIONAL PROJECT: Students in HDF/SOC 431 (Families and Aging) are carrying out an interview project on intergenerational relations and are looking for individuals willing to be interviewed. The interview would take around 45 minutes and would focus on intergenerational relations (within families). The interview could be over zoom, phone, or in person and be audio recorded. Names and other identifying details would be removed from a written transcript.

In order to participate, respondents should be either

  • a) ages 60+ with an adult child age 30+
  • b) ages 50+ with a living parent

Please contact Melanie Brasher if you would like to participate. Email: mbrasher@uri.edu

LECTURES: 

ANNUAL THEWLIS LECTURE– Ageism and You: Why it Matters Read more information here and register online: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUukNgtuBz2ASTXXmwjGDIo2VUjrFEGR2bvnzyjlPU4SmQKg/viewform

HOW TO BE MEDIA LITERATE CITIZENS

Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 1:00pm to 6:00pm

 Higgins Welcome Center, Hope Room

How to Be Media Literate Citizens: Explore The Role of Researchers, Journalists, and Students in the World of Heightened Disinformation, Conspiracy Theories, and Hate.

Developing informed, media literate citizens is an important goal of a liberal arts education. In this half-day conference, we will explore how the higher education community at URI can work with the media, and members of the general public to help limit disinformation and conspiracy theories and at the same time preserve academic freedom and democracy. Includes:

  • 1:00 – 2:00 pm — Communication and Media Professionals Panel. In-Person Journalism Panel to address the role of public information officers and directors of communication in government/public agencies around disinformation. Panelists include: Justin Silverman, Executive Director of the New England First Amendment Coalition; Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe; Joseph Wendelken, Public Information Officer, RI Department of Health, and URI student journalists.
  • 2:00 – 3:30 pm  — Research Showcase on Misinformation by URI faculty and graduate students.
  • 3:45 – 4:45 pm — Facilitated Participatory Workshops