Video: Bjorklunden
Bjorklunden [vlog’s Northern Campus]
The 2019 Björklunden summer seminar lineup will feature a strong showing by vlog alumni eager to return to their roots at the university’s pristine northern campus.
The lineupfeatures 40 speakers, with topics catering to a wide range of interests. Fourteen of theinstructors will be Lawrence alumni. That’s no coincidence.
“We try to get alumni as well as current Lawrence faculty (to teach seminars),” Director of Björklunden Mark Breseman said. “We think it is a positive thing for everybody.
“We figure alumni can attract some other classmates, which is a cool thing, and the same goes for the faculty.”
Robert Spoo ’79, who holds an endowed chair in law at the University of Tulsa and is a former English professor and editor of theJames Joyce Quarterly, is among those Lawrence alumni excited for that connection. He’s been a frequent instructor at Björklunden, and returns in June to lead “ճUlyssesStarter Kit,” a seminar that will explore James Joyce’s masterpiece,,as well as Joyce’s life, Dublin of the early 1900s and Irish history, music and culture.
“There are various ways we can give back to LU,” Spoo said. “One of those ways, for me, is to step into a role — teaching — that had such a great impact on me when I was on the learning side of the lectern. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t borrow something in my own classroom workthat inspired me as a student at LU.
“Conducting seminars at Bjork is both an opportunity to give back in kind through teaching and to strengthen my connection as a LU alumnus. It’s especially satisfying when I can teach a subject at Bjork — in recent years it’s been the Irish author James Joyce — that I first encountered at LU.”
This year’s Björklunden seminar topics come in the areas of art, geology, film and television, history, literature, music, politics, religion and more. The seminars are open to both commuters and residents, who are housed in the estate’s 37,000-square-foot lodge, located on 425 acres just south of Baileys Harbor along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
One of Lawrence’s most visible alumni, ABC News chief foreign correspondent Terry Moran ’82, will lead a seminar titled “Americans First: We Don’t Actually Hate Each Other as Much as You Think.”
This is Moran’s third visit to Björklunden as a summer seminar instructor, with previous forums also focused on American politics.
Joining him in the political category is Paul Wickham Schmidt ’70, who is co-teaching the seminar, “American Immigration: A Legal, Cultural & Historical Approach to Understanding the Complex and Controversial Issue Dominating Our National Dialogue.”
Lawrence alumni are also instructing literary and artistic seminars. In addition to Spoo’s seminar on Joyce,Daniel Taylor ’63 will dive into Homer’sOdyssey, while Eric Simonson ’82 spearheads the Door Kinetic Arts Festival.
The summer seminars at Björklunden allow the lecture-goers to explore the northern campus and engage with the beautiful scenery in Door County.
Most seminars, which include meals prepared by Björklunden’s resident chef, begin Sunday evening and end Friday afternoon. Classes meet weekday mornings and some evenings, with remaining time available to enjoy Björklunden’s mile-long Lake Michigan shoreline and wooded walking trails or to explore Door County’s cultural and recreational opportunities.
A daily registration has been introduced this year. For $90 per day, you can jump into a seminar for a single day.
Complete seminar information, including registration, dates, course descriptions and instructors, can be found ator by calling 920-839-2216. Questions can also be directed via email to mark.d.breseman@lawrence.edu.
By Nicole Witmer ’19
Bjorklunden’s summer seminar lineup
June 9-14:– Don Quintenz;– Eric Simonson ‘82
June 16-21:– Marcia Bjornerud
June 23-28:– Marjorie Atwood;– Robert Spoo ‘79;– John Van Den Brandt
July 7-13:– Bob DeRosa
July 14-19:– Victoria Kononova;– Shelley Drake Hawks & Brigid E. Vance;– Jane Schulenburg ‘65
July 21-26:– Tim Crain;– Peter Thomas;– Jerald Podair & John Greenwald
July 28-August 2:– Terry Moran ‘82;– James Cornelius ‘81
August 4-9:– Paul Wickham Schmidt ’70 and Jennifer Esperanza;– Terry Goode;– Anthony Padilla
August 11-17:– Helen Klebesadel;– Bill Urbrock;– Philip Krejcarek
August 25-30:– Jack Rhodes;– Tom Cutler ’73 & J. William Ichord;– Steve Licata ’75 & Charlie Schudson
September 8-13:– Marilyn L. Taylor;– Don Quintenz & Charlotte Lukes;– David W. Hines ‘76
September 15-20:– Helen Klebesadel;– Christopher Murray ‘75;– Paul McComas ‘83
September 22-27:– Jack Rhodes;– Gerry Max ‘67;
September 29-October 4:– Doug Waller;– Daniel Taylor ‘63;
October 6-11:– Steven Landfried ‘66.
