The Observer, February 18, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 18
SatCo returns with fewer courses than last year
Since its inception four years ago, the Saturday College (SatCo) program, has given students the opportunity to try everything from skydiving to knitting. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni propose ideas to the SatCo coordinators, who take care of the advertising and logistics involved.
This year six courses – less than half the number available last spring – will be offered on Feb. 26 and 27.
Kate Police, the coordinator of Educational Support Services, said that timing is always a factor in the number of courses being offered. She noted that the number of courses and participants varies every semester.
Some students, however, may be less enthusiastic due to this spring's lack of programs. Amy Orsborn, a sophomore engineering physics major said, "Just looking at [the courses] I can't say that I would want to do one. There really aren't that many."
Another sophomore, Melissa Delucchi, is a proponent of the SatCo series. "If there is anything awesome, I'm sure I'll check it out," she said. "I really enjoyed the one I went to last year. They're only an hour or so long and it was something I'd always wanted to know how to do."
Originally designed to give the university community a chance to meet outside the conventional classroom setting, the SatCo program has "started to grow into a tradition," according to Police.
Adding to the tradition this year is a workshop on homeless-ness and hunger in greater Cleveland taught by graduate student Jeannette Savage. Savage is teaching the course in three parts. First, the class will concentrate on the facts of homelessness, such as why it exists and how many people are affected. Then participants will go through activities and exercises meant to improve their understanding of homelessness and hunger. Last, Savage hopes to go into the community to provide a service through a pre-existing organization.
Savage admitted this will be difficult with an unknown number of participants. "Most organiza-tions prefer having an idea of how many volunteers to expect, especially on a Saturday," she said. If her class is unable to work through an organization, participants will contribute something to be delivered to the site, such as sandwiches or survival kits.
Other spring SatCo classes include an art museum tour, an outing to the Omnimax theater at the Great Lake Science Center to view Mystery of the Nile, and a trip to Cleveland Play House to see The Piano Lesson. Students have to pay for the cost of the film and the play.
