September 25, 2017
EPIC News and Events
From the President's Desk

Abracadabra: watch wonders unfold before your very eyes as Sebastian, the acclaimed magician (aka Professor Emeritus (Philosophy) Bernard Berofsky) helps us welcome new retirees at EPIC’s September 26 luncheon meeting. It’s not too late to RSVP.

At our next Tuesday Talk, October 10, we will be hearing about Columbia’s Justice-in-Education initiative for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women. Many people at EPIC’s first meeting expressed an interest in learning more. This inspiring article is a good introduction and Geraldine Downey and colleagues will be telling us more on the 10.

EPIC has been working closely with the School for Professional Studies, which, among other things, provides the virtual classroom for streaming EPIC lectures. Their new Community Scholars series kicks off on October 10, with an inspiring evening lecture on Project Art. 

And, don’t forget to contact our excellent yoga instructor Professor Emerita Ginny Papaionnou if you are interested in beginners/chair yoga (see Ginny’s note below). We are about to set a date for planning our new music initiative, so please read and respond to Carolyn Greenberg below, as well.
 
A couple of weeks ago I pointed out that the national discourse would soon be filled with “agist” observations about Trump. I didn’t expect the leader of the pack to be the North Korean president. While Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health recently found that positive leadership by older adults can improve public perceptions of aging , don’t count on current events to help bolster the competence case for older people.   The frightening international parrying of insults does have a positive side--vocabularies are expanding. Most people didn’t know what dotard is--although I suspect that many of us Columbia emeriti, in our dotage, were able to figure it out. The Times , by its own account, only used the word ten times since 1980. I can think of better ways to expand the national vocabulary.
 
Have a good day.

Jeanne Mager Stellman, President, EPIC
Professor Emerita & Special Lecturer
Mailman School of Public Health
New Member Luncheon Sept. 26
All are invited to welcome newly retired faculty to EPIC at a lunch buffet Tuesday, September 26. Entertainment provided by Professor Emeritus Bernard Berofsky (Philosophy), a.k.a. Sebastian.

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Faculty House
Presidential Room


First Thursday Graduate Scholar Talk Oct. 5
First Thursday Graduate Scholar Talk October 5
EPIC's first First Thursday Graduate Scholar Talk of the year will be presented by Kunal S. Sachdeva, Ph.D. candidate in Columbia Business School, on the subject "Linking the Wealth and Longevity Gap: Evidence from the Life Settlement Market"

More information about  First Thursday Graduate Scholar Talks  and the  full schedule of Fall 2017 talks  is available on our website.

12:15 - 2:00 p.m.
Ward H. Dennis Room
602 Lewisohn Hall
Guests welcome!


Complimentary lunch provided
Yoga for All
EPIC Yoga is considering an expansion of the program to include two new classes:

  • A 45-minute Chair Yoga/Beginner class for those who would like the benefits of yoga but have limited flexibility or mobility issues. This is a gentle form of yoga practiced while seated on a chair or standing using a chair for support. No mats or equipment necessary. The class would meet Thursday mornings at 11:15 in the Faculty House on the Morningside campus.

  • A one-hour, mixed-level class similar to the one offered at the Faculty House to be held at the Medical center campus. This class is suitable for beginners or experienced yogis alike. Time and day to be arranged.

If you are interested in either of these options, please contact Ginny Papaioannou for more information.
EPIC Musicians and Music Lovers: Let's play!
A note from Professor Emerita Carolyn Greenberg

Music is a means of bringing us together for enjoyment and friendship. Because many EPIC members have a special love of music, we are undertaking a new music initiative for members and their families, both instrumentalists and vocalists. We would like to plan both periodic and ongoing sessions, perhaps performing for EPIC members at a recital or at the annual reception. We are also interested in re-invigorating our collaboration with the Columbia Music Department and Columbia student music groups. 
Another goal is for us to develop a system for publicizing and attending musical events together, at Columbia and elsewhere. We will explore working with the Columbia Arts Initiative to obtain group tickets to certain performances.

If you are interested in working on growing the EPIC music initiative, please contact me at  cpg2@columbia.edu  with your name, your instrument/vocalist, and your comments or suggestions. We will plan an initial gathering at my Manhattan apartment in the early Fall semester, to meet one another and to exchange information and ideas.