Heirs of the Fisherman (March 5-11) 
Who will succeed Pope John Paul II? At 84, John Paul II is already the second longest-serving pope in history. The election of a new pope always captures the world’s attention, as all eyes turn towards the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel where the color of the smoke is the only clue to the secret deliberations inside. J. Peter Pham (JMU), a former Vatican insider, chronicles the history of the modern papacy and reveals what goes on behind closed doors when the College of Cardinals deliberate, argue, and vote to select the next “heir of the fisherman” to lead the world’s one billion Catholics.
Life in the Fast Lane (March 12-18)
For more than a century, southwest Virginia has been fertile ground for automobiles and racing—from stock cars to hot rods—producing mechanics and drivers extraordinaire. Landscape architect Brian Katen (VT) has tracked down a host of abandoned raceways and discovered they still survive in small town memories and landscape.
Also featured: race car driver Minor Wilcox takes us for a spin in his souped-up Miata. And Mehdi Ahmadian (VT) is researching laser technology to monitor railway cars and tracks in an effort to find problems before they become catastrophes.
Are the Classics Relevant? (March 19-25)
Western civilization is founded on the thoughts and ideas of the ancient Greeks and Romans, but many scholars warn that the study of their languages is close to extinction in our nation's public schools and universities. A hundred years ago, a high school graduate might have been expected to translate great works of Latin such as the Ars Amatoria. Today, students are more likely to take Spanish or French, and taking Latin is primarily seen as a way to boost a student's English vocabulary. Do we need to hold on to the classics? Raymond Cormier (LU) and Alan Ford Farrell (VMI) give their views on the role of Latin and Greek in 21st century America.
Also featured: Socrates is perhaps the greatest of the ancient Greek philosophers. His method of questioning everything to get at philosophical truth is still popular today. Christopher Phillips is the author of the book Six Questions of Socrates.
Do You Believe in Science? (March 26-April 1)
It is now possible for parents to select many of the genetic traits of their children, in effect to design their own babies. As a state legislator you must decide what legal limits, if any, should be placed on how far parents may go in terms of choosing their children’s genetic make-up, even if they only want a baby with blond hair, blue eyes and an IQ over 150. How would being a Christian or Buddhist affect your decision? What if you’re the founder of a genetic engineering firm? As scientific advances continue to challenge religious beliefs, two Virginia Commonwealth University faculty, religious studies professor Mark Wood and Brian Cassel of the Massey Cancer Center, offer a course which forces students to ask whether just because we can do something, does that mean we should?
