We are once again in the season of Signum University’s Fall Fundraising Campaign. This annual event features a variety of entertainment, including (starting last week) a launch party, giveaways, and a LoTRO Marathon. On November 22nd, the famous Webathon takes place, featuring President Corey Olsen’s State of the University Address, as well as various talks and festivities. My first connection with these “amusements” was back when Stranger Things was beginning, and I joined Prof. Corey Olsen (the Tolkien Prof) for an online video conversation about this brilliant new show. It was pretty great fun (see vid at the bottom of this note).

The Webathon also features the SPACE Fall Showcase — a series of 30-minute capsules for various teachers and facilitators to pitch their modules to potential students. I should also mention that I am teaching a class on Narnia in February, so stay tuned.

All events will be streamed live on Signum University YouTube and Twitch channels. You can find the full schedule here.

Meanwhile, here are some features that may intrigue you enough to invest in world-class online adult learning. Moreover, each of these four courses is taught by folks in whom I have great confidence:

• “Star Wars and Resistance “from the intrepid American scholar, Amy Sturgis, who seems to have a new book out every year!
• The highly anticipated “Inklings” course by Oxonian Gabriel Schenk–a contributor to A Pilgrim in Narnia–whose latest literature video reveals a secret portal to another world in the wilds of Oxford (check out his YouTube channel here, or find him on Instagram).
• I was amazed how endearing the anime series Violet Evergarden was when I first encountered it. Bronwyn Rivera’s thesis filled out my understanding (see the video Thesis Theatre here), and now Bronwyn has teamed up with Anni Foasberg to offer a SPACE module for exploring that world even more deeply.
• And … “Tea.” That’s right, tea. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Robert Steed on Japanese culture and religion, and now he is offering a unique perspective on tea culture in East Asia and beyond. Robert is a very popular professor, and I suspect this will be a lovely and informative course.

This capsule will preview the upcoming Rebellions Are Built On Hope: A Star Wars Series three-module adventure that begins in SPACE in February 2026. How do Andor (2022, 2025), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), and Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) fit together to tell a story? How does this story reflect a deep engagement with history, philosophy, and political thought? How does hope fuel resistance? Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis for this “sneak peek” into a future SPACE series about a galaxy far, far away.

You may have read the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, but did you know that they were also lifelong friends and colleagues at Oxford University, and part of a group of writers called The Inklings? In this capsule we’ll explore who The Inklings were – including the important but less famous members Charles Williams and Owen Barfield – and why their work still matters to us today.

“The war is over, and Violet Evergarden needs a job.” In this SPACE capsule, join us for a discussion about the stunning, coming-of-age fantasy anime Violet Evergarden. We’ll follow the story of a former soldier who finds forgiveness, healing, and self-worth through the unassuming power of writing letters.

In this capsule, Dr. Steed will first give a general description of the module as a whole, and then delve into some of the specifics of tea classification, situating those classifications within larger cultural frameworks.