Spring quarter, like any other, offered an encyclopedia of public talks on campus, illuminating topics art historical, zoological, and most everything in between. At 11 of those talks, the Magazine staff were there. Here’s what we learned.

Jewel C. Stradford Lafontant broke many barriers as a lawyer and public servant.

Women prisoners have their own ideas about what to read.

Rachel Shteir lists her top five.

Or, how to enjoy wine without fear.

Wine writer and restaurant critic Bill St. John, AM’77, AM’80, PhD’83, talks fear of wine and the scourge of ratings.

At a conference on concussions, many questions and few answers.

Freelance writer Anne Ford, AM’99, creator of Chicagoans, explains why people are fascinating—until they start telling you what they think.

Facebook’s oldest user, Edythe Kirchmaier, 105, has some suggestions for you.

When shopping for food was like visiting a natural history museum.

More than 60 years after Studs Terkel’s television show was cancelled, Paul Durica “broadcasts” a new episode.