Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Common Reading Program Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement

Kimmerer Lecture Rescheduled for Feb. 21

Daniel Rieck
“Braiding Sweetgrass” author Robin Wall Kimmerer has had to cancel today’s planned virtual Common Reading Invited Lecture at Washington State University Pullman originally set for 6 p.m. The event will be rescheduled soon, said Karen Weathermon, director of the Common Reading Program. Details about the rescheduled lecture, watch parties, and more will be posted on the Common Reading website as they become available. The complementary lunch prepared by Dining Services will still be served today at Hillside, Northside, and Southside centers. » More ...

WSU Common Reading Features Robin Wall Kimmerer Lecture Feb. 21

Daniel Rieck
Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of the common reading book for 2023, Braiding Sweetgrass.
Washington State University announced that Robin Wall Kimmerer, award-winning author of Braiding Sweetgrass, will be the featured guest speaker at the annual Common Reading Invited Lecture Mon., Jan. 31, at 6 p.m. The virtual event is free and open to the public. “We look forward to welcoming the author of this year’s common reading book to speak to WSU and the community,” said Karen Weathermon, director of the Common Reading Program. (Notice: Robin Wall Kimmerer has had to cancel her lecture for the evening of 1/31 and will reschedule it soon for a later date.) » More ...

WSU Welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet Natalie Diaz for Feb. 9 Reading

Daniel Rieck
Natalie Díaz will deliver a virtual reading for the 2022 Common Reading Invited Lecture on Wednesday, February 9 in the evening. Díaz is a Pulitzer Price winning poet and writer and the author of the poem American Arithmetic in A Tale of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation.

Pullman, Wash.—The Washington State University Common Reading Program and the Visiting Writers Series (VWS) will co-sponsor a reading by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and author Natalie Diaz at 6:00 p.m. Wed., Feb. 9 via YouTube Live.

The event is open to the public and free of charge. A question-and-answer session will follow the virtual reading.

Diaz’s poem, “American Arithmetic,” is featured in this year’s common reading book, Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation. The book is used in dozens of classes for first-year and other students.

“We are pleased to co-sponsor with the Visiting Writers Series the poet’s address to WSU students, faculty, staff, and community guests,” said Karen Weathermon, Common Reading director.

» More …

Oct. 27: Daily Show Producer Ted Tremper to Discuss Socio-political Comedy

Daniel Rieck
Ted Tremper, Washington State University alumnus and award-winning writer, director, producer, and educator.

Ted Tremper, Washington State University alumnus and award-winning writer, director, producer, and educator.Ted Tremper, Washington State University alumnus and award-winning writer, director, producer, and educator.PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University alumnus and award-winning writer, director, producer, and educator Ted Tremper will discuss socio-political comedy when he returns virtually to WSU as the guest presenter for the Common Reading Program at 5 p.m. Oct. 27.

Visit the Common Reading website to register to attend the online presentation and to submit questions to Tremper.

Among the Seattle-area native’s many credits is his year-long assignment as field producer for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, a weeknight Comedy Central TV series built around the host’s commentary on daily headlines.

Noah is the author of this year’s common reading book being used in dozens of freshman and other classes, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.

» More …

DACA attorney Luis Cortes Romero on U.S. Supreme Court case

makhani
Luis Cortes Romero, an immigration attorney from Seattle, Washington.

PULLMAN, Wash.—Dreamer, University of Idaho Law School graduate, and Seattle immigration attorney Luis Cortes Romero will present “This Case is My Story: The Supreme Court Argument to Preserve DACA” at 7 p.m. Mon. March 2 in the CUB Junior Ballroom. Hosted by the Common Reading Program at Washington State University, the program is open to the public at no charge.

Luis Cortes Romero, an immigration attorney from Seattle, Washington.
Luis Cortes Romero, an immigration attorney from Seattle, Washington. Romero’s presentation on his experience arguing for the preservation of DACA before the U.S. Supreme Court ties closely to this year’s Common Reading book.

Since March 2018, Cortes Romero has been a managing partner at Immigrant Advocacy and Litigation Center, PLLC, in Kent, Wash. and since 2012 an executive board member of the DREAM Bar Association. This past November, he was one of six attorneys at the table in front of the U.S. Supreme Court arguing to continue protection against deportation of people brought to the U.S. as children.

“A lot is at stake for me individually,” he told a CNN reporter days before the court date. “I will be looking at nine individuals who will ultimately decide whether my clients will be deported—and me with them.”

» More …

WSU Common Reading Lecture on Sept. 19 Features Irom Presentation on Communication and the Rohingya Refugee Crisis

Daniel Rieck
Bimbisar Irom, assistant professor of communication in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

Bimbisar Irom, assistant professor of communication in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.Bimbisar Irom, assistant professor of communication in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.PULLMAN, Wash.—Bimbisar Irom, assistant professor of communication at Washington State University, will present at 5 p.m. Mon., Sept. 23 in Todd Hall 216 a lecture titled, “Through Western Eyes: Humanitarian Communication and the Rohingya Refugee Crisis.” The event is hosted by the Common Reading Program and is free and open to the public.

Irom’s talk focuses on Western media coverage of the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis that originated in Myanmar and has now spilled over into the neighboring countries of Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Malaysia.

» More …

Oct. 22: Soonish Authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith Will Deliver Common Reading Invited Lecture

Daniel Rieck
Soonish authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith.

Soonish authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith depicted in cartoon form.Soonish authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith depicted in cartoon form.PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University announces that the twelfth annual Common Reading Invited Lecture will be presented at 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 22, in CUB M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom, featuring Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. The event is open at no cost to everyone; a book signing will follow the lecture.

“How Little We Know: Why Most of Our Opinions Are Probably Wrong” is the title chosen for the lecture by the authors of this year’s common reading book at the college. Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything is being used in dozens of WSU classes for first-year and other students. Extracurricular programming and events help to take the conversation about book topics beyond the classrooms. » More …

“The Law and Emerging Technologies” to be presented Sept. 5 by Jacob Rooksby, new Gonzaga law dean

Daniel Rieck
Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law Jacob Rooksby.

Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law Jacob Rooksby.Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law Jacob Rooksby.PULLMAN, Wash.— Jacob H. Rooksby, dean of the Gonzaga University School of Law, will deliver the inaugural Common Reading lecture for 2018-19 on Wed., Sept. 5, at 5 p.m. in CUE 203 at Washington State University.

The public is welcome at no charge to this event, which is cosponsored by the Common Reading Program with the WSU Pre-Law Resource Center.

First-year and other WSU students are reading the common book, Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything for many classes, and enjoying extracurricular programming related to it. The lecture series allows students to learn from experts in their fields about topics raised in the book. Rooksby’s presentation will be the first guest lecture of many this 2018-19 academic year. » More …

WSU Common Reading presents David Shier on “Being Human Virtually” March 21

makhani

March 16, 2018

PULLMAN, Wash.–David Shier, associate dean of the Honors College at Washington State University, will present “Being Human Virtually” at 7:00 p.m. Wed., March 21, in Todd 130, hosted by the Common Reading Program. The lecture is free and open to the public. https://commonreading.wsu.edu/.

The lecture develops topics Shier taught in his fall Honors course, “Me, Myself, and AI.” » More …

MIS Professor Robert Crossler presents “Data Pitfalls in a Digital World: Protect Yourself” Mar. 6

makhani

PULLMAN, Wash.—Robert Crossler, assistant professor of Management Information Systems, will present “Data Pitfalls in a Digital World: Protect Yourself” at 4:30 p.m. Tue., March 6, in CUE 203, hosted by Washington State University’s Common Reading Program. The lecture is free and open to the public.  https://commonreading.wsu.edu/

In this presentation, Crossler will consider the ramifications of putting personal data on the Internet, and what individuals can do to be protected from related hazards. He will also provide insight into various career opportunities, across a variety of disciplines, emerging to address these data challenges. » More …