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Common Reading Program Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement

WSU Common Reading Opens Nominations for 2021-22 Book through Nov. 15

Daniel Rieck

PULLMAN, Wash.—Have you read a good book lately that you think could spark Washington State University campus conversation around an important topic? One that could be used in classes across several disciplines in addition to providing a base for campus-wide programming?

The Common Reading Program announces that nominations for the 2021-22 book are open through Sun., Nov. 15, and can be accessed on the nomination page of the Common Reading website.

“The next book will be the fifteenth in as many years,” said Karen Weathermon, director of the program. “Thousands of WSU students have benefitted from the program since it began, and from classroom discussions and faculty- and guest-expert lectures based on topics raised in each book.

“The common reading helps first-year and other students experience new ideas and create new and academically focused networks with professors and other students. The program is carefully designed to stimulate critical thinking and strengthen forms of communication around a selected single book.”

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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.

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WSU Common Reading Selects as Next Shared Text Comedian Trevor Noah’s Book Born a Crime

Daniel Rieck
Book cover for the 2020-21 Common Reading "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood," by Trevor Noah.

PULLMAN, Wash.—The Washington State University Common Reading Program has announced that the 2016 book by television star and comedian Trevor Noah, titled, “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood,” will be used as the 2020-21 shared read for students.

The book describes several of Noah’s experiences growing up as the son of a white Swiss father and black Xhosa tribe woman under an apartheid government. At the time, being of mixed races in that country was illegal. That was the basis for the book’s title.

“This selection will provide a rich field of topics from which the Common Reading Program will draw for year-long classroom discussion, programming, and guest expert lectures,” said Karen Weathermon, director. “The book will provide a platform for examining issues of inequalities as they occur in a variety of different contexts as well as issues of race, identity, family, and the power of storytelling.”

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

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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.”

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WSU Nominations for 2020-21 Common Reading Book Close Fri., Nov. 15

Daniel Rieck
Karen Weathermon, director of the Common Reading program at WSU.

Karen Weathermon, director of the Common Reading program at WSU.Karen Weathermon, director of the Common Reading program at WSU.PULLMAN, Wash.—Have you read a good book lately that lends itself to a theme of “global stability, scarcity, and security” and would be suitable for freshman classes and programming at Washington State University?

The Common Reading Program announces that nominations for the 2020-21 book are open through Fri., Nov. 15, and can be accessed on the nomination page of the Common Reading website.

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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.

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WSU Common Reading Book Refuge Focuses on Global Refugee Policy

Daniel Rieck
Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, by Alexander Betts and Paul Collier.

Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, by Alexander Betts and Paul Collier.Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, by Alexander Betts and Paul Collier.Pullman, Wash.—The book selected as the Washington State University common reading for first-year and other students in 2019-20 is Refuge: Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World, announced Karen Weathermon, director of first-year programs in WSU Undergraduate Education.

Refuge will be used at the Pullman, Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Global campuses. Published in 2017 by Oxford University Press, it co-authored by Oxford alumni and professors, Alexander Betts, 39, a political scientist, and Sir Paul Collier, 70, a development economist.

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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 …

Now Open: Nominations for 2019-20 Common Reading Book (through Nov. 2)

Daniel Rieck
United nations, fish market, and a computer lock representing the 2019-2021 common reading theme of global stability, scarcity, and security.

United nations, fish market, and a computer lock representing the 2019-2021 common reading theme of global stability, scarcity, and security.PULLMAN, Wash.—Have you read a good book lately that lends itself to a theme of “global stability, scarcity, and security” and would be suitable for freshman classes and programming at Washington State University?

The Common Reading Program announces that nominations for the 2019-20 book are now open. An online form may now be used to submit nominations, which will be accepted through Nov. 2. » More …

Sept. 19: WSU researcher Jacob Leachman discusses hydrogen technology and the future at Common Reading lecture

Daniel Rieck
Common Reading lecturer Jacob Leachman.

Common Reading lecturer Jacob Leachman.Common Reading lecturer Jacob Leachman.PULLMAN, Wash.— Learn about hydrogen as a practical and sustainable energy source at a Washington State University Common Reading lecture titled “The HOW of a hydrogen organized Washington (and World!)” presented by Jacob Leachman Wed., Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in CUE 203.

Leachman is an associate professor of mechanical and materials engineering, and director WSU’s Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research (HYPER) Lab. The goal of the lab is to efficiently advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of hydrogen systems. » More …