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Common Reading Program Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement

Sci-fi, dystopian novel Ready Player One selected as 2017-18 common reading for five WSU campuses; non-fiction Spare Parts chosen by WSU Vancouver

Daniel Rieck

PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University has announced that two books are the 2017-18 common readings for thousands of students in first-year courses: Ready Player One, for Pullman, Tri-Cities, Spokane, Everett, and the Global Campus; and Spare Parts, for WSU Vancouver.

Both award-winning books were nominated soon after the call went out in September from the WSU-wide Common Reading Selection Committee. Its 14 members read and evaluated 34 books in total, all of which align with the program’s two-year theme of “frontiers of technology, health, and society.” Members recommended three finalists in February to WSU Provost and Executive Vice President Daniel J. Bernardo for the final selection.

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Gender-based violence topic of WSU Common Reading speaker Amber Morczek Sept. 7

emma.epperly

Pullman, Wash. — The Washington State University Common Reading Program hosts a lecture on the connection between rape culture and violence towards women Wed., Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. in CUE 203.  Criminal justice and criminology doctoral candidate Amber Morczek will speak about the pervasiveness of gender-based violence at the free public presentation.

A recipient of the 2016 inaugural Student Affairs Outstanding Student Award, Morczek’s research interests include violence toward women, rape culture, and pornography. She currently works with WSU Violence Prevention Programs educating students, faculty, and staff about gender-based violence, and the importance of bystander intervention.  Morczek’s delves into many issues similar to those experienced by Malala Yousafzai, author of this year’s common reading book, I am Malala. At the Common Reading Lecture, Morczek will cover the significance of rape culture and how a cultural framework that normalizes and condones violence against women impacts our society.  » More …

WSU common reading becomes system-wide shared initiative for 2016-17

makhani

PULLMAN, Wash.—What connects two books, six campuses, dozens of faculty from diverse disciplines, and thousands of first-year students at all Washington State University campuses?

Answer: the institution’s common reading program, or programs, to be precise.

While student learning and engagement has benefited for more than a decade thanks to common readings, the upcoming academic year will see more collaboration and cohesion among efforts at multiple campuses.

“Common reading programs across the WSU system have long had many touchpoints with each other in terms of books and programming, but we are embarking on an initiative for 2016-17 that represents a very focused, shared initiative,” said Karen Weathermon, program co-director at the main campus and director of First-Year Programs.  “This is an evolutionary milestone that we believe will have even more impact on students and their education.” » More …

“The Downward Spiral of Addiction and the Journey Out” hosted by the WSU Common Reading Program April 18

emma.epperly

Pullman, Wash. — The Washington State University Common Reading Program hosts Noel Vest to discuss “The Downward Spiral of Addiction and the Journey Out: Prison, Academia, and Recovery” at 5 p.m. in CUE 203.  This lecture is free and open to the public.

An experimental psychology Ph.D. student and WSU Tri-Cities alumnus, Vest will detail his life experiences and the perspective they lend to this year’s conversation surrounding the year’s Common Reading book, “Just Mercy.” » More …

WSU selects “I Am Malala” as the 2016-17 Common Reading book in Pullman

seabertson

PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University has named the best-selling “I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban” as the 2016-17 common reading for first-year and other students in Pullman, Interim Co-Provost Erica Austin has announced.

Austin chose “I Am Malala” from three books recommended by the selection committee of the Common Reading Program, part of WSU Undergraduate Education. » More …

Schools, Youth, and the Criminal (In)Justice System

emma.epperly

Pullman, Wash.- The Washington State University Common Reading Program hosts a lecture by John Lupinacci at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday Nov. 17 in Todd 116.  The event is free and open to the public.

The session will accompany this overview of youth in prisons by posing questions for audience participants to discuss.  Often such presentations can leave us feeling powerless; however, this session will culminate by providing audience participants with opportunities to connect with regional and national efforts to reform and/or abolish the systemic incarceration of youth through the school-to-prison pipeline. » More …

Award-winning “Broken on All Sides” film featured at Sept. 15 WSU Common Reading event

seabertson

Pullman, Wash. – “Broken on All Sides,” a film about racial inequality within America’s criminal justice system, will be shown at 7 p.m. Tues., Sept. 15, in room 203 of the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education at Washington State University. The public is welcome at this free event hosted by the Common Reading Program. » More …

WSU Common Reading book nominations open Tues., Sept. 1, 2015 for 2016-17 academic year

seabertson

PULLMAN, Wash.—Read a good book lately that ties to themes of leadership and social justice? You might want to nominate it to be the 2016-17 book used by all students taking first-year classes, announces the Washington State University Common Reading Selection Committee. » More …