Events planned to support CRP selection

This year's Community Reading Project selection, "Citizen: An American Lyric," differs from past selections as the collection of poetry, prose and images by Claudia Rankine recounts racial aggressions, intentional or not, that occur daily to people of color.

Brian Jbara, director of the Office of Integrative Learning and Advising, coordinates the CRP and said more campus events are planned this year leading to Rankine's visit in April.

"We intentionally planned more open dialogues and conversations," Jbara said. "People need their voices to be heard."

By partnering with the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center, the CRP will host a series of lunch and learn discussions about the book. The first is set for September 30, from noon-1 p.m. in the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons, multipurpose room. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate, RSVP online by clicking here.

In conjunction with the CRP, the Theatre Program will present "Twilight, Los Angeles: 1992," a compilation of 300 interviews playwright Anna Deavere Smith conducted following the L.A. riots after the acquittal of four police officers charged with assaulting Rodney King.

For information about upcoming CRP events, visit www.gvsu.edu/read. 

Rankine’s book won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, and was a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award in Poetry and the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism.