Book clubs on University of the Pacific’s 斯托克顿校区 are becoming more popular as students, faculty and staff tackle important and sensitive issues brought forth in literature.

老虎读书俱乐部, hosted by the William Knox Holt Memorial 图书馆 and Learning Center, recently concluded for the fall semester. Participants were pleased with the open, accepting environment the clubs created, which allowed for productive discussion of race, 社会公正等等.

米歇尔·吉, head of publishing and scholarship support for the library, 克里斯·高夫, director of general education, led a Tiger Book Club focused on LGBTQIA fiction. LGBTQIA stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual.

维罗妮卡井, the head of library re搜索 and learning, was the facilitator for the self-care-oriented book club. The other library book clubs focused on sport and social justice in society and race in fiction.

“We planned each of the books clubs around a diversity, equity and inclusion lens,” Gibney said. “All the books chosen were either by or about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). For the LGBTQIA club pick, Akwaeke Emezi的《博彩平台网址大全》, we specifically chose one that was by a queer, Black author and included a Black, transgender main character who primarily communicates thru ASL (American Sign Language).”

乔斯林·奎奇，23岁, a pharmacy student and participant in the LGBTQIA fiction book club, enjoyed her first experience in a book club. “What I liked was that everyone was really friendly and welcoming,” Quach said. “This made for a casual, open environment where people were free to discuss their ideas and opinions.”

“Reading can be such a great way for us to de-stress. During this time when we are all looking for ways in which we could be better citizens and support those who are different from us, I think it’s great to read titles about things that make us a little uncomfortable,井补充道. Her group read “Self-Care: Yoga for Healing” by Tatiana Forero Puerta.

Gibney and 井 are hoping to host another session of 老虎读书俱乐部 in the spring semester.

Center for Teaching and Learning book club

Pacific’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is hosting an online book club, 对教职员工开放. 莱斯利拜耳, who has directed the CTL Book Club since 2015, transitioned the club to online in fall semester.

CTL has emphasized tailoring Pacific education for historically underrepresented and first-generation students.   

“We are deeply committed to promoting inclusive, antiracist pedagogy. That has been a foundation of CTL since (starting in) 2015 and we have only deepened that commitment,拜耳说。, CTL副主任.

“Our book club started as a way to build faculty community. We’ve definitely made an explicit effort to include books about how we can be more inclusive in our teaching practices,拜耳说.

The club is currently reading “Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, 改变世界, and Become a Good Ancestor” by Layla F. 萨德.

The CTL Book Club will continue through the spring semester.

Making lasting connections

Pacific’s book clubs are also a social sphere during the pandemic. 井 ensured her group had “the opportunity to connect with Pacific people throughout the university, based on a common interest we might have. It’s fun to connect in a different mindset.”

Gibney also hoped students were “making some new connections with other students and staff on campus from different backgrounds, but with some shared experiences.

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为学生

井 said that an upcoming diversity, equity and inclusion audit of the library is meant to encourage “just being aware of the kinds of materials we read and the voices that are represented. We were very aware of that as we were selecting the books (for 老虎读书俱乐部) and that intention will carry on as we do the audit.” Students are encouraged to participate in the audit. 联系 井 如果你感兴趣的话.

为学生, faculty and staff

·       Pacific Athletic Book Club is reading “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson

即将举行的图书馆活动

·       老虎闹鬼 10月. 30, 6 p.m.

·       Wednesday Workshop Series 每周三下午两点.m.

即将举行的CTL活动

·       Staying Grounded in Online Teaching and Learning 10月. 21, 12:30 p.m.

·       Sign up for the CTL 新闻letter by 发邮件  ctl@whitedogskin.net