One book, one campus, one community.
That was the idea behind Baker University’s newly launched common reading book program in which all freshmen read Warren St. John’s book, “Outcasts United.”
“We had heard about common book programs and we really wanted to build a sense of community in the Baldwin area and thought this would be a great way to do it,” Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said.
St. John will be on campus to discuss his book from 8 to 9 p.m. Monday in Rice Auditorium, followed by a book signing.
More than 40 other colleges and universities also selected “Outcasts United” as required reading for incoming freshmen.
“The book has so many wonderful themes in it that talk straight to a freshman’s experience,” Bailey said. “Acclimating to an environment, diversity, the idea of support and finally, the whole idea about community and service.”
“Outcasts United” is the story of a refugee soccer team, its coach and a small southern town going through the process of refugee resettlement.
Freshmen have been discussing the book in their salon classes.
Each salon class, in addition to being taught by a professor, also has a student leader that helps facilitate discussion. Senior Sam Beecher is a student leader for Assistant Professor of Psychology Robyn Long’s salon class.
“I really enjoyed the book from the perspective of a joy-read because it was really well written, but also from the perspective of a student,” Beecher said. “It deals with a lot of social and individual problems and also solutions that can happen at the community level where people in different places and cultures come together.”
Beecher said the freshmen in his salon class have had different reactions to the book.
“Originally, I think the students weren’t too sure about it and were a little taken aback this summer at enrollment when they were given the book and told they need to read it,” Erin Joyce, assistant dean for liberal studies said. “But I think once they started discussing it they were enjoying it.”
Joyce was one of the faculty members on the committee that organized the program and said the committee will meet again soon to begin discussing next year’s book.
“There was some discussion of whether the program is appropriate for first year students and if we’re targeting the right audience,” Bailey said. “As we grow the program, we hope other faculty take advantage of it, too, and it’d be great if the whole community read it.”
While freshmen are required to attend St. John’s discussion of his book, all in the community are encouraged to go as well.
“I think the upcoming book discussion might encourage a lot of the freshmen to finish reading the book if they haven’t yet,” Beecher said. “It’ll be a great opportunity for them to really get a lot out of it.”
