Beginning this fall, the CSUCI Campus Reading Celebration will focus on local author Victor Villasenor's bestselling book, "Rain of Gold," which will be the subject of discussion sessions involving students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.
In the program, the University's Foundation has provided funding so that copies of the book can be distributed free of charge to students. At various events, beginning on September 14, University faculty and staff will facilitate discussions of the book between the author and students, as well as with interested members of the local community who will be encouraged to read the book.
Ā āRain of Gold,ā which chronicles the author's family life in Mexico and the United States, will also be integrated into a variety of CSUCI courses, in keeping with the University's interdisciplinary approach.
"The campus Reading Celebration is an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and administrators at the University to share, along with interested members of the community, a common intellectual experience," says Renny Christopher, professor of English and chair of the CSUCI Academic Senate.
āWe hope that there will be animated conversations in the hallways, along with interactions in the formal venues, all during the fall semester. And people will have a chance to meet the author, as well, which, I think, is something that really humanizes a book for its readers."
Here is the schedule of events:
September 14: From 10 - 11:15 a.m., the author will meet with three CSUCI classes; from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., he will give an informal book talk to students, faculty, and staff in the Student Lounge Courtyard.
September 15: From 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., the author will meet with the Bilingual Literary Studies class and other classes in the Science Auditorium. At 6 p.m., Villasenor will sign books and be the featured guest at a reception held in the Student Lounge Courtyard and openĀ to the University community at no charge ($5 per person for outside community members and $2 per person for students from other colleges and universities). The reception will be followed by a presentation in Salon A, after which Villasenor will sign copies of his books, which will be available for purchase on site.
September 16: From 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., Villasenor give a presentation to the campus community in Salon A, which will serve as a kickoff for the campus celebration ofĀ Hispanic Heritage Month. At 5:30 p.m., he will appear at a reception for the President's Circle.
For more information, contact Renny Christopher, professor of English and chair of the Academic Senate, at 805-437-8994 or Renny.Christopher@csuci.edu.
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