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"Read This" Program

Spearheaded by Dr. Keith Fudge in 2009, the Read This program is a multidisciplinary literary program, which originated in the English Department and has since extended to the AV¶¶Òõ campus and Fort Smith community.

We provide programming related to the campus big read, which begins in our Composition II courses. Such events consist of a book launch, a read-aloud, a lecture series, community-wide book discussions, and ultimately, a speaking engagement with the author or other prominent guests, among other activities. 

Read This is a great way to educate participants on important social issues. The interactions with others help us further understand the diverse populations of our campus and community and make us more informed citizens and more enlightened human beings. 

If you miss any events, please refer to our for photos and possible recordings.


Latest Book:

2022-2024: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead 

This program was made possible from funding provided by the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture program and a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and National Endowment for the Humanities.


Previous Books / Programs:

2020-2022 Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
2019-2020 Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
2016-2018 Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
2015-2016 House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
2014-2015 The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
2013-2014 The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
2012-2013 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
2011-2012 The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal
2010-2011 True Grit by Charles Portis

Spring 2023 Schedule:

Book Discussions 

Dates:

  • Part 1 : January 17, 2023
  • Part 2: January 24, 2023
  • Part 3: January 31, 2023

Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location:

 

Book Launch

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: 

Registration is required for those who wish to attend via Zoom.

 

Book Discussion

Date: Sunday, February 5, 2023
Time: 2 p.m.
Location:

Interfaith Fellowship's book club is wrapping up their discussion and invite any and all to join them.

 

Craft Talk with Colson Whitehead

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Time: 2 p.m.
Location:

Registration is required for both in-person and Zoom attendees

 

An Evening with Colson Whitehead

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Time: 6 p.m.
Location:  

Registration is required for both in-person and Zoom attendees.

 

Black History Month Virtual Read-Aloud

Students, faculty, staff, and community members will be reading from Colson Whitehead's works as well as other prominent black authors' works. AV¶¶Òõ Read This Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/uafsreadthis

 

Faculty Lecture: The Nickel Boys and Reform Schools  

AV¶¶Òõ Criminal Justice Professor Dan Balch will share his thoughts on the book during this interactive lecture. 

Date: March 2
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Location: Baldor 101

 

Letterpress Workshop

Date: April 14
Time: 2:30-3:30pm
Location: Windgate 121

The AV¶¶Òõ Letterpress Studio has always been involved with Read This. For this workshop, 20 lucky people get to choose their favorite quote to set and print! Registration is required.

 

Storywalk: The Nickel Boys

Date: All April/May
Time: Open when Vines Building is open  
Location: Vines Building, first floor

Whether you have read or not read The Nickel Boys, come check out our storywalk designed by our Read This student intern, Sarah Chiles.