Two new events

Things are going on!

First, we've got another Bookmobile tomorrow, Nov. 12, from 11:30-1:30 p.m. in the JSAC MarketPlace. As usual, DVDs and books will be available for checkout. We got a good response last time, so we've been encouraged. Stop by and check us (and one or two of our items) out!

Second, we're hosting a Common Reading discussion panel next Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 12:30-2 p.m. in room B111 here in the Library.

We're excited about this! The Library sponsored a discussion panel with the FYS department a couple of weeks ago -- about the Common Reading -- and were stunned at the turnout. Over 40 people showed up -- and this was during Homecoming Week and during Common Time, so we were competing with not only school spirit, but also other worthy events happening around campus.

Afterward, the panelists, the moderator (okay, I admit it. I was the moderator), and sponsors were asked to host another one. So we are!

If you missed the first one, here's what it's all about: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

We gathered together a group of faculty from various departments and plunked them down together with some leading questions and audience participation to see what would happen. The participants were:

Kirk VanGilder -- Philosophy/Religion
Elizabeth Gibbons -- Psychology
Jane Dillehay -- GSR/Biology
Carie Palmer -- English
Jerri Lyn Dorminy -- FYE/Common Reading Committee representative

We got off to a good start with some comments from each participant about the book and how it related to their fields, and then things got interesting. Dr. Dillehay and VanGilder quickly got into a fascinating discussion of what it meant to be human -- he from the ethical perspective, she from the perspective of an applied scientist. The truth is, the book itself brings up an ethical quagmire that we're still sorting out today, relating to patient confidentiality and informed consent about procedures done on your body, to say nothing of the basic ownership of your own biological material once it's been separated from you.

Without going into too much detail -- we could go for hours on this, and very nearly did in the last discussion panel -- it was a fascinating discussion.

This time around, we'll have a different mix of people:

Edgar Palmer -- Orientation
Derek Braun -- Biology
Jeffrey Brune -- History/Government
Arlene Kelly -- ASL/Deaf Studies
Thomas Horejes -- Sociology

Jerri Lyn Dorminy will change seats, going from the one she sat in as a panelist to the one I sat in as the moderator. An interesting discussion is guaranteed -- feel free to come, watch, comment, and learn!