'Beyond the Book' embraces diversity

By Chloe Gregg
Associate Editor

“Beyond the Book” is a campus-wide book club that offers diverse and thought-provoking stories for students, faculty and other LCC community members to read and discuss.

The club is a partnership between LCC’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and Centre for Engaged Inclusion (CEI).

“This program is focused on embracing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by exploring four themes with four different books at the campus-wide level,” said LCC Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Tonya Bailey. “Numerous courses have utilized previous ‘Beyond the Book’ selections and have integrated the reading and discussion of the books and the DEI themes in the course requirement, workplace discussions and dialogues.”

These themes with their two different books are as follows:

Theme 1: Gender and Self Identity & Accessibility and Advocacy – “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe

Theme 2: Global and Cultural Perspectives & Diversity and Racial Equity – “How to be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi

LCC students and employees can grab their free copy of these best-selling books at the Centre for Engaged Inclusion, located in the Gannon Building in room 2204.

Once a month, beginning in October, students and faculty can discuss the novels, the central themes, music related to the themes, and art related to themes with each other.

Students are encouraged to ask their faculty if they can receive extra credit for their attendance and participation at these discussions.

Corinna Peterson, a student at LCC, said although she never knew LCC had a book club, she would be very interested in joining.

“I love reading and I especially love that our college is promoting such empowering and progressive books to have open discussions about,” Peterson said. “And with it being free, there’s no reason not to try it.”

For more information, visit the ODI’s website for it here.