Queen鈥檚 Reads explores student identity

Queen鈥檚 Reads explores student identity

Upcoming panel event for common reading program focuses on what it means to be a Queen鈥檚 student.

By Dana Mitchell

January 25, 2019

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[Student reads Scarborough]
Queen's Reads is a common reading program that aims to engage the Queen's community in a dialogue. This year's novel is Scarborough, by Catherine Hernandez.

Queen鈥檚 Reads brings the student voice to the foreground in its second event of 2018-19 鈥 a panel that will discuss what it means to be a Queen鈥檚 student.

This year鈥檚 Queen鈥檚 Reads novel, Scarborough, by Catherine Hernandez, grapples with the concept of identity within a culturally diverse Scarborough neighbourhood. The event on Jan. 31 will provide students with an opportunity to discuss this theme and apply it to their own experiences at Queen鈥檚.

The student panelists are:

  • Anderson Albert, teacher candidate, Education
  • Alex da Silva, University Rector
  • Clarissa de Leon, PhD student, Education
  • Darian Doblej, Law student
  • Tharziha Ganeshamoorthy, ASUS Equity Commissioner

鈥淢y hope is that conversations like the one we will have at our panel, will help wake us up to the diversity of experiences that make up our Queen's community,鈥 says Ms. de Leon. 鈥淲e need to begin questioning norms and seek out the stories we don't hear as often.鈥

Students, faculty members, and staff are invited to participate on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 pm in Wallace Hall in the John Deutsch University Centre. There will be a reflection activity, followed by the panel discussion and a question-and-answer period.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we give students space to discuss their experiences and learn from one another,鈥 says Sara Ali, Coordinator, Student Development in the Student Experience Office of the Division of Student Affairs. 鈥淭his discussion will centre the student voice by using core concepts from Scarborough to create a relevant dialogue within the wider Queen鈥檚 community.鈥

Free copies of the novel are available for all Queen鈥檚 students. Everyone is welcome to attend, even if they haven鈥檛 read the book.

Learn more about Queen鈥檚 Reads and upcoming events, including an Empathetic Imagining workshop being held in March.