Fordham University has started a new reading program as a part of the recently implemented FitzSimons Presidential Initiative on Civics and Civility. Students, faculty and administrators are invited to participate in reading groups starting in November and will discuss the book “I Never Thought of It That Way” by Monica Guzman.
This year, the FitzSimons Presidential Initiative on Civics and Civility was implemented at Fordham to foster respectful and productive civil discourse. Program events throughout the school year will aim to educate students and staff on how to be open-minded, think critically and extend grace to others, according to the Office of the President.
“There are so many challenges that face the world, and in order to combat those challenges, it takes folks coming together in dialogue and conversation,” said Anthony Berry, a Fordham FitzSimons Fellow.
As an extension of the initiative, Berry decided to start a reading program that can help teach people about civil discourse and create discussions among community members. According to Berry, the idea of a reading program was sparked by conversations with Dennis Jacobs, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs and professor of chemistry.
“Several other universities across the country have had it [the book] either as a university-wide reading initiative or as part of particular classes,” Berry said. “After talking with him [Jacobs], it seemed like a really great idea to bring something like that here to Fordham.”
The book covers how to have difficult conversations with people with different political views than yourself. According to Berry, the book gives specific recommendations for having more productive discussions on topics including politics.
Fordham will supply copies of the book to students, including 200 copies at Rose Hill and 200 copies at Lincoln Center. The book can be picked up from the libraries at students’ respective campuses, and distribution will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
While Berry will create formal book groups based on responses to the interest form, students are also invited to create their own groups. One of the questions on the sign up Google form asks whether students are open to having groups consisting of students, faculty and administration, so the makeup of the groups will be based on responses to the form.
“I think ideally, just from a community building standpoint here at Fordham, it would be great to have book discussion groups that include folks across the spectrum: students, faculty and admin,” Berry said. “I think there’s this desire from each of those parties to get to know each other a little bit more.”
According to Berry, there have been about 100 sign-ups for the reading program so far. Berry hopes that more people continue to fill out the form so that they can distribute all 400 books to students. The desire is that many students can engage with this program as an opportunity to get to know other students and learn how to have better conversations with their friends and family.
“Our consumption of media is so siloed, and not only our consumption of media but also our interactions and daily life,” Berry said. “And so my hope with this book and with our initiative more broadly is that we can encourage people to think outside of just their silos and the people that agree with them and think like them, and encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone a little bit and maybe have those conversations that can be challenging.”
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