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Common Reading ProgramThe Freshman Common Reading Program at Saint Peter's College has been designed to help foster community among our first year students, promote shared values, and a create a sense of academic rigor. It also serves to connect faculty and student affairs personnel by enhancing the classroom experience with co-curricular activities. The Saint Peter’s College Freshman Common Reading Program learning goals and objectives are listed below:
Freshman Common Reading Program Goals:
- Strengthen written and oral communication skills
- Enhance critical thinking, creativity and analytical reasoning
- Foster a spirit of academic community
- Promote reflection and dialogue among students and faculty around a common academic activity
Freshman Common Reading Program Objectives:
- Engage in reflection and dialogue
- Utilize critical thinking, creativity and analytical reasoning to improve reading, written and oral communication skills
- Acquire a sense of shared academic goals
- Develop written and oral communication skills
- Appreciate and discuss the values embodied in the text
All freshman students are required to read the common reading text as a part of their English composition course. This year’s book selection is Night, by Elie Wiesel. Students are also encourage to participate in the planned co-curricular activities.
Fall 2008 Freshman Common Reading Program Activity Schedule: Welcome to the 2008 edition of the Common Reading Program of Saint Peter’s College. This year’s selection is Night by Elie Wiesel. A vivid memoir of a young man’s fight for survival during the Holocaust of World War II, this true story is rich in thematic content and poetic power. To deepen the reading experience and feeling of community, several activities and events will be offered in conjunction with the reading of this very powerful book: September 22nd, 2008 Ms. Hedy Brasch – Holocaust Survivor
Noon at the Yanatelli Life Center Holocaust Council of MetroWest
Holocaust survivor Hedy Brasch joins us for a lunchtime presentation, detailing stories of survival and personal courage in living day to day during dangerous times. Ms. Brasch shares images and memories from a nightmarish childhood that yet illustrates the resiliency of the human spirit. A Question and Answer session with student participation will follow this noontime talk.
Museum of Jewish Heritage – Field Trip
Location: Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
36 Battery Place
New York, New York
Dates: Sunday, October 19, 2008 – Afternoon – bus departs at 11:30 AM
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 – Evening – bus departs at 4:00 PM
Join us for a 90 minute guided tour of New York City’s Museum of Jewish Heritage to gain a broader perspective of the Jewish people and their place in history.
Buses leaving from the SPC campus will be provided on two dates -- one afternoon, one evening, but students are also invited to visit the museum at their own convenience, as bus space is limited.
*NOTE: Sign up in the English Department ASAP as bus space is limited.
Film Series Week – Week of October 20th – 23rd – 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM. Location: Pope Lecture Hall
Night 1 – Monday, October 20, 2008 – PBS Documentary on Elie Wiesel
Night 2 – Tuesday, October 21, 2008 – Life Is Beautiful
Night 3 – Wednesday, October 22, 2008 – Schindler’s List
Night 4 – Thursday, October 23, 2008 – Everything Is Illuminated
Join us for a series of films exploring what it was like to live under the Swastika flag of the Third Reich. These four diverse films highlight the horror, poignancy, and sorrow of the Holocaust.
Night Essay Contest/Art Showcase/and Reception
Location: McIntyre Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Time: 4:00 PM
This late afternoon event will feature student work based on Elie Wiesel’s Night and responses to the activities relating to it. Winners of the Night essay contest will be honored at this reception which will also offer a venue for display of related student artwork. Our keynote speaker for this event will be announced soon.
Entry details will be available soon from your Composition instructor.
Interfaith Day of Reflection
Place: Cushing Alumni House Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008 Time: TBA
Join us for a day of reflection on personal courage and the resilience of the human spirit. Through a series of retrospective activities, students will explore the lessons of Night and their overall immersion in this particular moment in history through the work done this semester.. Held in the Alumni House, this activity is limited to 15 students.
*NOTE: Sign up in the English Department ASAP as space is limited.
Synagogue Visit – Temple Beth-El
Date: Friday, October 17; 8:00 p.m. Location: 2419 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ Visit a local Jersey City Reformed synagogue with Rabbi Kenneth Brickman of Temple Beth-El for services, fellowship, and spiritual worship. You can learn more about the congregation by visiting their website at : www.betheljc.org . NOTE: Sign up in the English Department for this Friday evening event
And finally, a simple way to contribute to the resiliency of the human spirit “Stamp Out” Despair Month
Date: October, 2008
Donate stamps, stationery, and pens to be distributed to residents of the Elizabeth Detention Center for Detainees so they may more easily stay in touch with their families in other countries.
NOTE: A collection bin will be set up in the English Department to receive contributions during the entire month of October.
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