Summer Reading 2007
Whitman’s tradition of providing a summer reading for new students continues this year with The Devil’s Highway: A True Story recommended by Don Snow, Senior Lecturer of Environmental Humanities and General Studies. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2005,The Devil’s Highway, describes the journey of 26 men who attempted to cross the US/Mexico border in May 2001 – only 12 made it alive. The book touches on many issues surrounding border control and immigration while telling the human story of a journey that is made countless times every year through the desert southwest. We invite you to join the new students in reading this timely book and to participate in the activities associated with the Summer 2007 Read Walla Walla program.
The following events have been planned by the College and community partners:
Faculty Panel
August 25 at 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Cordiner Hall
Julie Charlip, Associate Professor of History; Nohemy Solórzano-Thompson, Assistant Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures - Spanish; and Kevin Pogue, Professor of Geology will provide students with a multidisciplinary exploration of the themes and images of The Devil’s Highway. This will be followed by breakout book discussions for new students led by RAs and SAs.
Touchet Library Book Club
September 19 at 1:30 p.m., Touchet Library, 161 Hanson Road
The Touchet Library Book Club will discuss The Devil's Highway at their regular meeting. The book discussion is open to anyone who has read the book or is interested in the topic.
La Fiesta Night
September 19 at 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. , Walla Walla Public Library, 238 E. Alder St
La Lotteria, La Casa Dancers, refreshments and fun! Everyone is welcome!
Remolinos - Whirlwinds
September 25 at 7:30 p.m., Olin Hall 130
Whitman Student Voices from The Devil’s Highway Whitman student participants in recent intensive travel seminars on the Arizona-Sonora stretch of the U. S. -Mexico border led by Aaron Bobrow-Strain – in precisely the places where Luis Urrea’s The Devil’s Highway unfolds – will share their reflections from that unique educational experience. Students will read "remolinos-whirlwinds" – short pictorial essays that wrestle with the complicated, stormy politics of immigration and development on the U. S. -Mexico border – and show images from their trips.
An Evening with Luis Alberto Urrea
September 27 at 7:30 p.m., Cordiner Hall
Luis Alberto Urrea, 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction and member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame, is a prolific and acclaimed writer who uses his dual-culture life experiences to explore greater themes of love, loss and triumph.
Born in Tijuana, Mexico to a Mexican father and an American mother, Urrea has published extensively in all the major genres and is currently published by Little, Brown and Company. The critically acclaimed author of 11 books, Urrea is an award-winning poet and essayist. The Devil's Highway, his 2004 non-fiction account of a group of Mexican immigrants lost in the Arizona desert, won the 2004 Lannan Literary Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the Pacific Rim Kiriyama Prize. A national best-seller, The Devil's Highway was also named a best book of the year by The Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, Kansas City Star and many other publications.Sponsored by ASWC Public Speakers, the Office of the Provost and the Dean of the Faculty, and the Office of the President.
A Celebration of Culture Through Children's Music , featuring José-Luis Orozco
October 14 at 7:00 p.m., Cordiner Hall
José-Luis Orozco is an author and recording artist whose work draws upon the rich heritage of the Spanish-speaking world. Through his music José-Luis Orozco has sought to expose a wider audience to Spanish language children's traditions and promote Latin American culture.
Building on connections with the community, we have invited area higher education institutions, libraries, and local action groups to work collectively on a series of community read events, including a community discussion and an event highlighting local latino/a culture. Community partners include:
Walla Walla Rural Library District
Walla Walla Community College Library - WWCC Bibliography
Walla Walla University Library - WWU Bibliography
Walla Walla Public Library - WWPL Bibliography
Whitman College Penrose Library - Whitman Bibliography
345 Boyer Ave.