Millersville University’s One Book, One Campus 2012-13

The One Book, One Campus program at Millersville aims to provide a shared experience for new students.  Each fall, all incoming students arrive having read the same book.  The goal of this program is to stimulate discussion and critical thinking around a common book’s theme, enhancing a sense of community among students, faculty and staff.

In this year’s selection, The Influencing Machine, author Brooke Gladstone covers a wide span of history to discredit the belief that the media exerts one-way control over the public. Instead of a machine that supposedly influences us, the media is just as likely to reflect the perspectives we already believe. Ultimately, Gladstone tries to give us tools to better navigate, consume and engage with the media.

The 2012-13 One Book, One Campus programming includes a Reflect & Connect series discussion, a panel discussion featuring the author and a themed comic strip contest, all of which are free and open to the public. Programming around the book will build upon campus events surrounding the fall 2012 election season and the opening of the Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center.

On October 10, the Reflect & Connect Series discussion will include passages from The Influencing Machine featuring students from the narrative workshop, “Telling Your Story,” to reflect on the role of storytelling in how we process understanding of the world. This event will be held at 5 p.m. in the Ford Atrium, McComsey Hall,

On October 23 a panel discussion entitled “Understanding Media Today: Sorting the Truthiness” will feature media experts from different disciplines discussing their perspectives on coverage of current events leading up to the election, as well as their broader insights into the role of media in our society. This event will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Reighard Multipurpose Room, Student Memorial Center.

The comic strip contest, which is open to the public, is accepting submissions that engage audiences through images and words, conveying a timely observation or relevant critique of our lives today. The winning entries will receive a $150 Millersville University bookstore gift certificate and be published in the University’s magazine, the Millersville Review.

There are no restrictions on the content or format of submissions, but they may not exceed 8.5” x 11”. One submission per person will be accepted. Include a separate cover sheet with the title of the piece, name, phone number, and email address. Scanned or digital submissions may be sent to Caleb Corkery or send a physical copy to: Comic Strip Contest; English Department; Millersville University; P.O. Box 1002; Millersville, PA 17551-0302. The contest deadline is November 1, 2012.

For more information contact Corkery, assistant chair and associate professor of English, at Caleb.Corkery@millersville.edu or 717-872-3655.