Moved by the Mountain

Just when this year's incoming freshmen thought their summer would conclude homework-free, Tracy Kidder's novel Mountains Beyond Mountains surprised the UW community with a warm welcome to fall quarter.

The Undergraduate Academic Affairs office (UAA) decided to release the Common Book Program for the first time ever this school year.

Students were given the book at summer orientation and were to read it before the start of classes. The UAA also asked professors and Freshman Interest Group (FIG) leaders to incorporate the book in class discussions and activities with the hope that issues discussed in the book would become a part of students' everyday lives.

"The overall goal of the Common Book Program was to immediately connect students with an academic and intellectual experience on campus," said Kirsten Atik, UAA public information specialist. "By working with groups on campus, namely FIG groups, we (UAA) were able to develop a set of study notes concerning the common book, while individual faculty members at the same time offered classes concerning issues such as global health."

Furthermore, organizers hoped this program would broaden students' knowledge of prominent issues such as the impact of global health and AIDS, possibly inspiring them to pursue these issues.

Many students, like freshman Jennifer Kim, candidly confessed to either briefly skimming the novel's pages or having barely glanced at its cover because they were misinformed about whether or not reading the book was mandatory.

"The common book succeeded in bringing people together, but mainly because many people were confused on the purpose of the program," Kim said. "We were basically more concerned on who had read it and if any potential major essays were going to be issued out discussing the book."

English professor Sergio Casillas planned an activity in response to Mountains Beyond Mountains but had to switch gears when he found out many students had not read the book.

"Upon receiving the common book, I was a little confused on the purpose of the program and its objectives," Casillas said. "Because of this I was unable to incorporate the book in class activities as much as I had wished."

Many FIG leaders took advantage of the program by attending Farmer's address in late October with their FIGs. Although hundreds of freshmen and their FIG leaders waited to get a seat in Kane Hall, they ended up facing a large screen and projector instead of Farmer himself.

After the address, select FIG representatives were given the privilege to ask Farmer questions about the book and his experience.

"It was quite an event, and even though I didn't get to experience Paul Farmer's address personally, I was still glad I went because his address on global health was very interesting and overall inspiring, especially to those who are deciding about pursuing pre-med," said FIG member Airlie Adams.

The UAA has created a stronger global health program as another option for interested undergraduates, complimenting study abroad programs in countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

UW's Department of Global Health has merged with the School of Public Health Medicine, and plans are being made to establish academic programs, which allow students to become more involved in this new program.

The department has also devoted a large amount of time to its new program, "Can we move the mountain?" using Kidder's novel as a main theme.

The Common Book Program has helped to engage the UW community in global health, said freshman Steven Strauss.

"Although I found the book quite dull, the lecture by Dr. Paul Farmer was very inspiring and I later found myself, surprisingly, discussing issues on global health with my FIG members and in my International Relations class," Strauss said.

Many felt the program was an overall success when it came to bringing the UW community together through similar interests and goals.

"Mountains Beyond Mountains [HTML_REMOVED][HTML_REMOVED] despite the fact that it neglected many disciplines [HTML_REMOVED] remained regal in its ability to inspire and display how courage and compassion combined with the human spirit can shape the world around us," said freshman Skylar Marcum. "And now I know that there really are 'mountains beyond mountains.'"

Students had several suggestions for improving next year's Common Book Program.

"This book failed to meet the needs of a diverse population and ... either needs to become obsolete or develop into a program with an array of books to choose from rather than from just one," said freshman Brian Packer.

Many students recommended UAA have an array of books and topics to choose from to expose students to new issues and allow them to choose which they care to pursue.

"Being a business major, I found the book to be interesting, but at the same time wished that it had addressed a broader topic not so specific to the medical field," said freshman Zach Thomson. "I agree that the program next year would be very successful if it had several topics to choose from instead of just one."

The UAA office does plan to continue the Common Book Program next year and is currently in the process of organizing a committee of students and faculty who will propose a new book for next year.

"There will be a Common Book Program next year; at the moment we are in the process of gathering a committee that will determine what book we will focus on," Atik said. "The main challenge is to incorporate a variety of thoughts that appeal to the majority of campus partners and individuals."

Lauren Akamine: development@thedaily.washington.edu