The Common Reading Program and all events are made possible through the support of the Shepherd University Foundation.
September
Sept. 12 – Trauma Informed Training – 12:00 pm session for Athletics & SUPD – Byrd CHE auditorium / 2:30pm session for faculty & staff – Student Center Ballroom
Participants will learn about the physical and mental health impacts of trauma, ways that trauma affects how individuals receive and respond to resources, how we can integrate trauma-informed care into the institutional framework, and various tools for working with individuals who have experienced complex trauma. Led by Katie Spriggs, Executive Director for the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC). Free & Open to all SU employees.
Monday, Sept. 18 – Seeing (RED) with Ebony Stewart – 4:00 pm – Storer Ballroom (3rd floor) keynote following Ram’s Rally For Respect
Ebony Stewart’s work speaks to the Black experience, with emphasis on gender, sexuality, womanhood, queer-positivity, and race, with the hopes to be relatable, remove shame, heal minds, encourage dialogue, and inspire folks in marginalized communities. Seeing (RED) ties in aspects of generational trauma learned through relationships with the foresight of healing through poetry and storytelling. Rams Rally for Respect is an annual anti-violence march and rally aiming to promote a culture of respect on Shepherd’s campus and surrounding community. Its goal is to empower students, staff, faculty, and community members to stand up to violence in all forms. Meet at Potomac Place lawn if you want to march at 3:15pm. Performance starts at 4pm in the Student Center’s Storer Ballroom. Co-sponsored by SU Common Reading, Title IX, & Multicultural Student Affairs. For more information contact alewin@shepherd.edu
October* (*October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month)
Tuesday, Oct. 17 – Breaking Barriers: Intersectionality & the Complexity of Violence – Panel Discussion & Resource Fair – 5:30 pm – Byrd CHE Auditorium. Learn how Medical Staff, Law Enforcement, Victim Advocates, and Prosecutors prevent and respond to interpersonal violence in our community. After the discussion, walk through the resource fair to interact with various community organizations that provide education and support around domestic and interpersonal violence.
Monday, Oct. 30 – The Mask of Masculinity & Men’s Mental Health – A Campus Conversation – 3:30 pm – Cumberland Room
This annual conversation will continue to explore masculinity, gender, and society, providing students, faculty, and staff with the space and opportunity for critical, constructive, and contemplative dialogue around our individual and shared understandings of masculinity. Panelists will share powerful personal narratives and engage in discussion to unpack how masculinity impacts all of us and how we can shift cultural norms to move toward an expanded, healthier, and more authentic experience. Co-sponsored by SU Common Reading, Title IX, & MSA.
November
Wednesday, Nov. 8 – Rachel Louise Snyder, Author Talk & Book-Signing – 6:00 pm – Frank Center Theater
The 2023-2024 common reading author, Rachel Louise Snyder, will speak about her book, “No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us”. Book-signing and reception to follow. Free & open to the public. Sponsored by the Shepherd University Foundation.