Common Reading Events
The Common Reading Program and all events are made possible through the support of the Shepherd University Foundation.
MARCH 2024
Tuesday, March 19 – Community Alternatives to Violence @ 6:00 PM in the Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education (CHE) Auditorium. Learn about a local program that supports restorative justice and violence prevention. Violence is a learned behavior; therefore, nonviolence, respect, and healthier responses can also be learned. Battering Intervention and Prevention Programs such as Community Alternatives to Violence in Martinsburg, WV, work with individuals who have been referred to their program or who voluntarily enroll. Join us for this free event to hear from CAV Executive Director, Jo Elliott, how such programs teach responsibility, accountability, respect, compassion, and empathy. View the Flier Here
APRIL 2024
April 1-12 – “The Art of Surviving” Capstone art exhibit by Emma Williams – Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education (Byrd CHE) foyer. Artist’s Reception – April 5 from 4 pm – 7 pm
April 5 – “In the Bedroom” Film Screening – 7:00 p.m. Byrd CHE auditorium – in collaboration with the Shepherdstown Film Society & Shepherd’s Lifelong Learning Program
About the film: In idyllic Mid-Coast Maine, the Fowler family’s only son Frank comes home from his freshman year at college for summer vacation. His mother Ruth, the school choir director, is unhappy with Frank dating soon-to-be divorced mother Natalie who is several years his senior, but Frank’s father Matt, the town doctor, doesn’t see a problem. While Frank considers holding off his future for Natalie, her jilted husband causes them all problems until an unthinkable tragedy shakes the community to its very core. (Rated R) Release Date – Nov 23, 2001 (USA) | Run Time – 132 min.
Past Events:
FEBRUARY 2024
All Month: Vote for the Next Common Reading: Click Here to Vote!
New Date! Tuesday, Feb. 27– “Red Flag or Romance?: Pop Culture and the Romanticization of Interpersonal Violence” – 3:30 p.m. – Cumberland Room, Student Center – We’ll put pop culture in context during this roundtable discussion on topics ranging from music, film, literature, art, and more. Is it romance… or is it a red flag? Let’s discuss. Free Pizza provided by the Office of Student Activities and Leadership.
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.
Full Bio Here: http://www.lyceumagency.com/speakers/rachel-louise-snyder/
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) withEbony 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.
February
Wednesday, Feb. 7 – Stalking Awareness Workshop – 12:00 p.m. in the Blue/Gray Room of the SU Student Center. This event will focus largely on technology facilitated stalking risks and safety planning. Learn what stalking is and what technology facilitated stalking looks like, as well as tips for privacy settings. (this event is sponsored and hosted by Shepherd’s Social Equity Office and the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center)