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UC DAVIS: Campus Community Relations

March 18, 2008

DEANS, DIRECTORS, DEPARTMENT CHAIRS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS 

RE: THE 2008 CAMPUS COMMUNITY BOOK PROJECT

The seventh annual Campus Community Book Project sponsored by the Office of 
Campus Community Relations will focus on Mountains Beyond Mountains:
The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder.  
The book is a portrait of physician and anthropologist Paul Farmer, renowned 
for his work to improve health care for the poor in developing countries.  We 
invite all members of our community-undergraduate and graduate students, 
staff, faculty, administrators, and community members-to read the book and to 
participate in planning and attending the related events in fall 2008 and the 
related courses throughout next year. 

The Book Project, initiated in fall 2001 by the Campus Council on Community 
and Diversity, seeks to increase our knowledge and strengthen our sense of 
community by providing a common experience and provoking dialogue.  Reading 
and analyzing a book together offers the opportunity to share our insights and 
explore other perspectives.  We encourage faculty to integrate the book into 
existing courses and to develop freshman seminars and other experimental 
courses that study international health care, international economics, and 
international relations from varied perspectives.  We urge campus units and 
student and community organizations to incorporate the book into training and 
development programs and book club activities.

Connecting with the UCD Centennial celebration, Mountains Beyond Mountains 
provides a catalyst for exploring the mission of a land grant university - 
specifically, how multi-disciplinary research can contribute to service 
dedicated to solving significant local and global problems.  Other issues 
raised by the book include health care and human rights, poverty, and social 
justice.

Writer, reporter, and journalist, Tracy Kidder will speak at the Mondavi 
Center for the Arts on December 1, 2008.  

Mountains Beyond Mountains is available in paperback and the UCD Bookstore 
will offer a special discounted price of $9.95 from February 20, 2008 through 
mid-April 2009.  Copies of the book will also be available for review at the 
Office of Campus Community Relations and the University Writing Program.

The Campus Community Book Project seeks broad participation in the planning, 
publicizing, and hosting of events for the fall program.  The planning 
process will begin shortly; those interested may contact Tammy McNiff at 
tdmcniff@ucdavis.edu.  Please join the Offices of the Chancellor and Provost 
and the Office of Campus Community Relations in making next year's Book 
Project a successful community-building event.

Barbara A. Horwitz
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Rahim Reed
Associate Executive Vice Chancellor--
Campus Community Relations

08-034



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Modified: 03/20/2008 03:41:20 PM
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