Humanities Texas Awards Grant to TAMIU for ‘Reading the Globe’

Humanities Texas has awarded Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) with a mini-grant of $1,500 in support of its “Reading the Globe” program.

Now in its fourth year, “Reading the Globe” is the University’s common reading program which includes all freshmen, faculty and staff.

This year’s book selection is “Santiago’s Children” by Steve Reifenberg. This book tells the story of the author’s time working at an orphanage in Santiago, Chile. It was also chosen by the Laredo Public Library for its One City, One Book project.

The author will visit TAMIU and Laredo Oct. 7 to talk about his book and life in Chile since the overthrow of President Allende.

Throughout the semester, students will extensively discuss the book in classes, engage in writing and special projects.  Students will have an opportunity to enter into a competitive essay contest on the experience and 15 will be chosen to travel to Chile over the Christmas break. In the past, TAMIU “Reading the Globe” students have traveled to Poland, Ghana and Cambodia.

Dr. Haley Kazen, University College instructor and project director, said the “Reading the Globe” project is popular on campus.

“Every year, our common read is a great success and a favorite activity for our freshmen. We have enjoyed working with the public library and the Laredo community for the last few years to bring the City of Laredo and TAMIU together in a literacy project that embraces important issues in different parts of the world. We look forward to another successful year,” Dr. Kazen said.

Humanities Texas is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information on Reading the Globe, call Kazen at 326.2805, visit University College offices in University Success Center 223, email hkazen@tamiu.eduor click on tamiu.edu/spotlight

For more on Humanities Texas, go to humanitiestexas.org

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu