Freshmen arriving on the UT campus confront their first intellectual challenge on the day before classes begin. Each year, the Life of the Mind freshman reading program selects a book to be read and discussed by all incoming freshmen.

The common reading selection for the Class of 2016 is Eric Liu’s The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker, a thematic memoir that challenges readers to consider identity as something both accidental (coming from family and other peoples’ expectations) and intentional (created and/or adopted by one’s own choosing). On August 21, the day before classes begin, students will attend a lecture by Eric Liu then gather for small group discussions of the book’s themes. The Life of the Mind experience will continue throughout the year through exhibits, lectures, movies, and class assignments that incorporate the book’s topic and themes.

To further explore those themes of race, language, and global politics, students can visit the Culture Corner on the first floor of Hodges Library. Each semester, the Culture Corner showcases books on a different diversity topic. The Culture Corner is a project of the UT Libraries’ Diversity Committee.

Life of the Mind 2012 Selection is The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker by Eric Liu
Freshman Reading Program provides a common experience for all incoming freshman. During Welcome Week freshman get a feel for college life as you join classmates and professors in discussions about the book in a group setting. This experience fosters friendships and a sence of UT community.

For more information about the Life of the Mind program and Welcome Week visit: http://torch.utk.edu/lifeofthemind/

The UT Libraries Diversity Committee joins the International House and the Center for International Education in International Education Week 2011! Check out our display of culturally enlightening titles in the Culture Corner section first floor Galleria, Hodges Library.

International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.
http://iew.state.gov/index.cfm

The Diversity Committee presents the Fall 2011 Culture Corner featuring The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta Lacks’ cell culture spawned changes in medicine, science, ethics, society and the world. This Semester’s Culture Corner features selections from UT Libraries collection that highlight the areas effected by this one human and her immortal cell.