![\"\"](\"http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Henrietta-Lacks1.jpg\" "\\"Henrietta-Lacks1\\"")
<\/a>Christina Martinez, senior instructor, Kraemer Family Library, chaired this year\u2019s book selection committee and announced its choice April 9.<\/p>\n\u201cIn choosing \u2018Henrietta Lacks\u2019 we felt we were selecting a book that would have a broad appeal,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cIt is non-fiction but it reads like fiction. It has a lot of science in it, but it is also the story of real people. It raises a lot of ethical questions, and it raises questions about racism as well. We thought that there could potentially be a lot of classes that could incorporate this book into the curriculum.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,\u201d published in 2010, spent weeks on the New York Times<\/em> bestseller list. Henrietta Lacks was an impoverished African-American mother of five living in Baltimore who died of cancer in 1951 at the age of 30. A sample of her cancerous tissue was taken without her knowledge or consent. Those cells, designated the HeLa cells, eventually provided a wealth of medical research information and breakthroughs, including a cure for polio. Henrietta Lacks’ unacknowledged contribution saved countless lives and made some people wealthy, while her own family was living in poverty.<\/p>\n Martinez said the committee found Skloot\u2019s book to be readable and engrossing, examining medical and scientific ethics, racism, privilege, and poverty among other issues. The All Campus Read provides the opportunity for campus community members to be involved in subsequent discussions of such issues, and to be aware of what\u2019s happening in various disciplines.<\/p>\n Members of the selection committee include: Chris Bell, director, Center for Excellence in Communication, Megan Bell, director, University Center, Edgar Cota-Torres, assistant professor, Department of Languages and Cultures, Traci Freeman, director, Center for Excellence in Writing, Kirsten Ortega, assistant professor, Department of English, Emily Skop, assistant professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, and Stephany Spaulding, assistant professor, Department of Women’s and Ethnic Studies.<\/p>\n Teri Switzer, dean, Kraemer Family Library, is hoping to present a campus lecture on the book featuring the author or one of Henrietta Lacks\u2019 descendants. Switzer said she was disappointed that the popular speakers are completely booked for fall engagements, but she is investigating the possibility of a lecture next spring semester.<\/p>\n Martinez may be contacted at cmartine@uccs.edu<\/a>. Author Rebecca Skloot’s website has links to information about using the books as a community read and links for teachers and students. See http:\/\/rebeccaskloot.com\/the-immortal-life\/readers-talk\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"