Building Awareness through Culture has a book club at Sacramento State that facilitates learning, discussion and toleration among students. The book club, Literary and Expression, is an extension of Building Awareness through Culture.

Sac State student Courtney Smith, who started the club in fall 2004, said the club wants to hear from more people of different backgrounds. The book club tries to get as many different points of view as possible, Smith said.

The club will begin reading “Their Eyes Were Watching God” on March 8.

The club members read approximately 60-80 pages per week, and return the following week for discussions. “As of now, we have three facilitators who bring questions and discussion topics to club meetings. We find our members like this better,” Smith said.

The club has been going strong with 11 consistent members. “We are open to everyone and always looking for more people,” Smith said.

Keayna Kennedy, a book club member, said the book club is a comfortable space where everyone is open to new ideas. “We are open-minded to different ideas, opinions, and points of view,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy describes herself as a person who only read enough to get by, but after joining the book club, she enjoys reading and the club’s open environment. “The stories often relate to our own lives,” Kennedy said.

The meetings are held in the Suite Valley room on the third floor of the union. Joining the club is as easy as signing in for a meeting. After filling in your e-mail address, the facilitators keep you updated on readings and discussions. The book club also provides snacks and refreshments during meetings.

The club meets at 6 p.m. every Wednesday. For more information, contact Courtney Smith at [email protected].

Binde Rai can be reached at [email protected]