In partnership with the One Book Program, the President’s Committee to Build Campus Unity is sponsoring multiple competitions for all students, faculty and staff at Sacramento State.

The competitions are based off this year’s One Book selection, “The Grace of Silence: A Memoir” by Michele Norris. The book is about untold stories within the author’s own African-American family and raises questions about our country’s history with racism.

The categories for the competition are creative writing, analytical writing, short film and photography. Prizes for the essay winners range from $75 to $250.

“We thought of the competitions simultaneously, but photography and short film were the latest to come out because of finalizing logistics; we didn’t want to put it out there without any background information,” said Margarita Berta-Avila, committee member and associate professor in the multicultural education department.

The idea for these contests was created by the President’s Committee to Build Campus Unity and engaged and provide different outlets for students, faculty and staff to express themselves.

“People have many different outlets, whether that is writing, film or photography,” Berta-Avila said. “They express themselves in many different ways and that can offer dialogue and discussion on campus.”

The president’s committee first emerged about a year ago when there was a rash of violence, especially toward gay and lesbian students, in surround ing universities.

“After these hate crimes started occurring at universities more often, the Faculty Senate asked the president to build a forum in which we could discuss these issues,” Berta-Avila said.

After author Helen Zia spoke at Sac State, these forums had break-off conversations and ultimately decided they didn’t want this to be a one-time deal, Berta-Avila said.

“We wanted to continue to have forums, spaces and outlets, such as these competitions, to continue to talk about issues that others often don’t want to talk about on campus,” Berta-Avila said. “We hope that this will somehow impact ways we communicate with each other at and institutional level.”

The first One Book Program Essay Competition began last year and was sponsored by the Latino Alumni Association, which provided the funding for the awards. It was such a success that we sought to make it available again this year and in years to come, said Faculty Coordinator of the Sac State One Book Program Hellen Lee-Keller.

“This year we are so very fortunate that the President’s Committee to Build Campus Unity is sponsoring the prizes for the Essay Competition and the photo and film competitions as well,” Lee-Keller said. “With three simultaneous competitions, it should be an exciting day to see all the great work being produced on our campus.”

The One Book Program has recruited and organized the judges for the essay competition and will be determining the winners. It also sent out notices about the essay competition through First Year Experience Program, Honors Program and through individual faculty members.

“I see these competitions as kind of like a track meet – lots of different people come to participate, either by entering the competition or to see whose work is celebrated,” Lee-Keller said. “It’s ultimately a way to come together to celebrate the good work we do here on campus.”

The One Book Program began in January 2008 with funding from Wells Fargo and was established as part of a nationwide initiative to improve literacy across all communities.

“In order to make the program successful, we need to gather information about how students are engaging with it and inspired by it,” Lee-Keller said. “We select books that we hope will connect with the issues facing our students and these activities allow us to ascertain whether we are achieving our goals.”

The number of submissions will be unknown until the judging begins and students who are not participating still believe in its purpose.

“Even if these competitions won’t affect many people, I believe it will still help build campus unity,” said undeclared freshman Kou Vue.

Submitted essays do not have to be original for the competition and could have been used for a grade in a class from this or last semester.

The deadline for the competition is March 15 and the winners will be announced at a campus event at the end of April or early May.

“I hope students, faculty and staff are discussing the issues raised by the One Book and the contest gives them another avenue to continue these conversations,” Lee-Keller said.

For more information on the contests, visit csus.edu/onebook/2011/Beyond%202011.html.

Alyssa Sanguinetti can be reached at [email protected].