It’s been another interesting week at Colgate, with enough events happening around campus to keep anyone busy! One of the events I most enjoyed last week was a guest author whose book I read in the Living Writers course.
Last Thursday, I attended a lecture by Katherine Boo as part of the Living Writers Series at Colgate. Love Auditorium was packed with students, alumni and parent participants in the Living Writers Online program, and other interested community members.
Boo, author of Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, spoke about the process of researching in the Mumbai slum Annawad. Her book is a narrative nonfiction following the lives of residents of the slum, shedding light on the struggles of a group of people who have been marginalized in Indian society. She offered some great insights on economic disparity, corruption in the criminal justice system, and what it means to be a marginalized member of society.
Boo did a terrific job explaining her reporting, and left the audience with this thought at the end of the lecture: much of her research material, photographic, anecdotal, and otherwise, came from the children of Annawadi, who wanted the injustices they faced known and helped her along the way. It was a great last thought to an inspiring talk.
This coming week, there are some great events to attend around campus and in the community. Here are just a couple:
Happy All Saint’s Day! Come celebrate with the Newman Community in the Coop TV room on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Learn about the saints, what it means to be a saint, and hang out with friends while you enjoy some delicious tacos! For more information, go here.
Head over to the Michael Saperstein Jewish Center on Wednesday for the screening of the new documentary Punk Jews. Starting at 5:30 p.m., the film follows several different groups in New York City who approach Judaism in unconventional ways. Grab your friends and go on over for free admission and pizza!
To see what else is going on around campus, check out the full Colgate calendar of events.