After a successful First-Year Shared Reading Experience and as anticipation builds for Trevor Noah’s appearance on campus, Syracuse University is partnering with CNY Reads One Book to distribute copies of Noah’s acclaimed memoir, “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” (Random House, 2016), throughout the Central New York community. The University is in the process of donating 1,000 copies of the memoir.
Every year since 2001, CNY Reads One Book picks a single book title to distribute throughout the area in hopes of catalyzing dialogue among community members of all walks of life. This year, through a partnership with the University, the organization has chosen “Born a Crime.”
Working with SU’s Office of Community Engagement, more than 100 copies are circulating in the Onondaga County Public Library System and 65 more books will be used as library giveaways with “Read this book and pass it on” stickers on the covers. In addition to the Onondaga County Public Library System, nine other libraries or book clubs have received memoirs through the partnership.
“This collaboration with CNY Reads One Book is exciting. A completely volunteer-based organization, CNY Reads One Book serves with the fundamental goal of providing Central New York a shared experience and dialogue,” says Bea González, vice president of community engagement. “This partnership gives Syracuse University the opportunity to be partners in that mission and provide support, further bridging campus and community.”
González has also been working with other community organizations interested in distributing “Born A Crime,” including the Upward Bound Program at Le Moyne College and the Shonnard Street Boys and Girls Club. Jaime Alicea, superintendent of the Syracuse City School District (SCSD), has started a reading circle around “Born a Crime” with his superintendent’s cabinet—a group of students representing each school in the district. The cabinet will be hosted at the 2019 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in January.
University community members who want to donate their copy of “Born a Crime” may drop off the book at 235 Schine Student Center or 304 Steel Hall. Students, faculty and staff who have not yet obtained their free copy of “Born a Crime” should go to the third-floor service counter of the SU Bookstore and present their SUID.
Dinner/program tickets for the MLK Celebration are sold out. Program-only tickets are $5 for students and $15 for SU staff, SU faculty and the general public. Tickets may be purchased online, in person at the Dome Box Office (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and by phone (888-DOME-TIX or 315.443.2121, option “zero”).
