WMU HOME > ABOUT WMU > WMU NEWS Campus groups discuss "The Color of Water" March 22, 2005 KALAMAZOO--For the third consecutive year, Western Michigan University is a participating sponsor of the Kalamazoo area's Reading Together program, which this year features author James McBride's acclaimed memoir, "The Color of Water." This year's book selection includes several broad themes for group discussions and other activities, including jazz music, religious traditions, race and identity, family composition and the power of love. A series of brown-bag luncheon and evening discussions on the WMU campus begin this week and continue through April 13. All sessions are free and open to the public. Brown-bag luncheon discussion groups will be held in Room 158 of the Bernhard Center from noon to 1 p.m. Participants are invited to bring their own lunch or to purchase a meal in the Bernhard Center cafeteria or from one of the food court vendors in the Bronco Mall. Listed below are the dates and facilitators for each discussion. Tuesday, March 22, facilitated by Dr. Steven Bertman Tuesday, March 29, facilitated by Doris Dirks Wednesday, March 30, facilitated by Rev. Kathleen King Tuesday, April 5, facilitated by Dr. Donald Cooney Wednesday, April 6, facilitated by Rev. Dr. Julia Robinson Tuesday, April 12, facilitated by Felicia Crawford Wednesday, April 13, facilitated by Penny Schellenberg Wednesday, March 23, a brown-bag luncheon discussion on "To Tell a Mother's Story: Race, Representation, and Identity" will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the Multicultural Center in the Trimpe Building. That discussion will be faciliated by Dr. Lawrence Potter. Evening discussion groups are being held at the Oaklands from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments are provided for the evening sessions, which began last night with a discussion faciliated by Dr. Deborah Barnes. Listed below are upcoming dates and facilitators. Monday, April 4, facilitated by Bobbe Tabor Monday, April 11, facilitated by Dr. Von Washington A panel discussion, "The Color of Water Live: Straddling the Color Line Identity in Biracial and Multiracial Families," will be held Monday. March 28, at 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Center in the Trimpe Building. Scheduled panel members are Dr. Deborah Barnes, director of the Walker Institute; WMU graduate student Erin Huskey; Ann Lipsey and Rep. Alexander "Sandy" Lipsey of Kalamazoo; and Dr. Mark Orbe, associate professor of communication, and his daughter Victoria Orbe. For information about other Reading Together events in Kalamazoo, visit the Web at www.readingtogether.us or contact the Kalamazoo Public Library's Joan Hawxhurst at joanh@kpl.gov or (269) 553-7913. Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News Office of University Relations Western Michigan University 1903 W Michigan Ave Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA 269 387-8400 www.wmich.edu/wmu/news