One Book-One Campus brings students and faculty together by reading the same book, after being discontinued for the fall, it will return in the spring at Ventura and Oxnard Colleges.

One Book-One Campus attempts to prop up interest in a particular book and have the entire campus community read and discuss it. The One Book selection occurred every fall for six straight years, until that streak ended this past fall.

“A One Book selection was not made this semester, fall ’09,” said Deborah Pollack, an English professor at Ventura College. “Because the organizers changed and the new ones weren’t able to select a book in time to be part of faculty teaching schedules.”

According to Pollack, the faculty, staff and administration of Ventura College vote on the book selection. Also, a few faculty members gave their votes to their students. The resulting decision was, “Creating a World Without Poverty” by Muhammad Yunus, winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.

“This book will also be the focus of California State University, Channel Islands’ celebration of reading, and they are bringing Dr. Yunus to speak in Ventura County, where we’ll all have the opportunity to hear and be inspired by him,” said Pollack. “Oxnard College has also chosen this book for their campus.”

Past years have helped bring the campus closer together, with teachers participating and integrating book choices into their syllabi. In prior years, the campus has put on panel discussions, research opportunities, movie screenings, art gallery exhibits, marathon readings and dramatic presentations.

One Book-One Campus creates a closer connection with the campus community while participating and reading the material. Pick up a copy of “Creating a World Without Poverty” by Muhammad Yunus and join in on all of the upcoming events that will be held on your campus in spring.