With the support of the Center for Global Humanities and considerable ‘leaning in’ by my colleagues on the faculty and the wonderful staff of our libraries, the University of New England community has taken the lead in bringing the “One Book, Many Conversations” initiative to life in Southern Maine. There are at present fifteen conversations scheduled, in almost as many locations. UNE faculty and staff will moderate conversations at a number institutions in the area (e.g., at MECA and at the Thomas Library in Cape Elizabeth), along with four conversations on our two campuses and two at locations in Biddeford (Dirigo Brewery, and Elements bookstore/coffee shop). These efforts express our shared commitment to the values of liberal learning: What does a UNE education offer that our students need, the nation needs, and the world needs at this time? The conversations occasioned by the initiative may not speak directly to these questions, but the energy that has gone into making the initiative possible does reflect, or express, a faith in the value of asking such questions, and of doing so through an engagement with the world’s great traditions of art, wisdom, and learning. 

We hope that you will be able to join the conversation! 

Matthew Anderson, Department of English, University of New England

(Click here for a downloaded version of the poster depicted below:  https://www.une.edu/pdfs/1984.)