Students, staff, and faculty are invited to join the IIT Office of Spiritual Life and Service Learning’s Book Club this semester for the reading of the award-winning book The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Book Club discussions will be held from 12:50-1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17; October 7 and 29; and November 13, 2014 in the The Bog at Hermann Hall.

To sign up, email Lynne Meyer at lmeyer2@iit.edu or register in person at the Office of Campus Life suite in the McCormick Tribune Campus Center (MTCC).

The first 20 students to sign up will receive a free copy of the book, courtesy of the Office of Spiritual Life and Service Learning. Staff and faculty may purchase copies of the book in the IIT bookstore.

“In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet which will come to be known as Rakhat. While United Nations diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question the meaning of being “human.” When the lone survivor of the expedition, Emilio Sandoz, returns to Earth in 2059, he will try to explain what went wrong…Words like “provocative” and “compelling” will come to mind as you read this shocking novel about first contact with a race that creates music akin to both poetry and prayer.” (Amazon.com review)

Related Event
On Thursday, November 6, 2014, Dr. Russell, biological anthropologist, will be at IIT to talk about her work and the big questions of science and religion. Following her talk, join Dr. Russell, Lynne Meyer, director of Spiritual Life and Service Learning, and Christopher White, vice provost for Academic Affairs, as they moderate an interfaith panel that further explores these questions. Dr. Russell also will sign copies of her book.

This event reflects the values expressed in IIT’s Diversity Statement and is intended to promote diversity at IIT.