Common Book “Growing Up” Underscores Hard Work During Hard Times

Orientation leader Vivek Patel led a discussion of the common book “Growing Up” in June.

Winthrop officials expect the Depression-era themes of poverty in the book “Growing Up” to resonate with incoming freshmen who also are living in a society struggling with economic setbacks.

Written by journalist Russell Baker, the book follows Baker’s childhood as his mother pushes her only son to make something of himself. “Interest in this year’s common book has been tremendous,” said Gloria Jones '83, dean of University College.

In an effort to involve the whole campus and community, the university will offer several fall performances featuring popular entertainment from the first part of the 20th century. The Pulitzer Prize-winning comedic play “You Can’t Take It with You” is set for Sept. 29-Oct. 4 in Johnson Theatre. And the Charlotte Symphony will appear Nov. 15 in Byrnes Auditorium to play music by American composers.

A series of lectures also will take place across campus, where professors will explore changes in journalism, various cultural perspectives and the impact of unemployment, among other topics. Professors will offer a Depression-era movie series – “Cinderella Man,” “The Color Purple,” “Of Mice and Men” and “Avalon” – as well as a movie about an earlier common book, “Into the Wild.”

Jones said freshmen will discuss “Growing Up” in their ACAD class, which is an introductory class designed to help students understand what is expected of them as they adjust to college life. They’ll also participate in service-learning projects through the fall semester.

The projects include preparing meals for youth at the Children’s Attention Home and senior citizens at Highland Park, participating in York County’s CROP Hunger Walk and a campus CanStruction event. In addition, during Welcome Week students will be turning over a community garden and getting it ready for fall harvest at nearby Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church.

“Through these projects we hope to raise awareness of local hunger and give students resources to make a difference in our community,” said Ellin McDonough '92, '94, program director for service learning with the Center for Career and Civic Engagement. “We want to teach students how poverty affects us today.”

Check out the full list of common book events.