I know it is upsetting to hear, but specifically in the case of this year’s common book, Dreams from My Father by President Barack Obama, the University of Washington has experimented with some fascist elements. The UW is a public institution and therefore an arm of the state, but through the common book, they have directly given state funds to the head of state. This is very inappropriate and even alarming. If John McCain won and the UW chose one of his books, I would still be alarmed. The only difference in that situation would be that I might be lauded for my recent column. I’m sure more readers would aid my cause or, at the very least, take more time to consider what I have to say.

My goal is not to alienate but to warn. I realize that in the process, I will anger and alienate some readers. It is unpalatable to be compared to fascists, but if royalties are given to the head of state by another arm of the state, and furthermore if the citizens — or in this case the students — are not given the choice to abstain from buying the royalty-giving item and are not compensated, then we are toying with a dangerous line which can extend to all kinds of things. While I chose to talk about it through the UW common book, it could easily be compared to other subjects, such as the military industrial complex, which is well worth discussing considering the Iraq War, but not as topical to the UW as the common book.  

Now, back to the topic at hand.

As I understand it, students are expected, but not required to, read the common book. I remember having the option of reading my own class’s common book. What I don’t understand is if students can opt out, why can’t they do it before the books are bought and be given a refund of some kind. This is after all common spending, and the students should still have the benefit of the money from the common book spent on them in other ways, perhaps by subtracting the book’s cost from their tuition.
However, I do understand the common-book program is supposed to provide the basis for a common conversation. This year’s conversation is suppose to be centered around racism. Why not allow students to use that money to purchase a book related to racism such as Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave or perhaps something more location oriented such as a book about Korematsu v. United States? The general discussion on racism would be much more enriching because of the different books read.

In this post, I am mainly attacking the issue of money being given to the president through the purchase of the UW’s upcoming common book. I also know that besides state funding, the UW receives a lot of private funding from donors. Would the common book still be an issue if a private donor approached the UW and offered to pay for all the common books? I understand the entire curriculum of incoming freshmen is to be structured around this one book. And to that extent, if it was privately donated, it would fall under the umbrella of my general criticism of common books.

To be upfront, common books almost always have an agenda behind the agenda. They are usually far more “preaching” than teaching. I find this fact disagreeable even when the book chosen is one I greatly enjoy. In some rare cases, the common book may not have a “preaching” agenda. But in those instances, it is likely more for the convenience of the educators than for the benefit of the students. A common conversation doesn’t require a common book, only a common theme or thread.

I do not believe this year’s common book (nor any year for that matter) was chosen for the benefit of the students. I am sure most students have learned plenty about Obama and will continue to do so. I am sure that many of them will enjoy the book and that the book itself is well written and enlightening. I am sure many of them voted for Obama and are excited to read his book. I am also sure that if Obama is to be the common conversation presented, the book is unnecessary. He is on every television channel and in almost every piece of news. He is on T-shirts and posters. I even heard him quoted four separate times at my youngest sister’s graduation from middle school. Obama is everywhere, and he does not need a common book to be discussed.

If the common conversation truly is to be about racism and personal identity, it is strange to limit the conversation to one book. I realize an argument will be made that this is just an extension of required reading a student might experience in a classroom in a university-wide level. But while certain books may be necessary for a class and define their nature at a university-wide level, when the professed goal is simply a common conversation, as long as their is more than one book on the subject, more than one book should be allowed to be chosen.