"The September Project" — USU Libraries to Participate in the Nationwide Grassroots Effort

Utah State University Libraries and Cache MicroCinema invite members of the campus and Cache Valley communities to campus Monday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. for a film screening and discussion as part of "The September Project."

 

The evening event includes a screening of excerpts from Topaz, a documentary about the internment of Japanese-Americans in central Utah during World War II, and portions of History and Memory, Rea Tajiri's personal reconstruction of her family's experience of internment. Following the screening, Lawrence Culver, assistant professor of history at USU, will facilitate a discussion of Japanese internment and democratic citizenship, in the context of the events of Sept. 11.

 

Begun in response to the events of Sept. 11, The September Project promotes libraries as places where people are free to talk about the important issues of the day. Information on the events taking place at libraries around the world this month can be found at the project's Web site.

 

"We are proud to be a part of The September Project this year," said Wendy Holliday, reference librarian at USU and board member for Cache MicroCinema. "Libraries across the country will be hosting events this September to encourage public discussion on freedom, democracy and citizenship. Being able to tie our event into the Topaz discussion is very timely and appropriate for campus this year." 

 

The Topaz screening is part of the common literature experience at USU, in which students, faculty, staff and the members of the community read When the Emperor Was Divine, Julie Otsuka's novel about the Topaz camp.