The monthly Archer Book Club decided to do something a little different for their December 2022 event: Instead of their usual Zoom meeting, they went out into the campus to host a lively panel talk in the Administration Humanity building’s pit area. With the seasonally-appropriate topic of discussion being A Christmas Carol, University of Regina English Faculty Dr. Susan Johnson, Dr. Alex MacDonald and Dr. Noel Chevalier dissected the classic story from various angles, placing it in its original historical context as well as debating its value and legacy in the present day. Using the high-traffic Ad-Hum pit area allowed for curious passers-by to join in the audience and participate in the Q&A session.
“As we continue moving out of the pandemic, it is increasingly important to have opportunities for gathering together. The “Christmas Carol” event that the Dr. John Archer Library hosted in the Ad-Hum Pit in December was a wonderful way to build a sense of community at a special time of year. I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed hearing English professors share their interesting, thoughtful, and entertaining ideas about a book that has become a seasonal classic. The Library was designed more than 50 years ago to be the heart of the University, so I was happy to see that in a new context, Library staff are finding ways to bring the University community together for shared experiences that highlight the scholarly activity that takes place across campus.”
- Jeff Keshen, President, University of Regina
“I attended the Christmas Carol event and it was a welcome balm at a hectic time in the academic year. All three papers were thoughtful and instructive while nevertheless being accessible to a broad audience. I noticed that in addition to the registered participants, many people interrupted their passage through the Ad-Hum building to listen to the presentations. Warm thanks for organizing this event; I sincerely hope there will be occasion for more in the future.”
- Dr. Philip Charrier, Head, Department of History, University of regina