Mountains Beyond Mountains (MBM)

Welcome from the Deans

June 2005

Welcome SJU Class of 2009!

We are proud to introduce to you this year's SJU Reads selection, Mountains beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder. One critic describes MBM as "easily the most fascinating, most entertaining, and yes, most inspiring work of nonfiction I've read this year."

Why Mountains beyond Mountains? First, it is a great read-a well-written and engaging story. Orientation leaders have called it a "page turner." It raises questions that relate directly to our Jesuit mission-how to be men and women for others. Its themes connect to so much of what we study here--Latin American studies, globalization, service learning, health care, ethical pricing of drugs, moral responsibility of business-and individuals. It raises challenging questions about inequality and human dignity. As Dr. Paul Farmer asks, how do we explain that people in Haiti are dying of diseases that are treatable?

We will mail you the book later in the summer. During Academic Orientation on Thursday August 25, over lunch, you will join your classmates for book discussions led by our faculty. These discussions will model how a university acts as a community of learners, both in and beyond the classroom.

Saint Joseph's University Reads, begun in Fall 2001, is a program designed to engage the entire campus community in a common reading experience with the theme of the Ignatian value of social justice. It includes a wide variety of interdisciplinary programming to explore and illuminate topics addressed in the common reading.

More than 30 courses will incorporate MBM in the fall. During the semester, SJU will sponsor many events directly related to the book, including a visit by author Tracy Kidder on Thursday October 27, and another by Dr. Jenny Furin, who works for his organization, Partners in Health, on Thursday September 29. We also will have a film series related to the book.

We include here a brief history of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and a guide to some themes in the book. For more information about SJU Reads Fall 2005, go to http://www.sju.edu/tisju/mbm/. There you will find links to the official SJU Mountains beyond Mountains website, reading and study resources, and a video that features Dr. Paul Farmer and his work in Haiti.

Enjoy reading the book. Come to school in August prepared to share your questions, opinions, and insights. The faculty and the entire Freshmen Orientation staff look forward to welcoming you in August.

John J. McCall, Ph.D.	Joseph A. DiAngelo, Ed.D.
Dean	Dean
College of Arts and Sciences	Erivan K. Haub School of Business