&“Barefoot Heart” selected as Common Literature Experience

Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht recently received a copy of “Barefoot Heart: Stories of a Migrant Child,” this year's selection for the Connections program's Common Literature Experience.

The Common Literature Experience encourages the entire campus, the local community and USU's newest students to read the book and attend an August convocation lecture that features the author, Elva Treviño Hart.

“Barefoot Heart” is the story of a migrant family that travels from Texas to Minnesota and Wisconsin each summer to work in the beet fields. The book is a memoir, written in the voice of the author as she describes her family's experiences, her need to honor her heritage, and her quest for knowledge, which leads to a degree in computer science from Stanford University.

“The memoir raises issues of the migrant experience in America, discrimination, and the value of education,” said Noelle Call, director of Retention and First-Year Experience who is also the Connections program director. “The book also lends itself to a discussion of personal choices, goals and persistence in the face of many obstacles. I hope the issues in the book will provide the students and community an opportunity to learn about Latino issues in our own community.”

Call presented a copy of the book to Albrecht and was joined by two students, Krista Bustamante and Natalie Hatch. The students shared their impressions of the book and how this selection might affect the perspective and critical thinking of the entering class of 2009.

“This book allows people to get a better understanding of children from migrant parents,” said Bustamante, a sophomore majoring in political science and Spanish. “Elva does a great job at giving you insight on what's going on in the world.”

Connections is a course specifically designed to ease a student's transition to university life at USU. The course focuses on developing critical college study skills and understanding the academic environment. It also promotes awareness of the campus community. The Common Literature Experience is part of the larger Connections program.

“I am excited about this year's selection,” Albrecht said. “I hope everyone in the community has an opportunity to read this touching story.”

Elva Treviño Hart speaks Saturday, Aug. 22, at 9:30 a.m. in the Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center on campus. All are invited.

“Reading this book allowed me to see a part of America I didn't know existed before,” said Hatch, a freshman majoring in English. “I hope everyone can read the book. It's a story that needs to be told.”

—Sarah Reale '07