Clark Atlanta University News October 1, 2010 CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY TO HOST SAPPHIRE Acclaimed Poet, Author To Share Literary Perspectives Oct. 15 ATLANTA (Oct. 1, 2010) – Clark Atlanta University (CAU) will host acclaimed poet and author Sapphire at two exclusive, free events Friday, Oct. 15. The public is invited to attend “Lunchtime Literati: A Conversation with Sapphire” at noon in the University’s Davage Auditorium. At 6 p.m., Sapphire will share from her novel “Push” and participate in a panel discussion during “An Evening of Literary Excellence: Sapphire @ CAU.” The writer’s debut novel published in 1996, “Push” chronicles the life 16-year-old Clarice Jones, a young woman whose everyday life centers upon a horrendous cycle of sexual, psychological and physical abuse. Challenged and inspired by a teacher, she ultimately finds her own voice and esteems herself in overt and wonderfully subtle ways. According to Goodreads, the book is “an electrifying novel that shocks by its language, its circumstances and its brutal honesty….” In 2009, the literary work was adapted into the major motion picture “Precious,” which won the 2010 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, will play free of charge Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Davage Auditorium. The events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 404-880-8337. The presentations are sponsored by CAU’s Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, the Department of English and the Office of Strategic Communications and University Relations. Sapphire’s appearance was arranged in collaboration with the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org www.hbculibraries.org 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.