One Book, One University Dialogue on Identity and Inclusivity

For more than ten years, the University of La Verne has engaged its students and community in transformative discussions through the One Book, One University initiative. This year’s featured book, Nobody Needs to Know by Pidgeon Pagonis, provides a deeply personal look into the experience of growing up intersex and the broader issues of medical ethics, challenging societal norms around gender, identity and related rights.

On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Pagonis will join the campus community for two powerful discussions: a student lecture moderated by Dr. Clara Barr and a community-wide event open to the public 3-4 p.m. in Morgan Auditorium. The latter will include a book signing  in Fasnacht Court, just south of the auditorium, following the discussion until 5 p.m.

“Nobody Needs to Know is not only a moving memoir; it’s also a story of how to turn personal pain into community engagement and positive social change,” says Clara Barr, event moderator and English professor.

The book addresses unsettling experiences of adolescence and explores themes about alienation, identity, and self-discovery. Pagonis also discusses human rights of intersex people, and the book provides opportunities to engage in critical discussions of related topics such as LGBTQ+ issues, women’s rights, and medical rights. The book examines problems with the medical field in misdiagnosing and undermining conditions related to sexuality, with a comprehensive criticism of how authoritative systems limit individual agency and dismiss anything other than the gender binary. Pagonis recounts the activism and community engagement that led to policy changes at a local Chicago hospital regarding treatment of people born intersex.

“Ultimately, the book is a celebration of the freedom and empowerment that come from learning the truth about who you are—and living it, says Josh Jensen, professor and chair of the First-Year Rhetoric and Writing Program at the university.

The initiative, rooted in the university’s commitment to lifelong learning and social responsibility, is designed to promote academic growth and civic reflection. Throughout the year, students will participate in discussions, writing exercises, and possibly service-learning projects, all inspired by the themes of annual book selections.

By integrating literature with the University of La Verne’s core values, the One Book, One University program continues to make an impact, fostering meaningful conversations that resonate beyond the classroom as well as modeling how to put theory into practice.