New York City Badger Alumni Lead Off ‘Go Big Read’
June 24, 2009
By Mallory Gillikin '09
What do a neurobiologist, an art marketer and 11 other New York City professionals have in common? Simply put, they all eat food every day. Combine their need to feed with a hunger to reconnect with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and you have the recipe for the Big Apple Badgers Book Club.
By Mallory Gillikin '09
What do a neurobiologist, an art marketer and 11 other New York City professionals have in common? Simply put, they all eat food every day. Combine their need to feed with a hunger to reconnect with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and you have the recipe for the Big Apple Badgers Book Club.
Big Apple Badgers Book Club
“I thought it would be great to be part of the global discussion that the university was planning on embarking on, and I wanted to link us back to the UW,” said Lydia Barry Kutko '05, who organized the book club through the WAA: Big Apple Badgers Chapter. “I think it is key that UW continues to do different programs like this that tie back alums to the school.”
Meant to reach beyond classroom walls to engage the entire UW-Madison community, In Defense of Food inspired a lively conversation that the Big Apple Badgers encourage other alumni chapters to join.
“Everyone threw in their own educational background, from the science of food, to the politics of food, to me and my understanding of the marketing of food,” said Barry Kutko. “We were very excited to be joining in and I think it brought a lot of happiness, intellectual stimulation and spirit to the group.”
Though the Big Apple Badgers Book Club boasts members who hail from a variety of neighborhoods in the five boroughs, Suchita Shah '08 found that they could bridge their unique experiences with the common ground they shared as students in Madison.
“We brought the discussion back to Wisconsin and compared New York to Madison, where you have the Dane County Farmers' Market and a lot of local foods from the farms nearby,” Shah said.
Shah believes the common book program not only provided a way for her to connect back with the university, but also to strengthen bonds with fellow Badgers within her alumni chapter.
“It really does bring together a community," Shah said. "Especially as alumni, to know that we have this one thing in common. I think it would be really cool if other alumni groups were able to do the same and report back to Chancellor Martin and to UW-Madison."
Go Big Read kicks off on campus this fall, when Michael Pollan will visit UW-Madison for community-wide events from September 24-26. In Defense of Food will also be provided free of charge to students enrolled in participating UW-Madison courses and is available for a discounted price at the University Book Store.
Find out more about Go Big Read and how your alumni chapter can participate.
“Everyone threw in their own educational background, from the science of food, to the politics of food, to me and my understanding of the marketing of food,” said Barry Kutko. “We were very excited to be joining in and I think it brought a lot of happiness, intellectual stimulation and spirit to the group.”
Though the Big Apple Badgers Book Club boasts members who hail from a variety of neighborhoods in the five boroughs, Suchita Shah '08 found that they could bridge their unique experiences with the common ground they shared as students in Madison.
“We brought the discussion back to Wisconsin and compared New York to Madison, where you have the Dane County Farmers' Market and a lot of local foods from the farms nearby,” Shah said.
Shah believes the common book program not only provided a way for her to connect back with the university, but also to strengthen bonds with fellow Badgers within her alumni chapter.
“It really does bring together a community," Shah said. "Especially as alumni, to know that we have this one thing in common. I think it would be really cool if other alumni groups were able to do the same and report back to Chancellor Martin and to UW-Madison."
Go Big Read kicks off on campus this fall, when Michael Pollan will visit UW-Madison for community-wide events from September 24-26. In Defense of Food will also be provided free of charge to students enrolled in participating UW-Madison courses and is available for a discounted price at the University Book Store.
Find out more about Go Big Read and how your alumni chapter can participate.
Events
- Twin Cities - Cards Anyone? - October 29
- 2009-10 Badger Basketball & Hockey Games (General Information) - November 4
- THE GOLDEN GOAL! - February 5
- Samba Rhythms Cruise — Brazil to Argentina - February 9
