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WT Great Books Series Blossoms in October with Discussion of Kate Chopin Stories
Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s Great Books Series will offer a bouquet of lesser-known works by a major female author at its October meeting.
RayLene Dystert, WT instructor of English, will lead the discussion of Kate Chopin’s short stories “Lilacs” and “The Lilies” at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 via Zoom.
The discussion series — sponsored by the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities —is open to those who either have or haven’t read the stories, said Dr. Daniel Bloom, Great Books organizer and associate professor of philosophy.
“I chose these stories because they seem to be the lesser known of the Kate Chopin collection—I don’t recall even a brief discussion in any literature class I had in college,” Dysert said. “I was going through my books one day and found the collection these stories are in; I started reading and was amazed that I had not heard of some of the stories in the collection because they’re such a great example of Chopin’s ability to transport her readers into her Creole world and be mesmerized.
“I think that these stories are so indicative of the brilliance of Kate Chopin, and I would like readers to search out more of her work and discover the wonderful writer that she was,” Dysert said.
WT professors and guest lecturers lead the monthly Great Books discussions.
The series began in 2011 and is traditionally held on the second Tuesday of the month.
To register for the October discussion, email Bloom at dbloom@wtamu.edu.
The series is one way in which WT serves the region by offering engagement with a variety of literary and philosophical texts. Being a learner-centered university is a key principle of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $150 million.
About West Texas A&M University
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.
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