`GREAT BOOKS' GRANT TO UNIVERSITY

The Missouri Humanities Council has awarded a grant of $1,550 to Southeast Missouri State University for a "Great Books That Made a Difference" program.

The program, offered through the Center for Regional History at Southeast, is free and open to the public.

History department professor Larry Easley is the project director.

Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History, said participants will read and discuss six books.

The books are: Paul Ehrlich's "The Population Bomb," Vance Packard's "The Hidden Persuaders," John Griffin's "Black Like Me," Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring," Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique," and Michael Harrington's "The Other America."

The books, he said, "changed our lives through their enormous influence on public attitudes in the 1950s, '60s and '70s."

Nickell said: "These are books that in a large way changed the life of society and in a large way, the people that are participating in the program. These are books that we believe focused special attention to problems in American society and changed society."

The program is open to all age groups, but there is a special emphasis on attracting older people, he said. Most of the participants, he said, are 50 or older.

"About 31 have signed up right now," said Nickell. "We can take up to 35." More can attend, but the grant provides funding for 35 sets of the books, he explained.

The first book has been distributed to participants and will be discussed at the first session, scheduled for today at the University Center from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Different university professors will be involved in the discussions, depending on the topic of the book.

Sessions will be held once every two weeks with a different book slated to be discussed at each session, Nickell said. The program will run through Dec. 4.

A five-member senior citizens advisory board will evaluate each of the sessions, he said.

Persons interested in participating in the program should contact the Center for Regional History at 651-2555.