Another Monday, another ‘Meet Our Team’! This week we’re talking to postgrad student Grace Balfour-Harle about her role as Student Liaison, her experience with #NapierBigRead and the upcoming release of Detective McLevy’s Casebook.
Describe your role in the Big Read? What is it that you do?
I am the Student Liaison which means I represent the Napier Big Read team when coordinating with externals, and directly to the students. I have conducted interviews with some external volunteers, and am in discussion with all the class representatives for our big launch date on World Book Day on 1st March 2018.
Why did you decide to volunteer for the Big Read scheme?
At my undergraduate university, there was a kind of Big Read scheme, but nothing really was done about it beyond the academic side of it, so I was really excited to get involved with Napier’s Big Read team and send the message directly to the students.
Why do you think this project is important for the university?
A shared reading programme brings people together who wouldn’t necessarily meet otherwise. A more cohesive university will allow students and staff to learn more about each other, and ultimately become better people. The Napier Big Read is not going to bring everyone together, but every small action will result in one big movement for the betterment of the university.
Why should students be enthusiastic about the Big Read?
This is a student-run project, making it very easy for students to get behind it. Who gets students more than students? It has the aim of pulling us all together, which is one of the stand-firsts of Edinburgh Napier University. We are one team, and so the Napier Big Read allows students to connect with everyone and anyone, bringing our team closer together.
How can students get involved?
There are so many things that you can do to get involved, including just reading the book! It might inspire you to set up an event, or just have a nice coffee shop chat with a friend. Societies can theme one of their meetings around the book; Sports could play a game dressed in Victorian dress, or run a themed social. It really just depends on your imagination.
Just for fun, what’s your favourite book?
I have a few books that I’ve re-read continuously from childhood like the Anne of Green Gables series, Harry Potter, and The Great Gatsby. I also love all of Charles Dickens’ work. But obviously, at the moment, my favourite book is Detective McLevy’s Casebook.