Communication Researchers Study On the Same Page

Usually she has her students examine an advertising campaign or public service campaign such as anti-smoking. This time she suggested that some students look at the On the Same Page program as a tool of persuasion.

Communication professor Teresa Sabourin, left, of the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences and three graduate students in her course on persuasion are studying the book discussions held in Cincinnati for the community reading project called On the Same Page Cincinnati. The program has invited everyone to read the novel, "A Lesson Before Dying," and get together to talk about it.

Students involved are Amber Erickson, a Cincinnati native, Ambuja Joshi, from Mumbai, India, and Dawn Tong, from Shenzhen, China. In addition to studying the Cincinnati program, they will examine the history of On the Same Page projects across the country and their impact.

"This is a real life example of how change can occur," said Sabourin, who also viewed the reading project as a "chance to spread peace."

"I also wanted my students to become engaged in the city and the needs of the city, even though two of them probably won't even be staying here permanently."

Members of the student team attended book discussions on Tuesday, April 16, at Pleasant Ridge Library; Wednesday, April 17, at Langsam Library; Thursday, April 18, at Anderson Library; and will attend discussions on Monday, April 29 and Thursday, May 2, at St. Xavier High School.

The three students' written report will constitute half of their grade for the graduate level course.

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