One of the most interesting events that occur at Sabanci University is Human Library. Aimed at irradicating prejudices and reservations amongst people it is one of the most creative and well thought out events. Hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences I found this event so enlightening. As it not only brings about great changes in social mind structure, it promotes positivism and humanity at large.
Just like as you borrow a book from a library you can choose to borrow a person for a duration of about 30 minutes to talk and have a conversation with the same way you would read a book. It is strucutured in such a way that people get to discuss their issues and ask questions with the people they ‘Borrow’ and ask them whatsoever their hearts desire. The logo under which the event is carried out is called ‘What is your Prejudice?’. Being an international student it seemed even more appealing as we get to learn the prejudices and differences people all over the world carry and not only that we get to experience how to overcome them too. Basically it is about humanity at large.
The Book list for this event was as follows: KURDISH / KÜRT
SINGLE TRAVELER / YALNIZ GEZGİN
PARENT OF A GAY PERSON / EŞCİNSEL ANNESİ
EX-MEMBER OF CEMAAT / ESKİ CEMAAT ÜYESİ
TRANS SEX WORKER / TRANS SEKS İŞÇİSİ
CRIMINALIZED SOLIDARITY ACTIVIST / TUTUKLANMIŞ DAYANIŞMA AKTİVİSTİ
RAINBOW BOOK / ÖNSÖZ: EŞCİNSEL KİTAPLAR
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR / VİCDANİ RETÇİ
GAY
FEMINIST
HIV POSITIVE / HIV POZİTİF
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST / İNSAN HAKLARI AKTIVISTI
BUDDHIST / BUDİST
The message was to adopt acceptance of different people who may not seem relatable to us. What I learnt from this excercise was that we humans are all the same and we get to make the choice everday to either live as one and strive to a common goal or we give up to small differences that later along the way pave the road to greater disagreements on an international level. The human library was the perfect event to hosted at Sabanci university.
