Alexis Schindler
Staff writer
aschindler1@murraystate.edu
Photo courtesy of Bob Jackson’s Twitter
President Bob Jackson took up a Twitter book challenge on Feb. 25 after being nominated by Fulton County Schools Superintendent Aaron Collins.
The challenge requires a person to post a picture of a non-fiction book cover to their Twitter page with no explanation or review of the book. The person challenged should do this for seven days, nominating a new person along with each new book cover they post.
Collins said he found difficulty in picking seven of his favorite books that he wanted to share with others, especially due to the fact he was at a conference and only had the books that were in his car to choose from.
Collins posted pictures of books about leadership, teaching instruction and religion.
“I thought this would be a great way to express myself a little bit and some of my educational, personal and religious beliefs as well as being able to have others share out their beliefs,” Collins said. “Books reveal a lot, I think, about the individual and are personal.”
He also expressed why he feels reading is important.
“You’re never too old to learn,” Collins said. “Whether it’s a magazine or a book, it is important for people to be informed. Books quench our learning. Hopefully, through this Twitter challenge I was able to share some of my learning and pass that on.”
Jackson started off his challenge with a book on the history of Murray State University. He followed this with books about American universities, Abraham Lincoln, the 15th Kentucky Infantry, the Great Depression and Martin Luther King Jr. He ended the challenge on March 6 with an autobiography of Happy Chandler.
“This is a way to help encourage others regarding the importance of reading and lifelong learning,” Jackson said. “Never stop learning and reading. Lifelong learning is an imperative for students and is key to advancing one’s career.”
Jackson expressed his reasoning behind the importance of reading.
“It primarily shapes and influences us through being educated to our history, the importance of understanding different opinions and thought, and encourages us to become more tolerant, respectful and understanding of different opinions,” Jackson said.
He challenged three Murray State faculty members: Jordan Smith, the director of government and institutional relations, Aaron Thompson, the fourth president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, and Tony Brannon, the dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture.
Three of the other four people that Jackson challenged were Murray State institutions such as the Murray State Libraries, College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and College of Education and Human Services. Lastly, Jackson challenged the Calloway County Public Libraries.