Author Francisco Cantú’s "The Line Becomes a River" is the 2021 WVU Campus Read. (Submitted photo)
A gripping memoir by a former border patrol agent who worked in the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas will engross West Virginia University students, faculty and staff as this year’s WVU Campus Read.
Francisco Cantú’s, “The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches at the Border,” unmasks a raw and nuanced perspective about the complexities of America’s borders. As immigration policies and the migration crisis, particularly among minors, continue to top daily headlines, his account humanizes the border, along with the people who pass through it and patrol it.
A native of the Southwest, the son of a park ranger and grandson of a Mexican immigrant, Cantú’s history, upbringing and career path are deeply rooted in Mexican American culture. Eager to better understand the challenges and uncover policy solutions on both sides of the line, he serves in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection from 2008 to 2012. But his experiences often leave more questions than answers.
“We're very excited to present ‘The Line Becomes A River’ to our campus community, not only for its nuanced view on a topic of concern, but the way it blends the artistry of creative nonfiction with interdisciplinary research, making it both compelling and broadly applicable,” said Renée Nicholson, director of the WVU Humanities Center, which oversees the Campus Read. “Cantú’s story is as much about morality, humanity, family and trauma as it is about law enforcement, migration and politics. We look forward to engaging, meaningful discussions with the WVU community on such a timely issue.”
The Campus Read fosters an exchange of ideas, thoughtful dialogue and new connections as fellow Mountaineers join together to discuss important ideas about human experiences. It offers an opportunity to engage the campus, particularly first-year students, in a yearlong discussion about the themes of a single book.
Incoming students and their families will also learn about this year’s Campus Read during the virtual New Student Orientation.
Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, there will also be opportunities for faculty and staff to incorporate the book into courses and programs at all levels and on all campuses. Additional faculty resources, including suggested classroom activities, readings, discussion guides and more are available on the Campus Read website.
The program committee is developing events centered around “The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches at the Border.” All events will be open to the public and will be posted on the website as they are announced.
The WVU community was given the opportunity to suggest books for the 2021-22 Campus Read throughout the year and is encouraged to share their suggestions for next year’s selection at the Campus Read website.
A selection committee of students, faculty and staff narrowed the list from those suggested. The committee reviewed books in a variety of genres and summarized the merits of each as a potential Campus Read in a report to the Provost’s Office, which makes the final determination. A finalist in years past, “The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches at the Border” topped the list as a timely book to prompt open discussions about law enforcement, immigration policy, humanity, morality, trauma and more.
Faculty, staff and students are welcome to join the Campus Read Selection and Program Committees. Contact HumanitiesCenter@mail.wvu.edu for information.
-WVU-
kf/04/22/21
CONTACT: Renée Nicholson
Director, WVU Humanities Center
304.293.2514; Renee.Nicholson@mail.wvu.edu
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