Student Groups Spotlight – Latte and Literature

Every month, we will feature a different student group to demonstrate the many diverse groups we have at MacEwan and how they all contribute to a vibrant, thriving community on our campus.

We sat down with their executive team to discuss how you can get back into reading, their favourite books, and what kind of events you can look forward to!

Alberto: Hi, I’m Alberto, the Vice President of LLC. I’m in my third year of the Bachelor of Arts program with a sociology major and a classics minor.

Rori: Hi, I’m Rori, the Vice President External. I’m also in my third year of the Bachelor of Arts program, majoring in sociology and minoring in psychology.

Sophia: Hi, I’m Sophia, I’m in my second year majoring in political science and minoring in human resources, and I’m the President of LLC.

Selma: Hey, I’m Selma. I’m in my third year, majoring in political science and minoring in business law and I’m the Vice President Internal.

Rori: The Latte and Literature Collective is a welcoming space for all individuals interested in reading and starting their literary journey. We are working to cultivate a community in MacEwan where students can explore perspectives, find new reads and build relationships. We are an inclusive group that wants to have fun while encouraging students to read and explore genres such as romance and fantasy.

Sophia: I started this group last December with Alberto! The idea sprouted this past Summer when he and I would have book club dates to hang out and read together every Friday. It was really fun, and once school started, we thought about how it would be nice to have a group of people to do that with! Before I met Alberto, I didn’t read much, but he introduced me to new genres I hadn’t explored, and it allowed me to see how fulfilling reading can be.

Alberto: I’m a very avid reader, and I have to read a lot of academic readings because of my major. It can be draining to read that much theory sometimes. Reading has been an escape for me, where I can get away from academic stress, focus on the moment, and enjoy my time. This community is great for anyone who wants to get into reading, especially since it can be a solitary activity. Your opinion on what you read is influenced by your lived experiences, so when you chat with someone else about it, they might have a completely different take, and that’s what my favourite part about being in this group has been.

Rori: I’ve been an active reader my whole life; I grew up reading throughout high school and post-secondary. So, when I saw Alberto’s post about this group, I immediately reached out to get involved. Reading creates shared experiences that friends and strangers can bond over, and that’s what I love about it. My favourite part so far was going to the Student Groups Expo. It was fun pitching the group to new students and meeting everyone!

Selma: I have also been an avid reader my whole life, so when I learned about LLC, I knew I had to get involved. I love the idea of meeting other people, discussing books and hanging out. I agree with Alberto that reading can be solitary, so the community aspect of the group really appealed to me. The Student Groups Expo was also my favourite event so far. I really enjoyed meeting new people and teaching them about our group.

Sophia: You do not have to be an avid reader to join, I’m the President, and I’m not. I started this group for people who aren’t active readers but enjoy reading trending books or some books occasionally. This isn’t like a typical book club; instead of just discussing books, we will host themed nights based on what we are reading. For example, at our A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) meet-up at Daisy Chain Book Co., we will make friendship bracelets, play themed trivia with controversial opinions and have snacks and drinks. We want to have fun with reading and create an environment for people to make memories and start friendships.

Alberto: Any kind of reader can join! Some of my friends were scared to start ACOTAR since it’s 500 pages, and they didn’t think they were strong enough readers. But I’ve been working to help break down reader stereotypes in our group by introducing audiobooks to people! They are a valid way to read and a really fun way since you can go for a walk or do laundry while you listen. Our goal is to spark interest in books among our members, and we aren’t going to reprimand you if you haven’t read any chapters. We want you to fall in love with your book and read it because you want to. Our group also tends to read Romance and Fantasy books the most, but we are always open to new suggestions.

Rori: Yeah, we are not coming together to read a book a month. We are coming together to enjoy the books we’ve read and to develop our love for literature.

Selma: We don’t have any deadlines in our group. We want people to enjoy the experience of reading and not focus on if they have read enough.

Sophia: I got into reading because of Fantasy and Romance books, specifically Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it at first, so I decided to read it going to bed to help me fall asleep. I couldn’t put the book down once I got through the first 30 pages. My advice now is to read the first few chapters of a book and then decide if you don’t like it. My favourite book is A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Mass. My favourite trope is Enemies to Lovers, but only in Fantasy books.

Rori: Using social media to learn about books and find out what you want to read is a great way to get back into it. I got back into reading through TikTok because of all the recommendations and discussions on BookTok. Hearing other people talk about and explain books is helpful since they offer fresh perspectives. My favourite book is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and my favourite trope is Friends to Lovers.

Alberto: My advice is to keep an open mind regarding genres and tropes; you never know what gems you might find. Make small goals like reading for 30 minutes or even just one page daily. Over time, you will build up your interest and read for longer than 30 minutes. Also, staying realistic with your goals will help prevent burnout and procrastination. My favourite book is Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross; if anyone likes the Academic Rivals trope, you would be into this. My favourite trope is Slow Burn. I love seeing the development, interactions, and emotions unfold.

Selma: My tip is to start small and grow from there. I struggle to find time to read because of my major and having to do a lot of mandatory readings, so I try to read a few pages a night and build up from there. My favourite book is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I cried so much reading it. Slow burn is also my favourite trope!

Sophia: We plan to work with local bookstores like the Daisy Chain Book Co., The Book Boudoir, Audreys and other places to host events and meet-ups. Our events will be themed to whatever we read, so we might do book swaps, paint nights, friendship bracelet making, trivia and movie nights. We also want to watch movie adaptations of books and compare them to the book; I think people would enjoy that. Anyone can come to our events. You don’t have to be a student to come and hang out, so bring your friends along!

Sophia: Students can contact us by email, social media, and Student Groups Connect if they are interested. We are looking for marketing, events, and finance executive members as well as general members!

Sophia: I didn’t realize how popular reading was until we were at the Student Groups Expo and saw the look on people’s faces when they saw our booth. People were so excited to talk about the books they read that we had on our table, and they were even showing us the tattoos they had of them. It was a meaningful moment where I realized how many people share the same interests as me, and it changed my view on reading and the book community.

Alberto: I was on the opposite end. I knew it would be popular, but seeing people I’ve only interacted with in professional contexts come up to our booth squealing with excitement gave me whiplash. Witnessing our community bring people from all walks of life together was amazing. With our group, you don’t go through any scary phases. We will welcome you and start talking about our inside jokes, book references and opinions, and you’ll fit right in.

Rori: It’s greatly added to my amazing experience here at MacEwan. I’ve gotten to meet people and build friendships with students in other programs who I would never have met otherwise. It’s been a rewarding experience meeting everyone and seeing our social media grow.

Selma: This has been a different experience from other groups I’m involved in, so I’ve had a well-rounded experience here. I really enjoyed the Student Groups Expo as well. I was surprised to see how many people were interested in our group, and learning how many wanted to be involved was heartwarming.

Sophia: Join for the plot! It’s a great way to make friends, try new things, and improve university life. This is one of the best experiences you’ll have at university, so you should definitely try out groups to find your community.

Alberto: In university, your main goal is your academics, but balancing that with extracurriculars is essential! Student Groups allows me to catch my breath and take a moment to hang out with my friends and be present. With our group, there will always be a book to comfort you along with our community, so I don’t think you’d regret joining our group or any other group here at SAMU.

Rori: Community is very important for your social life and mental health, so you should take the leap and put yourself out there. Talk with groups, go to their meetings and join one. You might meet someone that will change your life.

All: Keep up with us on socials for news about our upcoming Fourth Wing night! Please reach out to us with any questions you have. We hope to see new faces at our events and meetings!

 

You can connect with the Latte and Literature Collective on social media through @latteandliteraturecollective and their linktree.

Follow SAMU on social media through Instagram (@sa_macewan), Twitter (@SAMacEwan), and Facebook (Students’ Association of MacEwan University) to stay up to date on the latest events, programs, and services from your students’ association.