With the new academic year comes the next installment of the Campus Community Book Project, now in its seventh year.

The idea is to spark dialogue around a single book with a topic that inspires people to look at the world in different ways, to acknowledge and respect and consider different perspectives.

This year's book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Kidder, addresses global health care and poverty.

Kidder tells the story of Paul Farmer, a Boston physician who co-founded Partners in Health in Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries.

To help promote the campus conversation, the Office of Campus Community Relations annually organizes a number of activities culminating in the author's visit to campus. Activities include lectures, book discussions, films and art exhibitions. The calendar also includes the World AIDS Day Rally, an annual event that happens to relate to this year's book topic, and Human Corps' Weekend in Service, which this year will focus on health and hunger.

All events are open to the public, and all are free except the author's address at 8 p.m. Dec. 1.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Oct. 10 -- Public Service in Translation. Presented by Mark Schenker, Public Health Sciences, talking about Paul Farmer. Centennial Academic Showcase. 2-3 p.m., King Lounge, Memorial Union.

Oct. 11 -- HIV-AIDS: The Impact on the Latino and African American Communities of the Americas. Presented by Darin Latimore, director, Medical Student Diversity, School of Medicine. Centennial Academic Showcase. 11 a.m.-noon, King Lounge, MU.

EXHIBITS

Photography -- Haiti's Hope, by Leisa Faulkner, with three themes in three venues:

-- Lavalas and the Preferential Option for the Poor -- Hart Hall (first floor), now-Dec. 16.

-- Poverty With Dignity -- Mondavi Center (lobby and Studio Theatre), Oct. 13-Dec. 2.

-- Shada's Story -- The Gallery, MU, Oct. 27-Dec. 16.

Texts, images, books and newspaper headlines -- Haiti in the 20th Century, Shields Library (first floor), now-Dec. 1.

FILM

Oct. 7 -- The Price of Sugar, screening 3-4:30 p.m., discussion 4:30-5 p.m. 107 Technocultural Studies Building (formerly Art Annex).

AUTHOR'S VISIT

Dec. 1 -- Panel discussion: "No Boundaries -- Globalizing Health Care from Haiti to California and Beyond." Moderated by Michael Wilkes, School of Medicine. 4-5 p.m., Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center.

Dec. 1 -- Author's address: "The Problem With Goodness -- The Story of Paul Farmer." 8 p.m., Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center. Followed by book signing. Tickets required: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or www.mondaviarts.org.

See the complete schedule.

The campus bookstore is selling the paperback at a discounted price of $9.95.