Steven Latimer

Covering: a Review

STEVEN LATIMER

Keeping a perceived social stigma under the radar is called “covering” and is something we all do from time to time. So argues Asian homosexual author Kenji Yoshino in his 2006 book Covering: the Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights.

Yoshino’s book is the University College’s assigned summer reading for new students arriving on campus for the Fall 2008 semester. New students are not given a choice of books to read; students are specifically required to read Covering. Upon arriving on campus, freshmen must attend a discussion group during Welcome Week, presumably to discuss Yoshino’s book.

The University has had a Summer Reading Program in place since the University College was created in 2006; the program applies only to incoming students—returning students are not required to read Yoshino’s book.

Yoshino’s book is essentially a book on his being gay. While it is not a “coming out” book, it is a glorified list of complaints. The author is repetitive in his arguments, making Covering something less than a page-turner.

While some members of the VCU Class of 2012 may certainly find Yoshino’s book interesting and relevant, many will not. To remedy this, it would be helpful if the
University College’s book selection committee made a list of several books—both modern and classics—and let students choose a book from the list that they would find interesting and applicable to their lives.

Assigning multiple options would enable VCU students to develop individual beliefs, instead of encouraging them to simply parrot liberal academic worldviews.