Though Henrietta Lacks’ cells pioneered some of the most innovative medical research – including the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping and in vitro fertilization – they were taken without her consent or knowledge.
She was never compensated and known only as HeLa to the doctors who experimented with the cells they extracted from her cancerous tumor.
Journalist Rebecca Skloot shares this story in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” this year’s pick for the One Book One Northwestern reading program. This initiative started in 2005 with the intention of uniting the NU community around one common book.
“When people first look at this book, they may not necessarily see all of the different disciplines that it covers,” said Andrea Abel, coordinator of special projects in the Office of the President. “This is a book that covers the human story, medical ethics and research.”
The issues presented in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” reflect the overall goal of One Book – to link together NU students, faculty, alumni and Evanston through a shared intellectual experience, Abel said.
Participants are encouraged to share their own perspectives in a number of follow-up activities that One Book is planning.
“While events for the 2011 pick have not been finalized, a lecture series with Tracy Kidder, coffee discussions and a volunteer site at the MLK outreach day were among some of the programs offered with last year’s book, ‘Mountains Beyond Mountains,'” said Weinberg senior Corinne Ellis, a One Book fellow who was in charge of publicity and programming last year.
The University plans to bring Skloot to campus to speak about her book sometime next year, Abel said.
Despite its efforts, Weinberg freshman Emily Weiss said she wishes the University had integrated last year’s book better on campus.
“I would ask some freshmen if they read (it), and they would give me a funny face,” Weiss said. She suggested the book be discussed more in freshman seminars.
McCormick freshman Kevin King said he was also disappointed by the lack of visibility of “Mountains Beyond Mountains” on campus, but said he was still able to take away a new perspective from a book he would not have otherwise read.
“It was enjoyable,” King said, though he said he only started reading the book because he thought it was required. “It’s definitely not a book that I would ever pick up and read by myself.”
Abel challenges students like King to be open to all the different perspectives in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”
“I want students to think about their own interests and own experiences and to think about the different issues that you face when you take on research,” Abel said. “It’s important not to lose sight of the human element.”
