While a global pandemic has taken away a lot of what we hold dear at Penn State, it hasn’t deterred Marathon Read’s ninth-annual 12-hour reading event.

Co-sponsored by Penn State’s English department and the Center for American Literary Studies, the event will stretch from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, October 22.

While the Marathon Read typically takes place in-person on Pattee Lawn and includes fun, food, drinks, and t-shirts, it’ll be entirely virtual this year.

In celebration of the centennial of the 19th Amendment, the theme of the read this year will be “Voices of Power in Women’s Activism.” It’ll feature works by Kate Chopin, Sojourner Truth, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, among others.

This marks the second year where the theme of the Marathon Read has centered around classes, discussions, and events planned by the College of the Liberal Arts.

Because the Marathon Read will be held virtually for the first time, it’s now expanded beyond University Park students and will be open to all Penn State campuses, alumni, and community members. Advanced registration is required and can be found along with extra information about the event here.