At the University of Northern Iowa, a new student organization is bringing bookworms together and creating a space for connection through literature. UNI Book Lovers is quickly becoming a welcoming hub for students who love to read — or are just curious to start. 

Willow Corse, a senior majoring in social work, and Cavanaugh Rottinghaus, a psychology major currently in her sophomore year, created the club to fill a noticeable gap on campus. 

“We wanted to start this club because we both really love books,” said Corse. “We realized UNI didn’t have anything like it, and we wanted to give students a chance to be part of a book club. Our vision was to just get started and see if people would be interested.”

Creating a student org from the ground up wasn’t easy. The process involved multiple steps — including sending emails, finding an advisor and applying for official student organization status. 

“It was hard at first," Rottinghaus said. “We had to think about what kind of book club we wanted to be and how we’d attract members.”

Despite the initial challenge, UNI Book Lovers is off to a strong start. After its first meeting in August, the group has already chosen several books for members to read and discuss. One of the selected titles is “They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera – a popular LGBTQ+ novel exploring love, mortality and connection. “We let everyone vote on books and then divided into smaller groups. We plan to meet biweekly to give people time to read,” said Corse. 

What makes UNI Books Lovers an important club on campus is its focus on building a community.

“We believe that this club can help connect students who like to read — and even those who might not yet,” said Corse. “It’s really about creating a space where people can connect, share their interests and feel welcome.”

Looking ahead, Corse and Rottinghaus hope to continue expanding by letting members choose what they want to read and encouraging them to share their thoughts in small-group discussions. Their ultimate goal is to make UNI Book Lovers a lasting and inclusive space where students feel seen, heard and inspired. 

UNI Book Lovers already has exciting plans in motion for the semester. Its most recent event was a group trip to The Nook, a local bookstore on Cedar Falls Main Street. It also plans a book swap with the UNI English Club. Both events are opportunities for members to connect in person and discover new reads. 

Students interested can join UNI Book Lovers by emailing the club at unibooklovers@gmail.com or by following its Instagram @unibooklovers. 

“We’re really excited to be an official student org and can’t wait to see what the year brings,” said Corse. “We’re looking for more members, so if you’re even a little bit curious — reach out!”