HUNTINGTON -- Freshman students this fall will be taking part in a new initiative called the First Year Experience, which is part of a nationwide movement to help smooth the transition from high school to college life. The program first began being implemented on campus in November 2007.
One aspect is the One Book Program in which a specific title is selected for all of the incoming students to read and discuss. This year the book is "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. The collection of short stories about the Vietnam War was selected by a committee of students and faculty. The book was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Critics Circle Award in 1990.
"This is the second year we've done a common reading program. Last year we had a very successful program with 'The Glass Castle' by Jeanette Walls," said Barbara Winters, dean of the university libraries.
They hope for similar success this year.
"We have a lot of programs planned dealing with courage, friendship, decision making and other issues brought up in the course of the book. Some instructors will be implementing the book in their classes. We will also have some representatives from some veterans groups working with the ROTC speaking on campus. The theater department is doing a dramatic reading of the book and there will also be an art exhibit related to the book."
O'Brien will visit Marshall's campus over Welcome Weekend and will be the featured speaker at the Freshman Convocation at 3 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.
O'Brien will make several other appearances in the area over the weekend (Aug. 23-24), including a stop at the Marshall Graduate College in South Charleston, the Veterans Administration Center in Huntington and Empire Books at Pullman Square.
"In studying the book, all incoming freshmen will have at least one common experience." Michelle Duncan, director of the FYE program, said. "You have to have at least one common experience with your classmates to have a conversation. This provides an opportunity to help students talk to each other. Part of the reason we chose this book was that we wanted students to have a better understanding not only of the Vietnam War, but also of the current conflict in Iraq. We want people to understand the courage and patriotism of our soldiers involved."
The One Book Program is one of several cornerstones of FYE. Student orientation visits are held throughout the summer. Furthermore, events aimed at freshman students are planned all throughout "Welcome Weekend" before the first day of classes. A new course, UNI 101, is now required for most incoming students teaching study skills, life skills, money management and other skills useful to student life.
"Bringing things all together are our new residence halls, which will be opening in August. Only freshmen will be living in those halls and a variety of programs will be held in those halls to give students the skills they need in order to be successful," Duncan said.
For more information on the First Year Experience program, visit fye.marshall.edu.
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