Incoming freshmen will have more to talk about with each other than just their arrival on the University of Idaho campus this August.

A newly integrated summer reading program has been designed by members of the Dean of Students Office, the Student and Academic Affairs Office and Core Curriculum to give students a common academic experience before arriving on campus. The program aims to help students develop different perspectives on a common read.

“Common corporate reading better integrates students and helps build class cohesion,” said Laura Hutchinson, campus life and student conduct director for Dean of Students.

The new program will feature New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose’s collections on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina titled “1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina.” 

The integrated summer reading program, used by universities around the country, is to help students of all disciplines engage and connect while introducing the concept of critical thinking.

“Common experiences connect people,” said Adrien Loehring, Greek adviser. “It can connect you to your peers, faculty and staff.”

The program requires all incoming freshmen to read a specific book that will be used in Core Curriculum classes and included in a facilitated discussion on Aug. 24 during freshmen orientation. 

“It’s important for incoming students to be academically engaged before attending the university,” Loehring said. “We don’t want the students to be overwhelmed by university life.”

The focus of the program, as chosen by a committee of staff and students, is citizenship, making “1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina” an obvious choice for incoming freshman, she said.

“The committee had narrowed it down to five different books,” Loehring said. “This book was chosen because it reflects the University of Idaho’s learning outcomes.”

“1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina” is a collection of stories that reflects Rose’s experiences through the first year and a half following Hurricane Katrina.

“The book will give students some sense about what Katrina was about,” Hutchison said. “It will allow students to think about service and what it means.”

All incoming freshmen are asked to finish the novel before arriving on campus. Pieces of the novel will be introduced into classes and other assigned materials.

The novel is available at the UI Bookstore. 

All proceeds will be shared with ARTDOCS, a program helping New Orleans artists without health insurance, and the Tipitina’s Foundation, a program that helps high school students learn aspects of the music business.

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