(Photo by: Ariel Cobbert)
Jeffrey Vitter speaks during his first visit to the University on Oct. 29, 2015.
Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter is the new keynote speaker assigned to replace Sherman Alexie at the 2016 freshmen convocation.
Alexie, the author of this year’s common read book “Ten Little Indians,” was scheduled as speaker but cancelled in protest of House Bill 1523. University administrators say they will continue to unify students through written word with his work.
Dewey Knight, committee member and associate director for the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience, said Vitter’s presence will bear significance to incoming students as well as to the new chancellor.
“It’s his first fall convocation at the University just like all the other freshman and transfer students who will be in attendance,” Knight said.
“Ten Little Indians”, a book by Sherman Alexie, is the common read choice for the incoming freshman.
Each year, the subcommittee to the UM Common Reading Selection Committee selects the top five submissions to be voted on by the entire committee. The winner is then approved by the Provost Office.
“The book must be less than 400 pages, available in paperback, accessible to students at all levels, available to community leaders, published in the last five years, written by a living author who can speak at fall convocation and contain multiple themes that can be applicable to many disciplines,” subcommittee member Michael Howland said.
Howland said the book helps students get into the right frame of mind when they attend college.
“The books challenge them, make them question and show them all the things that we want to see happen when they come to school.”
Knight said he has a special place in his heart for the Common Read book.
“It gives a common experience to students and faculty that they can share and discuss in intelligent inquiry to help ‘glue’ the community together,” he said. “The Common Read book will be an ever-present part of the first-year experience and I see it being a long standing tradition and part of the curriculum.”
