Reading Project Kicks Off Freshman Year

Released: August 24, 2004

MILWAUKEE – Before hitting the books, Marquette freshmen will be giving them away.  It's all part of The First Year Student Reading Program.  This year, students will read Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, best-selling author Anne Lamott's reflections on the challenges in a writer's life.  In addition to the reading assignment, students are being asked to bring a copy of their favorite book that will be donated to a local community agency.  Each donated book will include a letter to the eventual recipient explaining why this is the donor's favorite.

This Thursday, August 26th, faculty and administrators will moderate groups of approximately 40 students participating in discussions of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.  The students' donated books will also be collected at these meetings. 

Anne Lamott will speak on campus at 4 p.m. next Thursday, Sept 2, in the Varsity Theatre.  A book signing reception will be held prior to her presentation at 2:15 p.m. in the Norman H. Ott Memorial Writing Center, located on the second floor of the Raynor Library.

Interested media may attend either of these events.  This Thursday, the classroom prepared for media visits is in the Old Dental School, room 148.  The Old Dental School can be entered from 16th Street, just south of Wisconsin Avenue, up the stairs by the sign that reads: “Dental Hygiene Clinic.”

For more information contact Anne Broeker in the Office of Public Affairs at the number listed above.