This year’s Summer Reading Program book may hit home for some incoming freshmen.
The program’s selection committee chose “Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City” by Jed Horne, weekend Metro editor at The Times-Picayune. The committee picked the book because of the local impact.
The book captures the roles of politicians, the media and emergency response during and after Katrina. Horne said his book documents the unexpected relationships of the New Orleans residents during the storm.
“The story is the storm, but it’s told through the experiences of the victims, survivors, heros and villains,” Horne said.
Frank Cartledge, Academic Affairs vice provost, informed Horne that his book would be used for the program.
Cartledge said he enjoyed Horne’s book.
“It’s a riveting portrayal of the different kinds of experiences that many people faced after Hurricane Katrina,” Cartledge said. “And it attempts to build up to the present.”
Horne will address the incoming freshman class at the Academic Convocation on Aug. 24. He said he wants to further the conversation about Katrina.
“I’m going to talk about the role and responsibilities of individual citizens in helping the city pass the worst crisis in its long history,” Horne said.
Cartledge said the University is one of 90 universities that has adopted a required summer reading program. Other universities using this program include Duke University, Ohio State University and the University of Miami.
“Part of our reason for the Summer Reading Program is to emphasize student social responsibilities, and all of the books we’ve had so far have dealt with social issues,” he said.
Cartledge said the University is not requiring all professors who teach freshmen to use the book in their class.
“Rather, we’re recommending the book and pointing out how to incorporate it into their teachings,” he said.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon [email protected]