The University College’s (UC) First-Year Experience Program and the Department of Languages and Liberal Studies have collaborated to sponsor a common read for all new freshmen. Common reading experiences provide a model for intellectual engagement, develop a sense of community, and provide students an opportunity to understand diverse perspectives.

The 2018-2019 Common Read is Wes Moore’s
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates

The text selected for the 2018-19 academic year is The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore. The Other Wes Moore is a narrative, non-fiction story that chronicles the lives of two young, African-American men that share the same name: Wes Moore. The author was inspired to write this story because of their similar start in Baltimore, Maryland. While one Wes Moore was sentenced to life in prison, the author Wes Moore became a Rhodes Scholar and a best-selling author. Moore’s purpose in writing the story is to examine how two people with such similar backgrounds can end up with completely different lives.

All first-year students have been informed about their expectation to begin reading the book over the summer, and how it will be interwoven into their freshman English course. To develop greater campus engagement for this initiative, faculty and staff are invited to join new freshmen in reading this text and to become a Reading Circle Leader. Serving in this capacity will provide an opportunity for faculty and staff to become engaged with students outside the classroom and lead conversations scheduled about the book that are relevant to perspectives and values of new college students throughout the fall semester.

Common Read information is emailed to students upon signing up for Orientation. To become a Reading Circle Leader, please contact Ala’Torya Cranford, First-Year Experience coordinator in the University College, at cranforda@fvsu.edu or (478) 822-7008.

We look forward to your participation with the Common Reading Program.