The Freshman Connections Coordinating Council selected three final books for the 2005 Freshman Common Reader, but developments to the BSU Discussion Board prevent students from posting their opinions, the director said.
"I'm not particularly happy we have to do it that way this year, but it's because we're redesigning the Web site this year and don't have the Freshman Connections Web site," Paul Ranieri said. "We had to take it down at some point, and this was the best time to take it down."
Only Ball State faculty and staff can access the bulletin board and could access the ALLBSU message program at the beginning of the book selection process when suggesting titles. Of the nearly 75 suggestions the committee received, the three finalists include: "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder, "First They Killed My Father" by Loung Ung and "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" by Malcolm Gladwell.
"Not until recently did I realize students weren't on ALLBSU," Ranieri said. "For some reason, I thought they were, so that's partially my fault."
Ranieri said the new site that will be open for students to post their discussions regarding selected books, but until then, students are encouraged to e-mail their reactions to pranieri@bsu.edu.
The book selection committee of 16 includes one undergraduate student, one graduate student and faculty and staff from various areas, including academic departments, Housing and Residence Life, the Honors College and Academic Advising. All members of the committee have volunteered to read the first part of the three final books before one is selected, Ranieri said.
Jennifer Warrner, graduate student on the book selection committee, said she participated on the committee for two years as an undergraduate student and feels more students should get involved. Andrew Greider is the only undergraduate on the selection committee this year.
"I think it gives students just one more opportunity to have their opinions considered in a program that is an integral part of this campus," Warrner said.
Ranieri said the committee has always tried to involve students in the process, but attracting students to the committee is especially difficult around fall semester's final exam time because of the heavy work load involved. He said the committee, however, is more than happy to have student volunteers.
"Everybody brings a different perspective," Ranieri said. "It's always better to receive comments from students about the book because they bring a perspective closer to the first-year student's perspective."
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