Ball State University students, faculty and staff have until Tuesday to give feedback for the 2007-08 Freshman Connections Reader.
The Freshman Connections Coordinating Council selected three finalists Wednesday and announced them through e-mail. These books are "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride, "The Devil's Highway: A True Story" by Luis Alberto Urrea and "A Mighty Heart" by Mariane Pearl and Sarah Crichton.
Melinda Messineo, book selection chairwoman and associate professor of sociology, said the council is interested in what students think about the final three.
"They have the unique experience of having gone through the program," she said. "It's great to get their feedback."
Students have been involved in the selection since September, when the call for book titles went out, some of which were submitted by students, Messineo said.
Paul Ranieri, Freshman Connections director and associate professor of English, said the program gives students an experience they share with their entire graduating class.
"You give them something to read to interact with other people," he said. "It starts that process of getting involved."
Messineo said students could often relate about the Freshman Reader from their year.
"It creates a sense of cohort," Messineo said, "regardless of how they felt about the book."
Ranieri said a major factor in selecting a book is the availability of the author to come to campus. Sometimes the author isn't doing campus visits or is too expensive to bring in, he said.
Messineo said one of the biggest strengths of the program is that students can meet the author of a book - something most incoming freshmen have never done before.
"It makes this more real," she said. "Connecting with the author is important."
The council will meet today to discuss the books and check on the authors' availability again. The group will select a book Wednesday afternoon.
Give your feedback on the novels at bsu.edu/freshmanconnections/discussion
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