The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / News / Freshmen connect through new Common Reading program

Freshmen connect through new Common Reading program

August 25, 2008 by Kelline Linton

By Kelline Linton, Chief Copy Editor

Fifty freshmen crowded into the Walling Lecture Hall on Thursday with books in hand, ready to converse and interact academically even though classes had not yet started. They were participating in the first session of the Freshman Common Reading, an optional activity that centered on the analysis and discussion of the book Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.

The book details real-life events about diverse people who come together through the power of God to dramatically impact each other.

Although the Freshman Common Reading is not for class credit, 400 students and 80 faculty members have already requested the book. Some freshman classes, like Bible and University Seminar, also will use the book in their curriculum.

The Common Reading program consists of two freshman group sessions during Welcome Week, a faculty discussion in the Adams Center and an ongoing online forum that anyone can join at acuoffthepage.wik.is. The group forum and blog site encourages students “to go beyond the written words of the book, to take its ideas to the next level and to translate these reading experiences into action-in short, to go Beyond the Page into real life.”

The program concludes with a visit by the authors Sept. 9. Both Hall and Moore will sign books and answer questions beginning at 2 p.m. in Hart Auditorium. This event is open to only ACU students, faculty and staff; the rest of the Abilene community can meet the authors at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum.

Freshman participants can also enter a contest centered on the reading by creating and turning in work inspired by the story, like a poem, essay or short film. All submissions are due by 3 p.m. on Aug. 29, and the winner of the contest will receive a $500 scholarship; second and third places will receive $250 each.

Dr. Charles Mattis, dean of the First-Year Program, and Steven Moore, assistant professor of English, led the two Freshman Common Reading sessions on Thursday and Friday. They discussed the main themes of the book, including friendship, race and prejudice, homelessness and prayer.

“This book really struck me because it had so many different themes, it relates to really important issues that are current today, it’s relatively easy to read and it’s real and authentic,” Mattis said. Kaytlin Wiseman, freshman communication major from Glen Rose, liked the book because “it was about real people in our area; it’s a true story with real places you can actually visit.”

The Common Reading was an academic activity that stimulated conversation and interaction. “We were trying to introduce students to the intellectual life at ACU; you get to know people a whole lot better if you talk about deeper issues. We discussed deep important issues that matter to God and matter to the world,” Mattis said.

Amanda Arzigian, freshman physics major from Edgewood, N.M., thought the book went well with ACU’s mission to change the world.

“It really got me to think,” she said. “I saw ways I could live differently and how some things are neither good nor bad but just different.”

Fifty freshmen attended the first discussion session, and about 40 students attended the second session.

“[The first session] blew me away in terms of the questions, comments and insights. Normally when you do something like this, people are shy, especially on the first day,” Moore said.

The First-Year Program paid for the books and the authors’ upcoming visit. Mattis had wanted to start a program like this for some time and thinks eventually the Common Reading may be used in the new cornerstone course.

“What a great opportunity to be with 1,000 other people that have similar concerns for the world,” Mattis said.

Any freshman or faculty member can still request a free copy of the book, and anyone else who wants to participate in the program can buy the book in The Campus Store.

“The whole campus is invited [to participate],” Mattis said. “I just can’t afford to buy books for everyone.”

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

About Kelline Linton

You are here: Home / News / Freshmen connect through new Common Reading program

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved