Today’s freshmen would take their Lil’ Wayne albums and PlayStations to a hypothetical post-apocalyptic world.
That is what James Hall Residential Coordinator Micah McCarey learned from the first year of OU’s Common Experience Project. The two-year pilot program was created as an alternative to the Common Reader Project that guided freshman English classes for more than a decade.
For the second year, freshmen will not be asked to read a book but to engage in a critical investigation of a chosen theme instead: the apocalypse.
“Lately, people have been so fascinated with vampires, zombies and 2012 that we thought this theme would be appealing,” said Lorraine Wochna, OU librarian and project coordinator. “And there isn’t anything you can say has no bright side or dark side because people in every area of academics have ideas about the future.”
More than 700 students participated in the CEP last year through book clubs, overnight camping trips and participation on the CEP blog, where a list of themed books, movies and games were found.
“This is something we can all rally around and have conversations about,” McCarey said. “(The apocalypse) is a topic that is relative to everyone — that can spark anyone’s interest.”
Last year, McCarey lead a mini-project in James Hall that won second place in the Fine Arts category at the 2011 Student Expo. He initiated the project by simply asking students what they believe would be the most likely cause of an apocalypse and what they would take with them in such a scenario. Most predicted the exhaustion of natural resources will result in Armageddon and chose a favorite CD or dessert as their item of choice.
“When I heard about the theme, I was disturbed because I thought it was too hardcore,” said Madison Yoder, a sophomore studying English and former James Hall resident. “I think the project would work better if it were directed toward upperclassmen because freshmen are just trying to settle in, not worry about an apocalypse.”
The project is directed toward freshmen, Wochna said, because they are easy to reach through first-year classes and events. Upperclassmen are encouraged to engage by attending movies at the Athena Cinema and exhibits at the Kennedy Museum of Art.
“This project might appeal more to students who have matured emotionally,” Wochna said. “Or maybe the apocalypse is just too uncomfortable for people to talk about.”
The theme aims to get freshmen’s thoughts flowing about their futures. In the end, the choices they make will determine whether the future is bright or dark — just as the project describes.
oy311909@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCulture
