Reading Project

Letter from President Scott Cowen

May 7, 2012

Dear Members of the Class of 2016/17,

As president of Tulane University, I am happy to extend an enthusiastic welcome to the class of 2016/17. At Tulane, the opportunities to learn and to engage with the world around you will not be restricted to the classroom. Each year we ask the entering class to read a literary work to frame their first year experience; we call it the Tulane Reading Project. This year’s book is Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans, by Dan Baum.

This national bestseller is a fascinating tale of New Orleans, told through the unforgettable stories of nine characters, tied together through the common experience of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.  Cutting across lines of age, class, race, gender, the book paints a portrait of what is truly to be celebrated about New Orleans - its people.  No matter what your academic interests, I am confident that you will find Nine Lives to be a compelling read, and that you will look forward to the opportunity to discuss it with your fellow students this fall.

Free copies of the book will be distributed to all students attending the June orientation sessions. In July, we will mail the book to those of you who were unable to visit campus in June.

This fall, we will offer a series of events exploring Nine Lives and the themes that it addresses. On Tuesday, September 11, we will present the musical adaptation of the book by Paul Sanchez and Colman DeKay, which features a star-studded cast of local musicians and actors.  We also look forward to welcoming author Dan Baum for our keynote lecture on Tuesday, October 2.  Be sure to check the Events and Activities page for the complete schedule of events. You may also check the Materials and Resources page for additional materials pertinent to the book, such as guidelines for discussion and other web-based resources.

I hope that you will enjoy reading Nine Lives before you arrive on campus. The Tulane community looks forward to meeting each of you in August and engaging with you in your first intellectual experience as Tulane students. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Sincerely,
Scott S. Cowen