FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2007
Contact: Lakeydra Walls
(662) 329-7119
lsw1@muw.edu

MUW’s Common Reading Initiative selects Melissa Delbridge’s `Family Bible’

COLUMBUS, Miss. - The Common Reading Initiative at Mississippi University for Women has selected Melissa Delbridge’s “Family Bible” for the upcoming academic year. CRI encourages the entire campus to read and discuss a common book each year with a special invitation to incoming freshmen.

Initiated just two years ago, the Common Reading Initiative has featured, “Waiting for Christopher” by Louise Hawes and Rick Bragg’s “All Over but the Shoutin’.”

“CRI strives to foster a social and intellectual community by inviting the entire campus to read and discuss a common book,” said Dr. Eric Daffron, associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of English.

As a joint effort of several campus departments, Delbridge is scheduled to visit the campus in October as the CRI author, as a writer-in-residence for the Ina E. Gordy Honors College and as a guest author for the Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, set for Oct. 22-24

“I am pleased that Melissa Delbridge's personal memoir has been selected for the CRI and that Ms. Delbridge will visit campus later this fall. Her book raises many issues pertinent to us all, including incoming freshmen. In particular, I find her emphasis on forgiveness and acceptance touching,” Dr. Daffron added.

Delbridge’s book is available at the Bookend on campus. For more information about the program and the selected book, visit http://www.muw.edu/advising/cri/.