Picking Cotton: Our Memoir
of Injustice and Redemption
by Jennifer
Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton
with Erin Torneo
About the Book
Jennifer Thompson was raped at
knifepoint by a man who broke into
her apartment while she slept. She
was able to escape, and eventually
positively identified Ronald Cotton
as her attacker. Ronald insisted
that she was mistaken-- but
Jennifer's positive identification
was the compelling evidence that put
him behind bars. After eleven years,
Ronald was allowed to take a DNA
test that proved his innocence. He
was released, after serving more
than a decade in prison for a crime
he never committed. Two years later,
Jennifer and Ronald met face to
face-- and forged an unlikely
friendship that changed both of
their lives.
In their own words, Jennifer and
Ronald unfold the
harrowing details of their
tragedy, and challenge our ideas
of memory and judgment while
demonstrating the profound
nature of human grace and the
healing power of forgiveness.
About the Authors
Jennifer
Thompson-Cannino, a native North Carolinian and mother
of teenage triplets, has become an outspoken opponent on the
death penalty and speaks frequently about the need for
judicial reform. She is a member of the Actual Innocence
Commission, advisory committee for Active Voices, member of
the Constitution Project and Mother's for Justice.
Ronald
Cotton, lives
with his wife and daughter in North Carolina and currently
works at an insulation plant. He has spoken at various
schools and conferences including Washington and Lee
University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Georgetown Law
School, and the Community March for Justice for Troy Anthony
Davis in Savannah, GA
Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the New Student Reader
Program is to orient new students to our academic community
at Salisbury University by having a common reading
experience with fellow classmates, faculty, staff, and
upper-class students who serve as orientation team peer
leaders.
The goal of the New Student Reader
Program is to engage students in discussions, projects,
curricular and co-curricular opportunities generated by a
common reading experience.
Timeline
Thursday, August 25th
|
5:30 - 6:30 pm |
Dinner for Essay Contest winners and their family
with the President and other University Officials |
|
Held in the Worcester Room in the Commons |
| 7:00 -
8:00 pm |
Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton, subjects of the
book, speak to the community |
|
Held in the Social Room and Great Hall in Holloway
Hall |
Friday, August 26th
| 9:00 -
10:00 am |
Convocation
Convocation Speaker, Jennifer
Thompson |
Held in Red Square.
| 10:00
- 11:00 am |
Small group book discussions led by faculty and
staff |
Held in various
classrooms on the SU campus.
| 11:15
- 12:30 pm |
Academic Open Houses |
Held in respective Academic Schools.
| 12"30
- 2:00 pm |
Lunch on the Lawn (new students & faculty)
Campus book signing by New Student Reader special
guests, Jennifer Thompson and Richard Cotton |
Held on the lawn of Devilbiss Mall.
Committee Members of
the New Student Reader Program
Diane Davis – Fall 2004
Faculty/Clinical Laboratory
Science/Medical Technology/Health Sciences
Lawanda Dockins-Gordy – Fall 2004
Director/Guerrieri
University Center
Patricia Richards – Fall 2004
Faculty/REED
Coordinator/Education Specialties
Vaughn White – Fall 2004
Director/Multicultural
Student Services
Alex Williams- Fall 2008
Student (Graduate)
Sarah Case – Fall 2008
Faculty/History
Leigh Ann DePope – Fall 2009
Faculty/Serials/Electronic
Services Librarian
Nancy Michelson --
Fall 2010
Faculty/Education
Vicki Willey -- Fall
2010
Faculty/English
Helena Hill -- Fall
2010
Graduate Student
June Krell-Salgado
-- Fall 2010
Director/Cultural Affairs
Jessie Redmon --
Spring 2010
Student
Christie Stone --
Fall 2010
Student
For additional information
about the public event or about the New Student Reader
Program, please contact Lawanda Dockins-Gordy, Co-Chair, New
Student Reader Committee
at 410-543-6100.
2010-2011 book -
Hope in the Unseen
2009 - 2010 Book - Journey from
the Land of No
