Haddon Book Selected for 2006 New Student Reader Program

SALISBURY, MD---Christopher Boone, 15, doesn’t understand people. Suffering from autism, the teenager relaxes by doing math problems in his head. He eats red—but not yellow or brown—foods. He takes everything he hears at face value.

People don’t understand Christopher, either. When his neighbor’s poodle is killed, he is blamed for the death because of his different behavior. He sets out to determine what really happened using his own unique methods, writing a journal of his investigation along the way. The result, author Mark Haddon’s fictional The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, has been selected as this year’s book in Salisbury University’s New Student Reader Program.

Founded in 2005, the New Student Reader Program offers new students at SU a common experience to begin the school year. Each new student will be required to read the book for discussions with faculty and fellow new students during orientation activities. New Student Reader Committee members chose Haddon’s book in hopes it will spark discussions among students about diversity and disabilities including autism that they likely will encounter at SU and beyond.

Members of the New Student Reader Program Committee are: Susan Brazer, Kevin Carreathers, Dr. Diane Davis, Lawanda Dockins-Gordy, Dr. T. Ross Leasure, Dr. Melanie Perreault, Dr. Andrew Pica, Dr. Patricia Richards, Dr. Ed Robeck, Joshua Weikers and Vaughn White. For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu. "