First Year Reading 2009
Welcome to First Year Reading at JMU!
The First Year Reading program is a decade-long tradition at JMU and we are excited to introduce you to this part of our campus culture. Every year for the last ten years students have been provided a text to read over the summer and, as a part of accepting the opportunity to become a part of the JMU learning experience, expected to read the text and be prepared to discuss it with a group of your peers. Now that you're officially a JMU student, here's your invitation to join in on this wonderful experience.
The DNA Age by Amy Harmon is a Pulitzer Prize-winning series of 16 articles that highlight the impact of current human gene technology by exploring both the exciting uses and potential abuses of this new form of medical information in the 21st century. The articles are ripe with issues about identity, ethics, birth rights, privacy, access and more. The stories are personal, and at time may evoke a reaction in you that you may not expect. That's ok. Stick with it and try to imagine yourself in their shoes.
Whether you agree or disagree with the decisions made by the individuals in the articles is not the question. Rather, the most important question is "Why?" Being able to articulate your opinions and validate them is what is expected of you as a college student. So, roll up your sleeves and dig in to The DNA Age!
Accessing the articles
For the first time in the history of our program, we have gone paperless with the First Year Reading text. That's right, the text is only available online which means you can access it anywhere, whether it be the library, from your iPod, or while you're relaxing on the beach! As long as you have an internet connection, you can read The DNA Age when and wherever you'd like.
JMU Faculty members have selected nine of the 16 articles for you to read. Remember, these articles are required reading for all incoming first year students. When you click on the link below you will need to enter your JMU e-ID and password to access the articles. The web site contains the link to the entire series if you are feeling ambitious and would like to read all 16 articles. Don't be afraid to go the extra mile! You will also be able to download PDF files of each article in case you'd like to read them on the go.
Questions to ponder
The articles are full of issues that question fundamental values we each have about our life and to be fully engaged in the learning process means that what we hold as truth may be challenged at times. Opportunities like these are great! They help us evaluate our values since we continue to learn and grow as human beings. As you read the articles, ponder the following questions:
- Which one of the articles did you enjoy the most? Did any of the articles in the series evoke a negative reaction from you? Which ones and why?
- In one of the articles, Amy Harmon discusses the notion that some character traits (like being a daredevil) might be traced to genes. How much of your identity can be explained by your genes, versus being shaped by your experiences? Which characteristics do you believe are "nature" and which are "nurture?" Are we born or raised to be who we are?
- How much of your own genetic information would you be willing to share? What would motivate you to make your genetic code publicly available? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of having a centralized database of every human's DNA? Who should have access to the information in the database? How would you feel if your DNA were in a database?
- The manipulation of DNA in the last decade has led to significant advances in medical treatments for heart disease, diabetes and organ transplants. What freedoms or limitations should the government be able to legislate with respect to scientific study?
- In several of these articles, people are using information about their DNA to make decisions about their healthcare. As a JMU student, you will use information to make decisions for yourself. What information will you use to make choices or decisions about your own well-being while you are at JMU?
What happens next?
When you return to campus in August for 1787 Orientation, we will have a packed schedule of events waiting for you. You'll be so busy that you won't have time to read the articles between moving in and your First Year Reading discussion on Thursday, August 20.
You, along with the rest of your FROG Group, will be led in a 90-minute discussion about The DNA Age by a faculty or staff member. Ninety minutes may seem like a lot of time, but it's similar to the length of an average college class. You'll have a lot of opportunity to share your thoughts about the articles. Remember, the idea here is to share informed opinions based on what you read, not to simply restate what the articles said. That's the difference between high school and college.