I am pleased to announce that the university is launching a common book project, which will be known as Go Big Read. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community are invited to participate by reading a selected book and taking part in campus discussions and community events in Fall 2009.

The purpose of the project is to introduce new students to the intellectual life of the campus, to build intellectual community among all our students, staff, and faculty, to generate exchange between members of the campus and the larger Madison and alumni communities, to emphasize the importance of reading, and to give us a shared point of reference for at least some of our interactions with one another.

I am writing to seek your help in choosing a book and to encourage you to share in the project. To learn more about “Go Big Read” and to make a book suggestion, please visit the “Go Big Read” Web site at http://www.gobigread.wisc.edu/ Book suggestions should be submitted by Friday, March 6. Members of the campus community will assist me in selecting the book and we’ll announce the title at the end of March.

Please encourage your fellow students, friends and colleagues to participate.

Chancellor Martin