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Good Morning!
Every year, incoming students are sent a book which will be discussed with the author and in a few small group discussions. Recent University pre-reads have reflected President Christopher Eisgruber's interests and topics of recent relevance. Previous pre-reads have focused on free speech, a liberal version of nationalism, and how low-income students can handle ethical implications of an elite college.
The most recent pre-read, the autobiography of Maria Ressa '86, highlights rising authoritarianism and the threat of social media on democracy. Ressa, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, writes that “the Philippines is ground zero for the terrible effects that social media can have on a nation’s institutions, its culture, and the minds of its populace.
In Eisgruber’s 2023 State of the University Letter from January, Eisgruber warned about the risks posed by technology to mental health and focus, particularly in the context of COVID-19 and the switch to virtual learning. While students' technological footprint continues to expand, some students have criticized social media on campus as well. Late last year, Technology Columnist Christopher Lidard wrote about the impact of Sidechat and Fizz on campus, or more specifically, how “they entrap people in the superficial vision of campus discourse.”
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Analysis by Olivia Chen
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