The novel, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan, will be handed out to freshmen during Alive! orientation after a donation from WSU alumnus William Marler made it possible to reinstate the Common Reading Program.

This April, President Elson S. Floyd sent a letter to faculty members announcing the suspension of the Common Reading Program due to the university’s budget issues. The suspension of the program elicited numerous outcries from faculty and staff members, who believed the program was suspended because of controversial subject matter broached in the novel selected.

“The Omnivore’s Dilemma” follows four meals, each grown using different means of agricultural production, and examines the complexities of where, how and why the food was produced in this manner, said Jeff Sellen, an instructor and member of the Common Reading Program Implementation Committee.

Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick Bayly said the program was a victim of the university’s fiscal crisis.

“There used to be a lot more money in the program,” he said.

Bayly said the Common Reading Program is allowed to be reinstated because Marler’s donation covers budget expenses.

Patricia Ericsson, an assistant instructor and member of the Common Reading Implementation Committee, dismissed the assertion the program was initially cut for budgetary reasons.

Ericsson said a few thousand books, which were nonrefundable, had already been purchased when it was announced the program would be suspended for budgetary reasons. Ericsson said she was informed the program was suspended at an Implementation Committee meeting on May 4.

“A substantial part of the reason was because of political pressure growing from the book choice,” she said.

Bayly said the initial decision to cut the program was not political. He denied any regent influenced the process, and said, “the agricultural community understands there are a variety of points of views out there.” Bayly said all three of the book finalists were provocative choices, and this is ideal in aiding the program to initiate lots of discussion.

After the program was initially cut, the book was not going to be handed out during Alive! orientation. Instead, a memo on the Common Reading website from Susan Poch, the associate vice president of Educational Development, Student Affairs, Equity and Diversity read: “Program staff will contact faculty to ascertain whether they wish to use the book in their classes, and then will arrange for distribution.” The book will now be made available to all incoming freshmen.

Ericsson, one of the people who nominated the book to the Common Reading Selection Committee, said this book was important for the program because it makes students aware of what they eat.

“All students, all of us, need to know more about how our food is grown, processed, and distributed,” she said.

Ericsson’s nomination mentioned the book would likely initiate discussion and debate amongst students regarding the nature of food production and consumption.

Bayly said the intent of the Common Reading Program has always been to promote critical thinking and express a variety of ways to look at a given subject.