University News
"Smashed" Selected as FY 08-09 Common Reading
May 7, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Koren Zailckas' novel "Smashed" beat a field of worthy competitors as the chosen common reading for Western Illinois University's 2008-2009 First Year Experience (FYE) program.
According to Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Studies and FYE Coordinator Judi Dallinger, "Smashed" will be used as a starting point for the campuswide discussion of the 2008-09 University theme "Global Challenges and Personal Responsibility: Health and Wellness." The book is a required read for incoming freshmen and will be used as a link between other campus activities.
Nearly 844 University students, faculty and staff voted on the FYE program's 2008-09 common reading during a Spring 2008 campuswide survey. "Smashed" was chosen over such others as "Scar Tissue" and "Dazed and Fatigued."
The University purchases the FYE book for all incoming students, and WIU's Leslie F. Malpass Library runs a resource webpage for the book and collects resources related to the reading so that students can complete relevant research projects.
Zailckas' story is that of thousands of girls like her who are not alcoholics yet, but who routinely use alcohol as a shortcut to courage and as a stand-in for good judgment. With one stiff sip of Southern Comfort at the age of 14, Zailckas is initiated into the world of drinking. From them on, she will drink faithfully, fanatically. In high school, her experimentation will lead to stomach pumping. In college, her excess will give way to a pattern of self-poisoning that will grow more destructive each year. At age 22, Zailckas will wake up in an unfamiliar apartment in New York City, elbow her friend who is passed out next to her, and ask "Where are we?" "Smashed" is a sober look at how she got there and after years of blackouts and smashups, what it took for her to realize she had to stop drinking.
According to the New York Times Book Review, "… The book attackes the 'Mardi Gras culture' that equates heavy drinking, sexual exhibitionism and fun; it assails the alcohol industry for promoting images of sassy promiscuity. It connects the dots between drunken young women and Internet porn."
Dallinger added that the book fits perfectly into the 08-09 health and wellness theme, and should serve as "an eye-opener to the realities of alcohol abuse and misuse."
"Western's core values of personal growth and social responsibility serve to educate our campus community about not only wellness, but also acting as a responsible citizen, which means looking out not only for ourselves, but others as well," she said. "'Smashed' illustrates how important it is to be vigilant about our health and well-being and not be lured into a culture of reckless abandonment where the consequences can far outweigh any benefits."
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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