According to Rich Shivener, Northern Kentucky University has chosen David Mack's Kabuki: The Alchemy for its 2011 Book Connection Program. This means that every member of the incoming freshman class will be reading and responding to a graphic novel.Sweet!
I know LSU was considering doing this with Persepolis a few years ago, but I don't think they went through with it. I'm not sure if NKU's effort marks the first time a graphic novel has been the central text of a freshman entrance experience, but the "common text" idea is one that has become pretty popular over the last decade or so, so maybe it won't be the last.
