College Orientation: Three Themes from Alice Walker's "The Color Purple."

These four papers by a reference librarian discuss the potential for students at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego to engage in a positive academic career that will have a significant impact not only on their growth as people, but also on their future endeavors. The first paper, "Self-Definition: Naming Yourself in a College Environment," explores the diversity of campus activities, and encourages students to become involved in some of them to continue their self-development as well as to make connections with other people. The second paper, "Education and 'The Color Purple'; 'No matter what happen, Nettie steady try to teach me what go on in the world,'" describes two people who had a major influence on the speaker as a young girl, and mentions some of the people at SUNY Oswego--e.g., roommates, friends, professors, counselors, residence hall directors--who will help students continue to learn "what go on in the world." The third paper, "SUNY Oswego Students Research the Topic of Abuse," provides examples of ways that Oswego students have demonstrated concern and scholarship in this area by elaborating on three specific topics of abuse that have been the subject of research papers written by undergraduate students: female circumcision in Africa, violence in families around the world, and terrorism and torture. The final paper, "Arts in Education," offers references to art in "The Color Purple" and describes some of the opportunities for students at Oswego to appreciate art, participate in art, create art, and develop a knowledge of the visual and performing arts. (DB)