but mark bauerlein can explain that much better than i. [applause] >> thank you. thank you all for coming here. it is not happy news to speak about higher education, about some of the reading choices that are made by colleges every year. what i will do here it is lay out some of the background about why colleges even have these programs at all. and to give a little bit of sympathy for the problems they are facing when they do assigned these books and what they hope these programs which can run all year long, they have incoming students read it, spend a few weeks on organized programs, debates, the courses that are oriented towards the boat, they have the author, very important to have the honor to attend and speak so it is a long process, not just the assignment of a book for the mall to read over the summer. they wanted to be an extended experience. they want them to spend some time with this book. they graduate from high school. they are admitted to this institution, might pile on this extra reading. lasting you want to do is read books over the summer, we will