By Alexandra Napoli
Contributing Writer
Over the summer, more than 500 incoming freshmen joined in a tradition that would not only bond them for the next four years, but for the rest of their lives.
During orientation, freshmen received the class of 2016 All Bonaventure Reads novel, a memoir by Neil White, titled “In the Sanctuary of Outcasts.” In the memoir, White, once a self-absorbed business man, tells about his prolonged struggles with the law, including being convicted of bank fraud and his sentence of 18 months at Carville Federal Prison.
The book is filled with shocking discoveries. One discovery being that Carville, located in Central Louisiana, was not only home to criminals, but also to the last leprosy patient colony known in the United States. In the memoir, White soon became enlightened by his experiences amongst the strange array of criminals, patients, priests and nuns.
Mike Madonna, a freshman history major, reflected on the characters in the book.
“The fact that they put random people together; nuns, priests, convicts and lepers was sort of wacky,” Madonna said. “But I learned a lot from their stories. They were sad, but the way they got through it was really powerful.”
Jessica Gallicchio, a freshman journalism and mass communication major, spoke about her love for Ella, one of the prevalent characters in the book.
“Ella was very special to me,” Gallicchio said. “Her main message to Neil White was ‘you are who you are and if they don’t like it, forget them!’”
The memoir contained significant lessons and insights, according to Mike Pingelski, a freshman undecided business major. Pingelski was unsure what leprosy was until he read White’s book.
“I really didn’t know much about the disease itself,” Pingelski said. “It was interesting to learn about the history and how everything started, especially in Carville.”
Scott Baumler, a freshman finance major, also learned from the memoir.
“This book really taught us to not be so judgmental and to get to know people,” Baumler said. “We need to adapt to our environment before you decide you hate it. We all have to go through a lot of changes as freshmen and reading this book definitely helped.”
Micaela Farley, a freshman marketing major, saw these lessons in a different light.
“I now remind myself to make good choices, to stay grounded and make sure I don’t get a big head,” she said.
Shannon Haberman, a freshman biology major, agreed.
“(The novel was) inspiring. It was an excellent lesson learned and preparation for what I will endure in college,” she said.
Ultimately, the freshmen class learned much about life, themselves and the future in this inspiring story Neil White chose to share with the world. Students can now look forward to the school year ahead and keep White’s useful discoveries and teachings in their minds as they continue their journey at St. Bonaventure.
