Introduction “Texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to get into an accident.” – National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
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ach year, Avila selects a common reading for our first year students. Students have the summer to read the selected book and respond with an essay prior to the start of fall class. Additionally, the University dedicates the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture to the selected book. To compliment these experiences, all first year students enroll in a fall semester class, First Year Seminar, which provides an opportunity to expand on the global topics within the book. The subject of this year’s common read was of particular interest to our first year students, University community, and surrounding community. Many of our students have been impacted directly or indirectly with distracted driving and nearly all of our students reported driving while distracted or being in a car with a distracted driver at some point in their lives. As stated in our mission, Avila prepares learners who will contribute to the global community and our Values state the importance of a right relationship with self and others. Distracted driving has been described as a global epidemic and it is important to practice safe and harmonious relationships with ourselves and others. This publication serves as the culmination of multiple experiences shared among our first year students (Appendix A) to begin to understand the issues around distracted driving. Within this publication are the Culminating Projects of many of Avila’s first year students. It is our hope that through the curriculum in first year seminar, students have developed individualized and educated thoughts and opinions on the subject and will become change agents for the world. Below outlines some of the experiences that led to these culminating projects. The book selected for 2019 was A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, A Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age by Matt Richtel. In this book, we learned of the story of Reggie Shaw. In 2006, as a 19 year-old Utah college student, Shaw was driving on a highway he had taken hundreds of times before. While texting, Shaw drifted across the center line and fatally struck two rocket scientists, James Furfaro and Keith O’Dell. The book follows Shaw, the families of Furfaro and O’Dell, as well as many of those who were involved in the police investigation and trial. Richtel not only shares the details of these tragic events, but also delves into brain research outlining our inability to multi-task, regain situational awareness, and the inability to resist our phones. Avila welcomed Reggie Shaw to campus on October 14, 2019 as our Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer (Appendix B). Shaw relived the worst day of his life when he spoke at Avila University. He has great remorse for his actions and struggles daily knowing he ended the lives of two other human beings. Somberly, Shaw shared his story and the intimate
Avila Community Values
stories of others whose lives have ended or been impacted by distracted driving. Shaw was convicted of negligent homicide and the attorneys agreed to Shaw’s sentence of 18 days in jail along with a requirement to educate others about texting and driving. At the sentencing, the judge told Shaw, “You are not a hero, you are a criminal.” Shaw turns off his phone and places it in the glove compartment every time he drives. His mission is to get others to do the same. Although Shaw has met the details of his sentencing, he continues to dedicate his life to educating others about texting and driving. He shared with our audience, “Don’t be like me.” A few other highlights from the semester included a visit from the International Save A Life Tour. We heard the heart-wrenching stores of Xavier who was torn from his sister’s hand when a distracted driver hit them on their way home from school and is paralyzed from below the diaphragm. We learned about Chandler who killed three children when he ran into a horse-drawn carriage carrying an Amish family. The tour also brought two simulators to campus so students could experience texting and driving and/or driving under the influence of alcohol. Students also heard from three Avila faculty who shared perspectives on the topic from the disciplines of technology and social media (Dr. Joe Snorgrass), psychological brain research (Dr. Marcia Pasqualini), and victimology / criminology (Dr. Ashley Fansher). Students in First Year Seminar are encouraged to be creative with The Culminating Project. Students can write a traditional essay or create a unique personal project such as the creation of a poem, song, piece of artwork, etc. The project helps students explore the complex issues surrounding our topic of distracted driving and to explore their role and responsibility in resolving the issues through a peaceful and nonviolent means. These projects are a direct reflection of the multiple experiences in First Year Seminar including the classroom curriculum, the common reading, and the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture. This publication is a compilation of several projects submitted and an opportunity for first year students to share lessons learned from these experiences, but also how this topic has impacted them and ones they love. I hope it can move us closer to the Avila mission and values by contributing to the global community and building a right relationship with ourselves and others. Paige Illum, Ph.D., CSJA Director of Student Engagement and Success Adjunct Faculty Avila University
e Excellence in teaching and learning e The worth, dignity, and potential of each human being e Diversity and its expression e The development of the whole person e Right relationships, with God, self, others, and creation e Service with the dear neighbor
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