Duke freshmen refuse to read Fun Home, citing Christian beliefs

Alison Bechdel's Fun Home is one of the most acclaimed graphic novels of the decade, so it's no great surprise that Duke University chose it as one of the summer reading selections for its incoming freshman class. But the selection has also sparked controversy among some students who have refused to read Fun Home, citing personal religious and moral beliefs.

The Duke Chronicle profiled a number of students who objected to being asked to read Fun Home, which depicts Bechdel's experience coming out as a lesbian, as well as her father's own closeted homosexuality. "I feel as if I would have to compromise my personal Christian moral beliefs to read it," wrote freshman Brian Grasso in a much-discussed Facebook post.

Grasso's post sparked a public debate, with fellow incoming freshmen coming down on both sides. One called the book's images "pornographic." Another said it shook her faith in Duke's judgment: "I thought to myself, 'What kind of school am I going to?'"

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In an interview with the Duke Chronicle, Grasso elaborated on the reasoning behind his post, and said he has since received many private messages expressing support. "There is so much pressure on Duke students, and they want so badly to fit in," he said. "But at the end of the day, we don’t have to read the book."