In a given semester approximately half of the academic community will study a new selection of texts and write an integrating essay. Discussion groups consist of twelve to fifteen students and a faculty or staff member who facilitates discussion.
LARP facilitators move to a different group for each discussion period.
LARP was born from the realization that many sincere, industrious students receive the Baccalaureate and even the Doctoral degree without having read more than a few of the best books of the past and the present. It recognizes that few of the standard college courses present the student with the problem of reading, interpreting, and discussing books without guidance. The objectives of LARP are to familiarize participants with classic and contemporary writing, to inspire cross-disciplinary thought and investigation, and to produce a higher level of campus conversations. Discussion facilitators and students should approach the reading and the discussion as aspects of lifelong learning. All participants should strive to keep discussion related to the reading, to stimulate discussion should it lag, and to listen to and respect the views of others.