Banned Books Week celebrates freedom to read
The McKillop Library will recognize Banned Books Week, the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read, by hosting a series of events Sept. 28 through Oct. 1. All sessions are free and open to the University community and the general public.
“Librarians are passionate about promoting the freedom to read,” said Dawn Emsellem Wichowski, assistant director of research and instruction at the library. “We’re committed to fighting censorship.”
Banned Books Week will focus on books that have been the target of efforts to censor or restrict them. Throughout the week, faculty members from across the University will lead “teach-out sessions” on censorship and free expression in their subject areas.
In addition, students, faculty and staff will present a public reading of banned or challenged books from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. Books that have been challenged include J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are.”
All Banned Books Week activities will be held in the library. For more information, email dawn.emsellem@salve.edu.
Teach-Out Sessions
“For Our Own Good: Censorship and the Utopian Tradition”
Dr. Dean de la Motte, Department of Modern and Classical Languages
10-10:50 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28
“Thou Shalt Not: The Hollywood Production Code”
Dr. Matt Ramsey, Department of English and Communications
11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28
“Banned Recordings and Early Blues”
Dr. Don St. Jean, Department of Music, Theatre and Dance
2:15-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 29
“Bodies Under Scrutiny”
Dr. Jon Marcoux, Noreen Stonor Drexel Cultural and Historic Preservation Program, and Dr. Emily Colbert Cairns, Department of Modern and Classical Languages
9:30-10:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1
“Darwin’s Origin of Species: Moral Compass or Bloodthirsty Ethic?”
Dr. Craig Condella, Department of Philosophy
7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1
