BY SHELBY OSHEL
VIDEO BY LEXI GROSS AND ALEX JUAREZ
PHOTOS BY CLARK CHEN
Forsyth Library, in partnership with Sigma Tau, held a button making event to raise awareness about the censorship of books in libraries worldwide. Students were given the opportunity to select a quote that protests the censorship of books to be made into a button with the help of event volunteers. Lists written on the sidewalks between Tomanek Hall and Forsyth Library shared many facts and statistics about censorship.
One of these listed the means in which books are censored; it noted that book pages are vandalized, resources are hidden, the material is removed, books are unable to be accessed without parental permission, or that the books are just burned altogether.
A trifold display listed many classic book titles next to the reasons why they were banned. Many titles were seen as banned due to perceptions of racism, cynicism, and sexual references. Sophomore Devin Patchin was shocked by the seemingly arbitrary reasons behind the censorship of many books.
“I think that all books are important, but the fact that schools are banning books that contain issues that need to be talked about is absolutely insane,” Patchin said. “It’s important to understand the perspectives of the people who have written these books regardless of if they’re fictional or not. Most fictional books offer theories of how the future may turn out, and they give us an opportunity to take preventative measures against falling into those traps.”
Another sidewalk display listed institutions that commonly challenge and censor material. It stated that 59% of public libraries challenge material, followed by 23% of school libraries, 14% of schools, 3% of academic schools, and 1% of prison libraries. Many of these institutions ban material based solely on an individual’s perception of the content.
Stacie Rupp, an event volunteer and member of Sigma Tau, was put off by the amount of literature being banned.
“One of Sigma Tau’s main goals is to bring literature to children who may not have access to it,” Rupp said. “Every year, we fundraise for Dolly Parton’s Books for Children initiative. Due to censorship, a lot of great literature is being taken off of the shelves and away from children.”