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Readers burn over banned books
Honors society brings attention to annual list of censored items
By Michael Godfrey
mgodfre3@mscd.edu

Photo by Molly Kreck • kreck@mscd.edu Rachel Moses, president of Sigma Tau Delta, reads William S. Burrough’s Naked Lunch at the Auraria Library during an event highlighting awareness of banned books.

Members of Sigma Tau Delta brought book censorship in libraries to students’ attention on Sept. 28 when they hosted a public awareness discussion in the Auraria Library during the celebration of Banned Book Week.

Banned Book Week, which has been sponsored by the American Library Association since 1982, celebrates an individual’s freedom to choose and express an opinion that may be considered unorthodox or unpopular by another. It stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those viewpoints to all who wish to read them.

Students from Sigma Tau Delta, an honors English society at Metro, hosted the discussion, which highlighted how books are banned and what it means to the general public and to Metro students.

“There are over 100 books that are challenged every year,” said Jennifer Goodland, vice president of Sigma Tau Delta. “And there is a fine line between censorship and legitimate unsuitability for a library population.”

Last year there were over 405 challenges to books, according to the American Library Association website. Sexual content, offensive language and inappropriateness for an age group were among the main reasons cited for challenges. Included in the “10 Most Challenged Books of 2005,” listed on the website, are books such as Robie H. Harris’ It’s Perfectly Normal, Judy Blume’s Forever and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.

“Just because it upsets you doesn’t mean it should be censored,” said Denise Strother, a Metro English major.

“There’s also a balance between deciding what books have value to a community,” Goodland said. “But we as a literate population cannot remain ignorant about the issue, because if we are, it will come find us.”

Goodland also said most of the complaints come from parents who don’t want their children to read books containing material they perceive as racist, antisocial or sexual.

A representative from the Colorado Library Association, Karen Bary, spoke at the event to raise awareness about which books are banned and why.

Bary explained that materials are challenged because of people’s values or because of parents’ concerns.

“We have to just trust that people make their own judgments about what they read and don’t,” Bary said.

She also said not only books are challenged, but works in all forms of media in libraries around the state are challenged as well.

“I have parents who ask me why an R-rated movie is even on our shelves,” Bary said.

Students at the event seemed concerned that some of these works might be banned from Auraria’s shelves.

“You’re in college to subject yourself to a higher level of learning and you’re going to find controversy anywhere,” said Melissa Klomp, a Metro student who plans to become an English teacher.

The dean of the Auraria Library, David Gleim, related his views at the event about the impact of banned books on society and on the Auraria Campus.

“We have potentially hazardous books here in the library,” Gleim said. “But that’s because we don’t have children’s books at Metro, and it’s just not an issue.”

Sigma Tau Delta also displayed books in the Auraria Library that have been challenged or banned across the country in order to spark conversation and show students which books are being banned.

“People form a deep personal connection to some of these books,” Goodland said. “And they’re offended a lot when they find out that they’ve been banned. This won’t only affect books, but movies (also), and it’s important for students to understand that.”