The Penn State Abington is marking National Banned Books Week by staging readings from classic and contemporary works that have been challenged or banned. Students, faculty and staff will gather in the outdoor classroom by the Lares Student Union from noon until 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26, for the event.
This educational event focuses on censorship which led to banning books from libraries and schools throughout the United States; including “Winnie the Pooh,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Harry Potter” along with many other titles were banned.
Organizers say the reading will help reinforce Abington’s commitment to freedom of speech and the importance of free thinking.
“Freedom of expression and taking a stand to emphasize and protect that freedom is vital. Education is about exchanging new ideas, discussing topics that might make us uncomfortable, and being open to others’ views. Banning books is education’s antithesis,” said Karen Weekes, associate professor of English and director of institutional effectiveness, said after the 2017 banned book reading. “I’m proud to see students take this issue to heart