Connie Van Fleet didn't appear to be breaking the law. She recited, in her best librarian voice, the sing-song passages of a book intended for toddlers that was banned for its content.

Van Fleet, professor of library and information studies, and members of the English Club met last night in the faculty lounge of Gittinger Hall to celebrate Banned Books Week.

This week, the American Library Association tries to raise awareness of intellectual freedom and first amendment issues caused by the banning of books in school and public libraries, according to their Web site.

As Van Fleet slowly flipped the pages of "In the Night Kitchen," no gasps emitted from the crowd.

Only chuckles could be heard and smiles seen on the faces of the audience.

The book had been banned for its depiction of a naked toddler floating through his own dream world, Van Fleet said.

"We each get to read what we want, hear what we want, say what we want, and then we must make our own decisions about what we think," Van Fleet said.

Banned Books



o "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White



o "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien



o "The Witches" by Roald Dahl



o "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck



o "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou



o "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger



o "Harry Potter" by J.K. Rowling



o "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

Vida Carey, English senior and English Club president, said she decided to merge the club's first meeting of the year with the "Pizza and Prohibition" event.

She said she hoped the event would raise awareness of free speech and intellectual freedom rights.

"We're trying to do something with some literary value," Carey said.

Books are banned most often for content of a sexual nature.

Many books are also challenged for their depiction of religious, political and minority issues, Van Fleet said.

"What censors try to do is to impose their viewpoints on other people," Van Fleet said. "The censor wants to pre-judge material for other people."

She said they do this by putting pressure on institutions such as libraries to restrict content.

Carey said she thinks most children books are banned out of fear of their content.

"These books conflict with their values," Carey said. "Books for older readers are banned because they kind of cross paths with moral standards of society."

Van Fleet said readers should be able to make responsible decisions about the books they read, and parents should monitor their children's' reading habits on their own. It is not a library's responsibility to filter content.

"Being from New Orleans, we pretty much think that as long as you're not hurting anyone else, you should pretty much be able to read what you want to read," Van Fleet said. "If you don't want to look at it, don't go to Bourbon Street!"

The table in the faculty lounge was strewn with books that had been banned in the past.

Titles included "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien and "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White.

English Club members said some of their favorite books had been banned in the past.

Jennifer Choi, University College freshman, said that as a child she loved "The Witches" by Roald Dahl.

"I don't see why it was banned," Choi said. "I thought it was funny."

Amanda Theaker, University College freshman, said she really enjoyed the book, "1984" by George Orwell, a book banned for its intellectual content.

"When people read it, it makes them feel uncomfortable and they lash out at the book," Theaker said.

Theaker and Choi both said they felt no guilt when they read books that had been banned.

"Authoritative figures want to impose their values and beliefs on people," Theaker said. "I think that's wrong. It's liberating to read banned books."

Van Fleet said the way to combat censorship is knowledge. She encouraged the audience to be educated about the restriction of free speech.

"Go out and read a banned book!" she said.

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