To conclude this week, Professor Chris Offutt has written a statement concerning the banning of some of the world’s most influential novels.
“Censorship is desperate act made by people who fear their authority is unwarranted, their morality invalid, and their intelligence compromised. Censorship is the weapon of cowards. Worse, it always backfires, especially with young people. What is forbidden becomes compulsory.”
Thank you to all of those who participated in the English Department’s very first Banned Books Week. We have had such a good time reading about some of our favorite books, as well as remembering the books lost in the fires of the past. By spreading awareness, we will make sure books are never burned again.