The University of Toledo will celebrate its 20th annual Banned Books Vigil to celebrate the right to read and think freely without censorship.

The free, public event will take place Thursday, Sept. 28 on the third floor of Carlson Library. The event begins at 9 a.m. with programs starting every half hour through 5 p.m.

“Our democracy depends on our intellectual freedom,” said Dr. Paulette D. Kilmer, UT professor of communication, who coordinates the event. “Anybody who controls what we read controls what we think and what we know. We give away banned books to promote free inquiry. It’s a fun way to circulate these books that have been called into question.”

Light snacks and refreshments will be available, with free banned books and door prizes given away every half hour. The first 300 attendees also will receive a goody bag at the entrance. One of the sacks will contain a card redeemable for $50 on the spot.

“We want the students to enjoy themselves,” Kilmer said. “We are thankful that all of these people find the time to come to our festival of reading and free expression.”

Topics and speakers for the event are:

• 9 a.m. — “Welcome: Read on” by Beau Case, dean of University Libraries, and Dr. David Tucker, UT professor of communication;
• 9:30 a.m. — “The Future Isn’t What it Used to be” by Dr. David Tucker, UT professor of communication;
• 10 a.m. — “Banned: Native-American Spirituality” by Dr. Barbara Alice Mann, UT honors professor of humanities;
• 10:30 a.m. — “Girl’s Night Out With Pandora, Lilith and Eve” by Warren Woodberry, local author and mentor;
• 11 a.m. — “A Historical Overview of Book Banning From Plato to the Present” by Arjun Sabharwal, UT associate professor and digital initiatives librarian;
• 11:30 a.m. — “All That (and) Jazz: Censorship of Transgender Representation in Children’s Books” by Dr. Sharon Barnes, associate professor and interim chair of the UT Women’s and Gender Studies;
• Noon — The Dr. Linda Smith Lecture: “Suppressing ‘Truths’ in the Age of Fake News” by Heidi M. Appel, dean of the Jesup Scott Honors College;
• 12:30 p.m. — “Remarks and Observations” by Dr. Andrew Hsu, UT provost and executive vice president for academic affairs;
• 1 p.m. — “Just What is Fake News?” by Lou Herbert, Toledo broadcaster and historian;
• 1:30 p.m. — “Book Burning Videos: Indiana Jones, Eyewitnesses and Ray Bradbury”;
• 2 p.m. — “Plato’s ‘Cave’ in the Age of Post-Truth” by Dr. Glenn Sheldon, UT honors professor of humanities;
• 2:30 p.m. — “Jeopardy!” hosted by The Independent Collegian editors;
• 3 p.m. — “Covering Campus News Transparently in the Selfie Age of Public Image” by Emily Schnipke, editor-in-chief of The Independent Collegian;
• 3:30 p.m. — “You Read WHAT to Your Daughter?! And Other Stupid Questions…” by Josie Schreiber, UT student;
• 4 p.m. — “Hear No Evil! See No Evil! Speak No Evil! Teach No Evil!” by Cindy Ramirez, Bedford High School teacher; and
• 4:30 p.m. — “Hard-Hitting Songs for Hard-Hit People” by Risa Cohen, West Side Montessori teacher.