Independent thinkers across the country will celebrate freedom of expression during the 17th Annual University of Toledo Banned Books Week Vigil Thursday, Sept. 25.

Inspired by the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, the event will start at 9 a.m. and run through 5 p.m. in the Carl Joseph Memorial Reading Commons on the fifth floor of Carlson Library.

In 20-minute presentations every half hour, speakers from the University and surrounding community will talk about censorship and the importance of personal reading.

“This event creates solidarity within the community while celebrating the right to read freely,” Dr. Paulette Kilmer, UT professor of communication, said.

Throughout the day, snacks and refreshments will be available, along with door prizes that include donated banned books and other goods.

Topics and speakers for the event will be:

• 9 a.m. — “Celebrating Reading” by Marcia King-Blandford, interim director of UT Libraries, and Dr. Jeffrey Wilkinson, UT professor and chair of communication;

• 9:30 a.m. — “The Dr. Linda Smith Lecture: ‘A Deck of Cards’” by Dr. David Tucker, UT professor of communication;

• 10:30 a.m. — “Censorship in Black: Hurston, Ellison and Baldwin” by LaVelle Ridley, UT Jesup Scott Honors College student;

• 11 a.m. — “The Dynamics of Expression in the Invisible Prison” by Dr. Renee Heberle, UT professor of political science;

• 11:30 a.m. — “A Ban Against Women’s Rights and Freedoms — A Historical Perspective” by Warren Woodberry, Toledo author;

• Noon — “Avoiding the Echo Chamber: The Benefit of Dissenting Opinion” by Sarah Ottney, managing editor of the Toledo Free Press;

• 12:30 p.m. — “President Obama’s Fave Novel: Censoring Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon” by Dr. Glenn Sheldon, UT professor of humanities and faculty member of the Jesup Scott Honors College;

• 1 p.m. — “Pinball, Peep Shows and Pulp Fiction: A Brief History of Censorship in Northwest Ohio” by Dr. Michael Brooks, Bowling Green State University professor of history and graduate coordinator;

• 1:30 p.m. — Screening of “Video Moments With Stan Lee and Living Action Heroes Inspired by Comic Books”;

• 2 p.m. — “Graphic and Explicit Content: The Censorship of Horror Video Games” by Torrie Jadlocki, UT communication student;

• 2:30 p.m. — “Jeopardy!” led by Amanda Eggert, editor in chief of The Independent Collegian, and Samantha Rhodes, managing editor of The Independent Collegian;

• 3 p.m. — “Those @#%$#^ [Beep…..] Censors: What Are They Looking for?” by Arjun Sabharwal, UT assistant professor of library administration;

• 3:30 p.m. — “You Can’t Read That!!!” by Cindy Ramirez, English teacher at Bedford Senior High School;

• 4 p.m. — “Filthy Words or Uplifting Story? The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Dr. Sharon Barnes, UT associate professor of women’s and gender studies; and

• 4:30 p.m. — “Moments From ‘Oh! Cabaret!’” by Irene Alby, UT associate lecture of theatre.

For more information, contact Kilmer at 419.530.4672.

Media Coverage
13 ABC and WTOL 11 (Sept. 25, 2014)