By Caitlin Maloney

Censorship of print media has existed since its invention. The clash between writers and authority has endured throughout the centuries and continues today.

Both students and faculty met on the main floor of the Axinn Library on Wednesday to listen to excerpts and discussions of several works-many now considered classics-which have created controversy and have been banned in America. According to the American Library Association’s “Freedom to Read” statement, “The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack.” Sarah McClesky, head of Access Services in Axinn Library, who quoted the ALA’s statement and proceeded to introduce the first speaker, opened the event.

Robert Spiotto, the artistic director of the University’s Community Arts Program, spoke briefly about Charles Dickens’ classic novel, “Oliver Twist.” He explained the book was largely protested because of anti-Semitic undertones in the character of Fagin, a career criminal, and Dickens repeatedly refers to him as “the Jew.” Spiotto went on to read an excerpt of “Oliver Twist” in which Oliver meets Fagin for the first time. Spiotto claimed the character of Fagin as one very near to his heart, having played him in over 50 performances of the play version of the story.

Senior English major Cheryl Curry read a controversial scene from Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” In the scene, a small child was viewed as abnormal for not wishing to engage in the usual erotic playtime activities with the other children. Curry first read the dystopian novel as a high school freshman. “I was glad for the opportunity to be exposed to books of such caliber at a young age,” Curry said. Student Activities Coordinator Michael Devlin went on to read part of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.” “It is still banned in many European countries, including Germany,” Devlin said.

“The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath was read by senior University student and member of the University’s Civil Liberties Union Tara James. “I believe Plath’s work was controversial because of the intimate nature of her writing,” said James, who read an excerpt about the narrator’s thoughts on execution and cadavers. “I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be electrocuted,” James read from Plath’s novel.

University Assistant Professor of Library Services David Woolwine, read portions of Plato’s “Apology.” “I don’t know that it has ever been banned, but some of its contents are certainly controversial,” Woolwine said, before reading an excerpt concerning Socrates’ trial.

Tim O’Brien’s Vietnam War novel, “The Things They Carried,” was then read by senior and Civil Liberties Union member Elise Levitt. The novel was once banned for its graphic accounts of war and violence. “It also might have been banned because a chapter appeared in Playboy magazine once,” said Levitt with a smile, adding, “But that’s not the chapter I’m going to read you.”

Freshman Merab Okeyo read a portion of “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, which was challenged for its sexual and violent content. It is now considered a great work of literature.

University Assistant Professor of Library Services Amy Cianciulli followed with a presentation of “the most challenged book of 2006,” Justin Richard’s children’s book “And Tango Makes Three.” The short book depicts a true account of a family of penguins living in the Central Park Zoo. It created controversy because the penguin couple is a pair of homosexual males, which caused many religious groups to reject the content as morally corrupt and unsuitable for children.

Homer’s classic epic poem, “The Odyssey,” was read by freshman Bency Pierre. He read from Book 22 of the poem, detailing the brutal slaughter of Penelope’s many suitors by her husband, Odysseus.

Harriet Heiden, a recently retired University faculty member, concluded the presentation with the reading of another controversial children’s book, “The Higher Power of Lucky” by Susan Patron. The book was challenged for its use of the word “scrotum” in reference to a dog’s genitalia. Many felt that this book, published in 2006, was inappropriate for children based on the choice of language.

Robert Spiotto, artistic director of community arts programs, reads an excerpt from the banned book “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. (Jackie Pento)

Merab Okeyo, a freshman international affairs and public health major, reads an excerpt from “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, which is listed as a challenged book. (Jackie Pento)