The Mount Explores the Controversy and Impact of Banned Books
By Katie Holgerson | Assistant Editor
On October 3rd, MWCC held a banned book event at the Brewer Center in the library, free for all students to attend. The event was organized by Michel Cocuzza, the Civic Engagement Coordinator; Shelley Nicholson, Director of the Brewer Center; and Robert Koch, Assistant Dean of Collaborative Learning Commons. A handful of students participated in the event, enjoying complimentary pizza and engaging in group discussion with their peers to help raise student awareness about the issue of banned books, as October 1 – 7, 2023 was Banned Books Week. Banned books are becoming a growing concern, as many schools in the U.S. continue to ban certain texts in their curriculums and libraries. One of the main reasons for this, Nicholson stated, is that these books are perceived to be “…counter to the ‘norm.’ To what society dictates is how they should be.”