The idea for “Pizza, Poetry, and Banned Prose” emerged during a mid-November Student Advisory Board meeting, a time when spirits were low, and a sense of comfort was deeply needed. A new take on the Department of English’s “Text and Tea”, this event was inspired by the growing controversy around censorship in our nation. By challenging the forced silence of literature in the nation, we celebrated (with food) our freedom of expression.

Held on December 2nd at the Humanities Poetry Center, the event brought together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff for a necessary end-of-semester celebration. Students shared excerpts from their favorite books, professors read passages from works they’ve taught, and participants recited poetry that made us question why it was banned.

Although the atmosphere was lighthearted—highlighted by the reading of Shel Silverstein’s “How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes”—the notion of censorship and book banning is anything but. In this critical period of our nation, we must reflect and ask ourselves: What is the purpose of literature? and What does banning books indicate?

Our freedom of expression gives us the right to speak our minds and critique without punishment. It gives us the freedom to learn our history and develop thoughts of our own. When the government restricts access to knowledge, it undermines our ability to think independently and form our own opinions. These reasons are why this event was so powerful, because as English academics, we understand the importance of how literature paints the world for what it is.