TRAIL.PUGETSOUND.EDU THE PUGET SOUND TRAIL THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND Volume 102, Issue 5 October 26, 2012 Established 1910 BANNED BOOKS WEEK universities’ admissions policies scrutinized By MEGAN LAMBERT he University of Puget Sound makes a huge eff ort to improve diversity levels on campus, just as many Tschools do across the country. En- suring that a wide range of students from diff erent backgrounds and eth- nicities attend a college campus cre- ates a more enriching learning expe- rience for all students. Achieving these high levels of di- versity throughout public univer- sities has been threatened recently by a possible ban that could poten- tially disallow public universities to practice race-conscious admissions. Th is possible ban has been brought to light because of a recent case that has been going on for many years re- garding discrimination between a student and a public university. Th is case exposes both sides of this issue involving the affi rmative action ad- missions policy that many public PHOTO COURTESY/GRACE DYER universities have adopted. Th e affi r- mative action policy allows schools Forbidden reading: The library celebrated Banned Books week with a display from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6. to base a student’s admission on many factors, including race and gender. Th ere has been much debate Library honors right to read throughout the United States re- garding the ban that would stop this The library, with its celebration of Banned Books Week, encourages SEE DIVERSITY PAGE 2 students to appreciate their ability to read the books they see fi t. By HEATHER STEPP that a library should raise aware- ness about book banning for the Puget Sound ollins Library celebrat- primary purpose of prompting an ed Banned Books Week individual to refl ect on the issue. welcomes Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 as part Th e Collins Library celebrat- of a well established na- ed Banned Books Week with this Ctional event that advocates for the aim in mind by using numerous families for freedom to read. avenues to attract attention from Th is marks the 30th year since the campus community. Homecoming Banned Books Week began. Or- A display near the library’s en- ganizations that support and par- trance, along with posters and By CHELSEA TSUCHIDA ticipate in Banned Books Week Facebook posts, garnered ini- uget Sound students, fac- span the book industry and re- tial attention. Th e library educat- ulty and staff welcome lated fi elds, including the Amer- ed those interested through the families, friends, alum- ican Booksellers Association, display of banned books and the ni and members of the American Society of Journal- daily blog entries posted during Pcommunity for Homecoming and ists and Authors, Association Banned Books Week. Family Weekend 2012, which be- of American Publishers, Amer- Th e display and blog posts fea- gins today and continues until ican Library Association, Na- tured books that have been chal- Sunday, Oct. 28. tional Council of Teachers of lenged, meaning that a group at- “I see this weekend as an op- English, and the National As- tempted to ban the book from portunity for members of the sociation of College Stores. either a library or curriculum. Puget Sound family to realize While the argument for the “Th e library wanted to alert that their involvement with Puget freedom to read has been institu- students that many books that Sound is a lifetime investment, tionalized across many book-re- are considered standard reading not just a four-year experience. It lated fi elds, the banning of books material have been challenged by is a chance for alumni to recon- is still an issue. many organizations,” Carlin said. nect with campus and with all Banned Books Week is both Among the books the library they love about it,” President Ron- a celebration of the freedom to drew attention to are a biogra- ald Thomas said. read and an endeavor to generate phy on Ghandi, Kurt Vonnegut’s Today, Puget Sound alumni awareness of this issue. Slaughterhouse-Five, and the re- and parents will be able to attend “Th e Collins Library recogniz- cently popular young adult book open classes, all of which are list- es Banned Books Week to bring Th e Perks of Being a Wallfl ower. ed on the Puget Sound website. attention to the support of the In recognizing some potential- Additionally, on-campus housing freedom to seek and to express ly surprising candidates for ban, and campus tours will take place ideas, even those some consider the library also demonstrated the throughout the day. There will unorthodox or unpopular,” Col- breadth of books subject to chal- also be a Parent Workshop, enti- lins Library director Jane Carlin lenge. PHOTO COURTESY/GRACE DYER said. It is Carlin’s belief SEE BANNED PAGE 2 Display: The Banned Books Week display from 2008. SEE HOMECOMING PAGE 2 Low tuition good for Professor Spotlight: Football lengthens Filmed Shakespeare undocumented students Amy Odegard losing streak stagings at Grand Opinions page 4 Features page 7 Sports page 9 A&E page 11 2 NEWS The Puget Sound Trail October 26, 2012 [email protected] and bans. However, this does not branch that was accused of profit- recommended banned reading dent Alena Karkanias said. BANNED exclude university libraries from ing by detaining immigrants. and quotations from authors on Often, books are challenged be- CONTINUed FROM PAGE 1 the issue of book banning, but in- As part of next year’s Banned the freedom of expression. cause the material is deemed inap- stead reinforces their role of bring- Books Week, the library will house Locals may find book banning propriate for children. Karkanias “Academic libraries rarely face ing awareness to the issue. a collection of art that commem- additionally relevant because of also points to the paradox in book challenges as the nature of the ac- The underlying issues of book orates the bombing of Baghdad’s the book Geography Club by Ta- banning. ademic environment embraces free banning are censorship and the book-selling epicenter, Al-Mu- coma author Brent Hartinger “Being able to talk about con- speech and open expression,” Car- rights of individuals. The prima- tanabbi Street. which has been challenged and troversial topics helps children lin said. ry right at stake, many organiza- The value of freedom of expres- even banned in a number of U.S. develop critical thinking skills According to Carlin, while tions, libraries and other “freedom sion and especially the freedom schools and public libraries. The that help them evaluate new ma- book banning is not an issue to read” enthusiasts claim, is the to read resonates within the Ta- book is about a man coming to terial,” Karkanias said. “Restrict- for university libraries, pub- freedom of expression. coma community as well. The lo- terms with his gender, and has ing the access to information, lic libraries and schools often In addition to Banned Books cal bookstore Kings Books makes been challenged because of this whether it is fiction or non-fiction, deal with challenges to books. Week, Collins Library supports something for Banned Books subject matter. stifles expression or learning.” The university is fortunate that freedom of expression by featur- Week each year. “Banning books is a way of pre- That is what Banned Books Week the embracing academic climate in ing art, like the photo essay of the This year, it is a small book ti- serving the old way of thinking, aims to show individuals, Carlin an institution of higher education May Day marches in Seattle that tled Open Mind Before Striking: An rather than letting society change said. “Everyone has the right to tends to preclude book challenges protested against a Wells Fargo Inflammatory Guide that includes as new ideas are thought of,” stu- read what they want.” pect to a complete campus. Dayna row Loggers and visitors alike DIVERSITY Ko is a sophomore and part of a mi- HOMECOMING can participate in the Logger 5k “ Together they make up CONTINUed FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUed FROM PAGE 1 nority on this campus. “Fun Run,” beginning at 9 a.m. more than 700 volunteers “Although I personally don’t no- in Jones Circle. policy, and how the ban would af- tice race very much on our campus, tled “The Student Journey Con- Then at 11 a.m. Professors around the country fect public universities and their ad- I do believe it is important to have a tinues,” and President Thomas Lisa Fortlouis Wood and Jim that plan events in their missions strategies throughout the diverse campus to make all students will also give his Welcome Ad- Evans will give one-hour pre- country. feel comfortable. Although this po- dress and Reception from 6 to sentations on “Transformation- area, recruit and mentor The ban on affirmative action -pol tential ban could be fair in some 7:30 p.m. al Leadership: Charisma, Trust, students, help them find icies would make it even harder to senses, I’m guessing it will also make At 7 p.m. tonight Puget and Accountability” and “Cos- achieve a more diverse campus, forc- it harder for universities to keep Sound’s volleyball team, ranked mos and Connection: The Uni- work, raise funds to ing admissions offices to resort to their campuses diverse,” Ko said. Ko fifth in the NCAA West Region verse of the Ancient Greeks.” support Puget Sound, and different measures to achieve stu- agrees that keeping a college campus Rankings, will play against the “This is my first time present- spread Logger pride in all dents from varying backgrounds.