Freedom to Read Week is a week-long national event that encourages Canadians to reflect on issues relating to censorship and to celebrate our ongoing commitment to intellectual freedom. MRU will celebrate Freedom to Read Week 2019 with lively pop-up theatre, an engaging panel, live readings with an immersive twist, and displays throughout the Library and on main campus highlighting popular titles that have been challenged or even banned.
All are invited and encouraged to participate in the activities highlighted below. Mount Royal is the ideal campus to openly discuss and question controversial material. Join the conversation and let us know your take.
There’s nothing better than a heavy helping of drama mixed into that book you can’t seem to put down. Professional actors will be pop up in the Arts Building, Main Street, Wyckham House, and the Library to perform excerpts from notable titles accused of having scandalous content. Join the audience and decide whether you’re shocked at the performance or that the text was challenged in the first place.
Freedom of expression on campus - a conversation
MRU students and faculty weigh in on Freedom To Read Week and the privilege and price that comes with creating and consuming material in an open environment. What are the parameters of offensive material and how can we manage expectations and reduce harm while maintaining a commitment to intellectual freedom.
Sit back and relax in a 360-degree space that serves as an optimal setting for readings from popular books challenged for a variety of reasons including obscene language, sexual content, or storylines that spark political controversy. Take in the lineup selected by students, faculty and staff from across campus and see if you can put your finger on why they’ve been flagged as problematic.
Interested in taking home your own collection of banned or challenged books?
Current MRU students who attend the panel discussion on Thursday, February 28 will have a chance to enter in a draw to win a stack of new books to add to their personal book shelf.
