TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Sigma Tau Delta collaborated with Troy University Libraries to hold its annual Banned Books Read-in on Wednesday.

The event highlighted stories that continue to be censored and challenged and worked to show the power in preserving those stories. 

“I don’t believe you can have literacy without reading challenging material,” said Emma Arnold, President of Sigma Tau Delta.

“Reading banned books, reading books that make us uncomfortable allow us to develop a better understanding of people who we may not think we have a lot in common with.” 

Students read excerpts from books and poems like “Fahrenheit 451” and “The Great Gatsby.”

THROWBACK: Kate Gaskin returns to campus to celebrate the release of her newest book

One student, James McClure, took a different approach by reading a letter from Kurt Vonnegut to Drake High School, whose school board head ordered copies of his book Slaughterhouse-Five to be burned. 

“I felt like Kurt Vonnegut wrote a very impassioned, logical, poignant letter that very much exemplifies how to deal with those who are less accepting of other people’s opinions and other people’s works,” McClure said. 

India Wilson is a student that originally went to the read-in for extra credit, but said that in the end, she got more out of it than what she was expecting. 

“One thing that I learned was that The Bible was a banned book,” Wilson said. “I did not know that the bible was a banned book, and I think that really shows that all of these niche books or niche ideas are being banned, when that’s not true—it’s definitely widespread information.” 

Both McClure and Wilson are education majors, and both saw the importance of bringing awareness of banned books to students in the classroom. 

CAMPUS COVERAGE: Iran War Roundtable discusses ongoing conflict, potential repercussions

“If children learn about the negative effects of banning books and restricting our opinions and the positive effects of thinking outside the box, seeing life through other peoples’ lenses, I think we produce a better society,” McClure said. 

“I think kids should be introduced to ideas, stuff that they’re going to need to know to grow up, Taking that away from them isn’t going to help them in the long run,” Wilson said. 

The event gave away banned books as well throughout the event. 

According to USA Today, nearly 12,000 books were banned in the previous school year nationwide. TrojanVision will have more banned book week coverage in the coming days. You can read the entirety of Vonnegut’s letter to Drake High School here.