On Wednesday at Thompson Hall, students had the opportunity to listen to scenes from a collection of banned books as part of the NCSU Libraries celebration of Banned Books Week.

During “Red, White, and Banned,” a number of students from the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society performed scenes from several books that are considered banned, including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Harry Potter, The Outsiders, and more.

According to Leanna Hall, a sophomore in microbiology, a banned book is a book “deemed unfit for a reading community for reasons that can be anything from sexual content to witchcraft or offensive language.”

Marian Fragola , director of program planning and outreach for NCSU Libraries, said the goal of this event is to empower the student body with knowledge.

“Words and books are powerful, and because of that power, people throughout history have tried to stop other people from reading or having access to works they find objectionable,” Fragola said. “Today’s students should not take their freedom to read what they choose for granted because challenges are made to books every year.”

Jillian Varner , a senior in economics, is president of the Alpha Psi Omega fraternity. She said that her group chose to get involved because the topic resonated with them.

“The idea of censorship strikes a particularly personal chord with us,” Varner said. “As actors and artists, what we constantly strive for is to express our unique perspectives in a way that lets us connect with other people.”

Diana Quetti , a sophomore in communications, performed a monologue from the book The Outsiders by S.E . Hinton. Her scene occurred at the end of the book when the character Ponyboy reflects on the violence between young teenage boys.

“The Outsiders was appealing to me, due to an impactful truth behind the writing,” Quetti said. “I believe part of the reason why this book was challenged was due to the fact that people didn’t want to hear the truth about violence involving such young people.”

Quetti said that her piece is a perfect example of the importance of spreading banned books.

“Most literature is challenged if it speaks of a truth that some feel observers are not ready for,” Quetti said. “The irony of this concept is that many argue that the truth represented in these works are the most impactful of any writing.”

Quetti also said that she hopes the student body can be inspired by the event.

“Showcasing examples of the impact of banned books may inspire students to push the envelope in their own developing writing, or expand an interest level in other literature,” Quetti said.

Lizzy Ozamiz , a senior in textile engineering, performed a song from the musical adaptation of the banned book Wicked.

“I think these performances may surprise some students and maybe even encourage them to go read some of these books,” Ozamiz said.

She said that this event has hopefully shone some light on this important area of society.

“I hope students will gain an appreciation for the freedom we have to read what we want to read,” Ozamiz said. “There are still some communities that don’t allow people to read certain books, and I think we need to be proud that we have that right.”

Hall said that the freedom that the event represents is especially appealing.

“To me as an actress, I am thankful for the literature I have been exposed to, because it helps to broaden the imagination and expand one’s knowledge of the physical and fictional worlds surrounding them,” Ozamiz said.

Fragola said that some of her most cherished books have been the targets of bans.

“Some of the books most important to me when I was growing up, and books that I love as an adult, have been among the most frequent targets of challenges,” Fragola said. “I feel lucky that I have had the opportunity to read these books and decide for myself what I think about them.”

Varner said that the fact that these banned books can be celebrated is what differentiates our society from others.

“By banning books and other forms of art, we’re silencing the voices that give our society its humanity,” Varner said.