George Orwell . novel “1984” will be the focus of an event about censorship hosted by University of Wisconsin-Stout . Menard Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovation.
The free, virtual event is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, on Microsoft Teams. For an event invitation email Menard Center Director Tim Shiell, shiellt@uwstout.edu. The conversation is open to all with access to Teams.
The event coincides with national Banned Books Week Sunday, Sept. 27, to Saturday, Oct. 3.
The impacts of Orwell . futuristic work, published in 1948, will be discussed by James Tager. He is deputy director of free expression research and policy at , which helps protect free expression in the U.S. and is part of a worldwide network.
The novel has been controversial because of its political and social themes and sexual content, resulting in being banned by numerous organizations over the years.
Tager, who has a law degree from Harvard, will be followed by professors Rickie-Ann Legleitner, English and philosophy, discussing the use of banned books in her classes; and Laura McCullough, chemistry and physics, talking about her research on the silencing and censorship of women in STEM fields.
Co-sponsors of the event are the Literature Committee and the University Library.
In December, the Menard family, Wisconsin natives and owners of a Midwestern chain of home improvement stores, donated $2.36 million to Stout University Foundation for the center, and it was renamed. The center was established in 2017 with a donation from the Charles Koch Foundation.
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