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Diversity and Inclusion

Censoring Literature: Reading Justice in Banned Children's Books

KSUnite DEIB Conference Day 1 - November 14, 2022 - Breakout Sessions Period 2 (3:30pm-4:20pm)
Cottonwood Room

Aimed at students in the College of Education as well as those in the humanities and social sciences, this panel extends the work done at K-State to promote diversity and the accessibility of literature. As children's and young adult literature is often the target of censorship efforts, we will present relevant information on the subject of banned books and the importance of their contents. Ultimately, we believe that it's important to bring attention to challenged books because such texts contain transformative potentials that dominant groups want to suppress young readers from accessing. The texts we have chosen to discuss include issues such as police brutality and racism, as well as immigrant and LGBTQ+ identity children's literature. A dialogue between graduate students in the English department, our presentation provides a platform for the knowledges of marginalized identities through live readings as well as a moderated discussion. 

DEIB Challenge Level: Introductory

Panelists
Daniel Ireton (Moderator)
Associate Professor
Hale Library
 

Ashlyn Kullberg

Ashlynn Kullberg
Graduate Masters
English

Ashlyn is a second-year graduate student studying children's literature at K-State. Her interests primarily include children's film and television. She works as a graduate teaching assistant and Writing Center tutor. Outside of school and work, Ashlyn is a member of K-State's improv troupe On the Spot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie Liptak

Natalie Liptak
Graduate Masters
English

Natalie Liptak is an M.A. student in English and graduate teaching assistant at Kansas State University. She specializes in children’s and young adult literature, with additional emphasis on comparative literature. Natalie divides her time at K-State between teaching Expository Writing II and taking part in organizations such as the Children’s and Adolescent Literature Community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maggie Steuer

MaggieSteuer
Graduate Masters
English

Maggie is a first-year graduate student currently pursuing her MA in Children’s Literature at Kansas State University and serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Expository Teaching I. Maggie received her undergraduate degree in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University in the Spring of 2020 and hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan. In her research, she focuses on how womanhood and gender are perceived through adaptation studies. 

 

 

 

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