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The Freedom to Read: The Truth About Banned Books
By Alyx Sabina Senior Staff Writer
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Imagine.
It’s library day for the class. Everyone’s sitting “criss-cross applesauce” on a colorful rug, knee to knee with their classmates, excited as the librarian picks a book off the shelf and starts reading. What happens when children no longer have this luxury? Wondering, where did all of the books go? They’re on the banned book shelf. Most children are taught to read at a very young age. These stories captivate young minds and teach lessons along the way. However, some of the most memorable books have been removed from shelves. Even some of the most recognizable books, such as “Captain Underpants,” “The Lorax,” “The Giving Tree” and “Charlotte’s Web” have been banned or challenged in various locations for numerous reasons. Those in favor of banned books argue it is for the safety of the children reading them while others call it by its name: censorship. Andrew Soliven, the coordinator of library reference and instruction at Rose State College, is an ardent defender of banned books. “That’s censorship, and that goes against everything that librarians work for and strive for,” he said. The American Library Association has been vocal in their defense of banned books. In what they call “The Freedom to Read Statement,” the ALA explains.
“The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. Private groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label ‘controversial’ views, to distribute lists of ‘objectionable’ books or authors and to purge libraries.”–an excerpt from “The Freedom to Read Statement” In 2005, a children’s book titled “King and King” was challenged by many Oklahoma legislators, calling for the book to be banned from the children’s section of the library. The book tells the story of a prince who falls in love with another prince. Because of its LGBTQ influences, they argued it wasn’t appropriate reading material for children.
-Andrew Soliven
“They wanted to ban it completely from the library system,” Soliven said. “Instead, the library system kept the book, but it was placed on a shelf that was really high called the ‘family talk section.” The majority of banned or challenged books usually involve topics that make the reader feel uncomfortable. For example, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee deals with racial injustice and the demolition of innocence. This book is banned in at least four states. “This next generation, how are they going to learn from what’s happened in the past without reading these books?” Soliven asked.
Generally, when a book is challenged by an individual or an entity at a K-12 public school district, the complaint goes through the district, and they decide either to ban the book or keep it. Rose State has made it a goal to ensure academic Freedom for all students.
“I’ve been at Rose State for about five years, and there hasn’t been one instance where I have had an issue with banned books,” Soliven said. Book banning carries serious implications for future generations who not only need these stories to read but to help them confront trauma and blossom as human beings. “It’s taking away opportunities for them to read something and identify with it,” Soliven said. “Stories are important. You feel like you’re not alone in the world when you read something you relate to.”
A view of the library at Rose State College. Many books that are banned elsewhere in the state can be found here. (Photo by: Michael Palacios)
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HUNGER, from Page 1
only state facing inflation right now, America as a whole is struggling to keep its citizens fed. In 2021, 53 million Americans accessed food banks, according to Feeding America (2022). That’s 1 in 5 size Americans. Adrien Brewer, a fine arts major, shared some of her own experiences with benefiting from food programs. “When I was in high school I was in the backpack meal program,” Brewer said. “They would put things like peanut butter, mac and cheese - lots of food that you could just add water to.” When a child struggles with food insecurity, this can create a ripple effect later in life as an adult. “I grew up in a situation where money was tight,” Brewer said. “If I have the means to, I would love to help others who are also in that
Eliana Williams, a fine arts major, and Dustyn Guzman, a psychology major, are the front office aids at the Diversity Center. (Photo by: Valerie Scott)
type of situation. I think compassion like that is a beautiful thing.”
Rose State campus offers a food pantry and sack lunches for any and all students. The program began in 2018 with Dr. Monique Bruner as the head of operations. Located inside the University Center, students can pick from the selection of frozen foods, canned goods, toiletries (including diapers), premade lunches, snacks, school supplies and household items such as cups and bowls.
Eliana Williams, fine arts major, and Dustyn Guzman, psychology major, are the people who will greet you at the doors of the University Center. Students must first sign in using their name and student ID. After this, students are allowed a certain amount of food per day. The diversity group also has a clothing donation program where students are allowed to select five items per category, including shoes and office wear.
- Adrien Brewer
“Our clothing closet is also great because we are able to help students who have an interview or if they just need a jacket,” Williams said. “We get several donations to our closet.”
The student-run diversity club has recently implemented toiletries and healthcare products to the campus bathrooms. “We also go around campus and stalk up the bathrooms with tampons, pads, condoms, perfumes, and lotions,” Williams said. “Twice a month we get food and supply trucks that come in so we’re always stalked on our items.” Outside of Rose State, there are several local food pantries as well. For those who live close to campus, Midwest City has a Mid-Del Food Pantry on Midwest Boulevard and Reno Avenue. This pantry is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Unfortunately, food insecurity has been a conversation several kept in the dark. However, there are a couple of options to help out when facing the struggle of keeping yourself, and possibly your family fed as well.
New Program Inspires Next Generation of Teachers
By Jeremiah Cockroft
Graphics Editor
Rose State College has announced it’s taking part in The OK Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive Program, known as “Inspire to Teach.” The program addresses the teacher shortage in the state of Oklahoma that has affected education for several years. The goal is to find and educate new teachers to work in schools across the state. The program passed through legislation in 2022 and is now available for use by students through colleges. “It’s a great way to get your education paid for, but more than anything, to make a difference in children’s lives,” said professor Joetta Gatliff. Students who take part in the program are given the opportunity to earn scholarships and benefits up to $25,000 for pre-education majors.
After filling out the application, students will receive the first check for $500 two weeks after and $1,000 each following academic year. After 90 credit hours, students will earn $2,500 a year to help with the cost of living. After completing the program and the first year of teaching, the new teachers will receive $4,000 for five years, which could be used to pay off student debts. The program has no limits on how many people can apply and no application deadline. If a student in the program wants to change what college they are going to, their credits are automatically transferred over if the college has an articulation agreement with Rose State. Other colleges participating in the program include The University of Oklahoma, The University of Central Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “I love it that we get to touch children’s lives and have children touch our lives in such unique ways,” said Gatliff, “because every time you’re around a child you learn something new and you see the world differently through their eyes.” For more information, email Gatliff at jgatliff@ rose.edu, or stop by the Social Sciences Office.
New Food, New Retail Comes to Midwest City
By Katrina Crumbacher
Assistant Editor
Business is booming in Midwest City, and according to Robert Coleman, the city’s economic development director, it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. “Midwest City has welcomed 22 new businesses thus far in 2022,” Coleman said, “which is three more than what was seen during the same period last year and about five more than what the city has averaged for the same time frame over the last decade.” Enclosed within the just over 24 square miles that make up Midwest City, more and more companies are finding their way to the eighth most populous city in Oklahoma. “Since municipalities are reliant on sales tax revenue for operations, it is vitally important we continue to invite new commercial development in Midwest City,” Mayor Matt Dukes provided in a statement. “This also supplies our citizens with the amenities to keep them in Midwest City.”
As many have noticed, renovations of the old JCPenney location on 29th Street are currently underway. Once Mathis Brothers’ new concept store opens, it is expected to create 70 jobs, bring in around $20 million in revenue and attract more than 115,000 new customers to Midwest City. “We have over a $4 million
-Robert Coleman
HTeaO in Midwest City holds grand opening. It is located off 15th Street. (Photo By: Zak Royka)
leakage in furniture sales that leaves this community,” Coleman said. “We’ve got a furniture rental store or two, and we’ve got three mattress stores. We don’t have a full-service furniture store.” Several new restaurants have opened or will soon be opening along 15th Street, such as HTeaO, which opened on September 25th, Teriyaki Madness and Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food.
“We’re averaging probably somewhere in the neighborhood of four to five new restaurants per year,” Coleman said. “Some will close, some have closed, and they’re quick to be picked up by somebody else that comes along. I think restaurant growth will always be there, and as Tinker Air Force Base expands, it will only increase.” Tacos 4 Life will also be opening in the former Pei Wei location on 29th Street. In partnership with Feed My Starving Children, Tacos 4 Life donates 24 cents of every taco, bowl, quesadilla, salad or nachos sold. “Tacos 4 Life is a pretty interesting concept,” Coleman said. “We ran into them about four or five years ago. They weren’t quite ready to come into our market, but they wanted to be in Town Center Plaza. When one door closes, another one opens.”
It’s not just food and retail that have their sights set on Midwest City. A food processing facility may be finding a home on the outskirts of the city near 36th Street. Coleman said they will bring about 90 jobs, a $20 million investment and a 65,000-squarefoot facility into one of the poorest areas of the city.
“If we’re going to keep attracting the restaurants that everybody asks for and the retail that everybody wants,” Coleman said, “we have got to make sure there are jobs in our community where people have disposable income so they can buy those things, so they can go out, so they can go to the movie theater.” For more information regarding new local businesses and restaurants, the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce frequently announces grand openings on its Facebook page.
MAPS Senior Wellness Centers are Well Underway
By Michael Palacios
Photo Editor
Th e MAPS initiative is giving senior citizens more places to connect and engage in community activities by developing two new senior wellness centers. Th ese new centers have been designed to revitalize older communities that are often left behind because of their age.
Despite unexpected delays, the construction of the two new centers have progressed by leaps and bounds. “Th e wellness centers should be complete by February of 2023,” said MAPS Program Manager David Todd. Previous projections for the completion of the senior wellness centers were aiming for fall 2022. Th ese centers will off er community members ages 50 and older with opportunities to participate in programs that will off er physical health and creative expression. “Making friends at my age is hard,” said Eartha Wigfall, a member at Healthy Living and Fitness. “Here, I have folks that want to listen. Spending time at Healthy Living, I’ve been learning how to paint … I have never painted in my life; it’s fun.” Members fi nd themselves in a diverse community.
Some of the activities provided at the new facilities will come equipped with all-inclusive exercise rooms, large gymnasiums with basketball and pickleball courts and heated swimming pools. Th e centers will also include art rooms, culinary kitchens meant for instruction and rooms designed to off er classes like group fi tness, art rooms and culinary kitchens meant for instruction. Th e centers will create a space for the middle-aged and elderly to spend leisure time, as well. Th e surrounding areas will have gardens and pathways for the members to relax and enjoy.
Th e centers are currently fi nishing construction and will serve as an expansion to the already established senior wellness centers to create a citywide outreach for the elderly to connect and fi nd inclusive hobbies. Memberships for those interested will begin at $30 per month but are subject to change depending on age and fi nancial status to aid with aff ordability. Two senior wellness
-Eartha Wigfall
centers have already been completed as part of the MAPS 3 plan. Th e fi rst center is located at 11501 N. Rockwell Ave. Operated by Healthy Living and Fitness. Th e second is Th e Pete White Health and Wellness Center located at 4021 S. Walker Ave. and is operated by Health and Wellness OKC. Th e third will also be a senior wellness center run by Langston University. It will be located at NE 36th Street and Lincoln Boulevard and is expected to be complete by February 2023. Th e fourth and fi nal senior wellness center will be located at 13660 S. Western Ave. in cooperation with YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City helping aid in the operation of the facility. Th is center is also scheduled to be completed by February 2023. Th e MAPS project has a goal of strengthening the economy of the Oklahoma City landscape. Funding for the wellness centers, in particular, were drawn from both MAPS 3 and MAPS 4 implementation plans.
With two centers already in service, the MAPS 3 initiative has provided a projected $55.5 million in order to construct these much needed senior wellness centers. Th e goal of the MAPS project is to strengthen the economy of the Oklahoma City landscape; and it’s doing just that.
Construction of the MAPS project continues with two new senior wellness centers. (Photo by: Michael Palacios)
