Literature Conference Explores How Open Books Open Minds

Over 100 members of the Middlesex College community attended the second annual Get Lit(-erature) Conference at Crabiel Hall on October 9 to hear professors in the College’s English department present the role of literature in our society throughout history and today. The purpose of the conference was to spark ideas, conversations, and insights along the way.

The conference was scheduled during Banned Books Week as a celebration of freedom of expression, free speech, and how those ideals can clash.

“What students seem to get out of this most was the impression that a college setting is the place to have a free and open exchange of ideas,” said English Department chair Mat Spano. “I got the sense from the students that they felt there were fewer and fewer spaces where they could have an open dialogue about ideas that matter to them. And I think they liked being there in-person to have these discussions.”

After a brief presentation about where literature played a strong role in shaping public opinion, the forum was open to questions from the crowd, with forward-thinking queries that centered on censorship, personal liberties and oppressed societies.

“Some of the questions, I was like, ‘Wow, I’m glad I’m not the one doing the presentation,’” laughed Spano.

Spano said the overwhelmingly positive response has the English department already thinking about a third conference next year, perhaps with a keynote speaker, members of the Rutgers University faculty, and inviting high school students to attend.

“Our first year was a hit and we thought maybe it was a fluke, but this year proved that the conference has got legs and there is real interest,” Spano said. “We have people from all over campus who want to contribute to this event.”

English Department professors Jacob Bender, Jessica D’Onofrio, Daniel Markowicz, Raymond Dademo, Mathew Siegel, Celia Winchester, Corinne Cavallo and Brian Shields all volunteered their time to be part of the conference.