Universities admit to purge of books to protect students

An investigation has found that universities in the United Kingdom have removed books from reading lists to protect students from ‘challenging’ content, reports The Telegraph.

Essex and Sussex admitted removing texts from study lists after freedom of information (FOI) requests were issued to 140 UK universities by The Times. The universities are thought to be the first in the UK that have purged books altogether. Another eight universities, including from the prestigious Russell Group, said they had made texts optional in case they caused harm to students.

Essex University has “removed permanently” the novel The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead, over concerns about graphic depictions of slavery. And Sussex University has axed the classic play Miss Julie, by August Strindberg, because it includes a discussion about suicide.
Full report on The Telegraph site