TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — “You do not have the right to censor my child’s experience,” said a Union parent.

Tempers were flaring at the most recent Union school board meeting over whether or not a book should be taken off the library’s shelves.

“I’m here today to address the issue of book banning and to express support for the district,” said another parent.

In the memoir ‘Lucky’ by Alice Sebold, the author recounts being raped while in college. It’s the graphic nature of the incident at the center of the controversy.

“In a state with the highest rate of domestic violence in the nation and a sexual assault rate that’s 45% higher than the national average, there are going to be students that live this experience and could benefit from seeing themselves represented in literature,” said a parent.

There were more speakers in favor of keeping it than removing it.

“What we’re not understanding is that making books accessible in a library is not forcing a child to read them,” said another parent.

But on the flip side lies the argument of the merit of the scene in question.

“I don’t think it brings any artistic or complexity to the character it’s just there,” said attorney Maria Seidler of Legal Overwatch. She sent a letter to the Union school board reminding them that the state school board recently revised Accreditation Standards to limit the accessibility of books that could be deemed harmful to minors, with specific criteria about sexual content.

“When you start talking to me about you don’t have the right to censor my child’s experience I want to say the law does, and the law did it,” said Seidler.

Whether to stay on the shelf or not is, a question now taken to the state level that could soon override local sentiments.

“There are scenes in this book that might make some people uncomfortable. If that’s the case, don’t read it. Tell your children not to read it,” said a parent.

Union told News Channel 8, “Union Public Schools has long had a process for reviewing books that are called into question. Per our board policy, we plan to run ‘Lucky’ through that process.”