It Is Not A University's Job To Squash Free Speech
The Feds are investigating charges of anti-semitism at UC Berkeley. Disgusting -- that they're "investigating" free speech, that is. I'm disgusted by anti-semitic speech, but I celebrate and defend people's right to voice it. From the LA Times.
The federal government is investigating charges that UC Berkeley officials fomented a hostile campus climate for Jewish students by failing to sufficiently tamp down anti-Israel protests.The U.S. Department of Education's civil rights office confirmed this week that it has launched an investigation into the charges, first filed in July by two recent Berkeley graduates. They complained that an annual "Apartheid Week" in February featuring protests against Israel's treatment of Palestinians was one of several campus events that have stoked anti-Semitic hate speech.
By failing to curb such activities, the university is presenting "a disturbing echo of incitement, intimidation, harassment and violence carried out under the Nazi regime and those of its allies in Europe against Jewish students and scholars ... during the turbulent years leading up to and including the Holocaust," the complaint alleges.
University spokesman Dan Mogulof rejected the allegations Wednesday, saying the campus protests were constitutionally protected speech and that officials had made extensive efforts to maintain a safe and inclusive climate. Among other things, he said, the university has set up a website for anonymous complaints, dispatched teams of students and administrators to monitor the campus climate and provided funding for Jewish and Muslim students to promote dialogue and coexistance.
He said U.S. District Court Judge Richard Seeborg recognized the university's actions last year in dismissing a complaint with similar allegations filed by the same students. A campus poll showed that 80% of Jewish students said they felt respected on campus, about the same proportion as Muslims, Mogulof said.
There are many times in my life that I have not felt respected. Even times I've felt hated -- and anti-semitically hated. If that hatred did not include violence or harm to or marring of private property (like when "Dirty Jew" was written on our garage door in shaving cream), it was free speech.
Again, the answer to speech you dislike is more speech.
I wonder who at the collge pissed off someone at justice.
Becuase had they squashed the protests they could be being investigated for the exact same charges they are being investigated for now
lujlp at October 4, 2012 4:30 AM
The problem comes when it morphs into threats and violence. Free speech, but have the University record it and deal, harshly, when the line is crossed. It will be.
markD at October 4, 2012 5:46 AM
*snort* It may not be their job, but it sure as hell is their Mission. Just ask any professional student what they think about any given topic from abortion to sending a postcard, doesn't matter if the subject is important or inane. The minute you disagree with them, they cry "Racist! Homophobe! Troglodyte! How Dare You! Have you no shame?!?!??!"
Kat at October 4, 2012 8:08 PM
Kat - sending a postcard - yep, that's me the "troglodyte"! Thanks for the laugh.
Charles at October 4, 2012 8:36 PM
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