American College Students Are Now More Horrified By Free Speech Than The Lack Of It
Quin Hillyer writes at NRO about the conniption fits by students at both Oberlin and Georgetown U because campus groups were hosting speeches by Christina Hoff Sommers, whom Hillyer correctly describes as "a strong critic of the radicalization of modern feminism."
At Georgetown, most disturbingly, the student newspaper (!!) led the charge against free speech:
Anyway, the first embarrassment came in the form of an editorial by the newspaper. Read it for yourself here. It's one of the worst pieces of drivel I've ever seen from a supposedly mainstream newspaper at an elite university. Called "No More Distractions," the paper's official position is that because Sommers at various times has questioned the accuracy of certain alleged statistics on the frequency of rape, she therefore should not have been invited to speak on campus. (Never mind that rape wasn't even the topic of her Georgetown speech.) The self-contradictions in the editorial were legion. Example one: "By giving Sommers a platform, GU [college Republicans have] knowingly endorsed a harmful conversation on the serious topic of sexual assault."If it's a serious topic, and it's a university (supposedly dedicated to the free flow of ideas), how, pray tell, can a "conversation" be harmful?
But, worse, the editors write that "giving voice" to someone who argues that the statistics are inflated (by the way, as horrific a crime as rape is, the reality is that Sommers is right about its incidence) will only "trigger obstructive dialogue." What sort of Orwellian double-speak is this? How can "dialogue" be "obstructive"? Perhaps a diatribe, in certain circumstances, might be seen as somehow obstructive, but a dialogue by its very nature serves to illuminate, not obstruct. The editors then proceed to instruct readers as to what sort of "conversation" we should be having: one that focuses on only one aspect of rape, and from only one perspective. Some conversation.
Yesterday's Onion
http://www.theonion.com/articles/college-encourages-lively-exchange-of-idea,38496/
College Encourages Lively Exchange Of Idea
Students, Faculty Invited To Freely Express Single Viewpoint
NEWS IN BRIEF • College • News • ISSUE 51•17 • Apr 27, 2015
BOSTON—Saying that such a dialogue was essential to the college’s academic mission, Trescott University president Kevin Abrams confirmed Monday that the school encourages a lively exchange of one idea. “As an institution of higher learning, we recognize that it’s inevitable that certain contentious topics will come up from time to time, and when they do, we want to create an atmosphere where both students and faculty feel comfortable voicing a single homogeneous opinion,” said Abrams, adding that no matter the subject, anyone on campus is always welcome to add their support to the accepted consensus. “Whether it’s a discussion of a national political issue or a concern here on campus, an open forum in which one argument is uniformly reinforced is crucial for maintaining the exceptional learning environment we have cultivated here.” Abrams told reporters that counseling resources were available for any student made uncomfortable by the viewpoint.
jerry at April 28, 2015 10:51 PM
Don't give up on the young people just yet. The (presumably) student comments attached to the Hoya article are running 43 to 0 in calling out the editorial board for running this tripe.
Canvasback at April 29, 2015 12:02 AM
Wonder if any of the career couselors at G-town have pointed out to the student journalists that places like the NYT are laying off employees? Either they can learn to deal with the real world (which contains loads of people who feel free to disagree with you), or, they can follow a path of unquestioning ideological purity, and enjoy a career which supports a life style of living on the couch in Mummy and Poppie's basement. That's an OK thing till Sis or Bro decide on the same career and life style, and someone has to sleep in a sleeping bag on the basement floor, or the parents retire, sell the house and move to Florida.
Wfjag at April 29, 2015 3:40 AM
By inviting people to speak who might posit a different view of the world, we come closer to having to grow up. That is right out.
drcos at April 29, 2015 5:13 AM
Don't give up on the young people just yet. The (presumably) student comments attached to the Hoya article are running 43 to 0 in calling out the editorial board for running this tripe.
Except that the 43 (at the time) commenters will probably end up in productive jobs.
The editorial board? in journalism. They'll be busy spiking stories they don't like. Fortunately, the alternative media sources will be able to short circuit that self-censorship, but don't expect them to pursue those stories too hard.
Oh, wait, just like nowadays. Nevermind, carry on.
I R A Darth Aggie at April 29, 2015 6:29 AM
"...a community that emphasizes care for the whole person."
Words that could easily have been spoken by Lenin, Castro, Guevara, et. al. This sentence gave me shivers.
bkmale at April 29, 2015 9:56 AM
In other words, "accept without question my side's premise and limit any discussion solely to ideas based on that premise."
That's a very juvenile and naive position to take. "Do it my way!"
If the statistical underpinnings of your premise are flawed, then your entire construct is legitimately open to discussion. That's what a real "open discussion" is.
Conan the Grammarian at April 29, 2015 1:19 PM
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