Also, it's by hearing ideas you disagree with -- and, in fact, knowing the other side's arguments and information better than they do (per Christopher Hitchens) -- that you sharpen your own arguments and win debates

Nobody debates politics anymore. They lecture and harangue.

Well, why should they debate? the proggies are on the right side of history, are virtuous, and have good intentions.

Anyone opposed is obviously a mass murderer rethuglikkkan, and kicks puppies for fun. They should not only be crushed, but disposed of as well.

Also, it's by hearing ideas you disagree with -- and, in fact, knowing the other side's arguments and information better than they do (per Christopher Hitchens) -- that you sharpen your own arguments and win debates

That's assuming sharpening one's arguments and winning debates is the goal. If your attitude is "it's us versus them," then defeating "them," by whatever means, is the goal, and silencing your opponents is a lot easier than debating them.

"We asked for freedom of the press, thought, and civil liberties in the past because we were in the opposition and needed these liberties to conquer. Now that we have conquered, there is no longer any need for such civil liberties." Nikolai Bukharin

Eh, depends. Not all view points are worth considering. All should have the legal right to express themselves. Not all need to be invited to speak at universities.

Not knowing who the club was considering, I can't say.

Eh, depends. Not all view points are worth considering. All should have the legal right to express themselves. Not all need to be invited to speak at universities. ~ NicoleK at June 11, 2019 10:35 AM

But who gets to decide who is worthy of an invitation? If a student club wants to invite someone and use its allotted student funds and space for the speech or debate, does the university administration have veto power if it deems the speaker "unworthy?" What standard is applied? And is it applied equally to all speakers?

Anyone opposed is obviously a mass murderer rethuglikkkan, and kicks puppies for fun. They should not only be crushed, but disposed of as well. ~ I R A Darth Aggie at June 11, 2019 8:07 AM

Closed-minded rhetoric happens on both sides of the political aisle, Darth. Like "rethuglican," "libtard" is awfully over-used these days.

An obvious solution is for such students to NOT ATTEND lectures they don't like. Yeah, I know, radical. How many students have ever even attended a guest lecture? I never did. Not once. Remained pretty much unaware that such even existed. I bet these students don't attend such lectures either. They simply cannot abide that alternate views even exist.

As to debate, what has happened with debate club is that it has been thugified, where the team that is loudest and shouts down the other team wins. I kid you not. And students refuse to take the side opposed to their viewpoint, even if they sign up for debate.

When I was in College the student senate voted on which clubs got money to spend and recognition. That's who decides. There isn't infinite money, so a group of people was voted in to make these decisions.

I notice that a lot of these people are sensitive toward themselves while being insensitive toward others.

Has anyone noticed that these woke people behave like the religious right did?

Twenty years, I attended a pair of education institutions that had fairly decent academic reputations but were pushing progressive ideologies. Now they are run by dictatorial leftist ideologues and the quality of the teaching and content is in the dumpster.
I get mailings trying to play up a non existent sense of loyalty to toxic institutions that back then loathed my white maleness and now hates it, demanding donations so they can continue to warp young minds.
I return the SASE to them, empty.