Freedom of Speech on College Campuses

There's been quite a bit of recent controversy about free speech on college campuses, and I share the concern. Students often object to college speakers whose views they reject. Members of the public sometimes express outrage if they dislike a college speaker.

When I was in college in the 1970's, schools routinely invited controversial speakers to campus. For example, I heard Julian Bond speak when I was a student at the very conservative College of William and Mary. Although he is a civil rights icon today, he was a controversial choice at the time. William Kunstler also spoke on our campus. Such controversial speakers are rarely heard on campus today. Many professors would welcome giving their students a chance to hear both sides of controversial issues. In the past, conservatives have objected not only to communist speakers, but also to people like civil rights leader Malcolm X. Liberals today sometimes object to conservative speakers. The problem is not universal; conservative Ken Starr spoke at USC Aiken's commencement last year. Still, how can students expect to understand our issues if they never get to hear leading advocates? President Obama recently advocated free speech on college campuses; so far, his advice seems to be largely unheeded.

Colleges are afraid that controversy will affect their fund-raising and state appropriations. Their concern is not unfounded. I do hope that colleges will become more willing to invite controversial speakers, but I equally hope that students, legislatures, donors, the public and the media will be more willing to cut colleges some slack when they do so. If a college invites Ward Churchill to speak, that does not necessarily mean that it endorses his views, but merely that the students should  know what his views are. If George Will speaks on campus, that, again, only means that students deserve a chance to hear his opinions. Both should be welcome on campus. Colleges reflect their societies, and I fear that our society has become less willing to hear open debate on controversial matters.

See my follow-up post.