Is this evidence of an attack on free speech?

[All Tell]

LINK

 

Should the government intervene?

[Jumper_Dad]

Yes, it is.

No, the government should not, the University should have the guts to do it themselves.

[Voice of Reason]

I agree that the university should not be cancelling speakers over protesters. The one caveat is if you are convinced there is a safety issue, then I can understand but I think every effort should be made to make sure a vocal minority does not get their way. That is becoming far, far too prevalent today in many situations. If I am one of the protesters, I don't want it cancelled. I want the opportunity for a large protest to show what people's feelings truly are and that is actually a majority, not a small minority, that is opposed to the speaker.

[capt278]

It is absolutely an attack on free speech.

[Clyde]

It's another example of how we only want to listen to what we like instead of listening to the "other side" and getting an idea of where they are coming from and determining the validity of their stance.

 

I get why the school wanted to avoid the headache and possible problems brought on by their own students. In an ideal world they let her speak but I get today's mentality of avoiding embarrassing publicity due to your students.

[All Tell]

Would the school be better served making a strong statement that the right to speak will be honored and those that violently oppose it will be prosecuted?

[plantmanky]

I agree that the university should not be cancelling speakers over protesters. The one caveat is if you are convinced there is a safety issue, then I can understand but I think every effort should be made to make sure a vocal minority does not get their way. That is becoming far, far too prevalent today in many situations. If I am one of the protesters, I don't want it cancelled. I want the opportunity for a large protest to show what people's feelings truly are and that is actually a majority, not a small minority, that is opposed to the speaker.

 

If the protesters are creating a safety issue, would they really be protesters at that point?

[capt278]

It's another example of how we only want to listen to what we like instead of listening to the "other side" and getting an idea of where they are coming from and determining the validity of their stance.

 

I get why the school wanted to avoid the headache and possible problems brought on by their own students. In an ideal world they let her speak but I get today's mentality of avoiding embarrassing publicity due to your students.

 

Just more placating of the "tolerant" whiners that are the most intolerant of all.

[All Tell]

This article gives a surprisingly (since it's CNN) balanced view of the issue:

 

LINK

 

They admit it's mostly conservative voices that are shut down.

 

They give the example of Bernie Sanders speaking at Liberty University where no protests occurred.

 

My view is that until the nutjobs on both sides are jailed it will continue. Protest all you want but as soon as you actively prevent someone form entering a venue you should be arrested. As son as you disrupt a speaker with heckling you should be given 1 warning then you should be escorted out. If you act in any way shape or form violently of commit acts of vandalism you should be arrested.

[Clyde]

Just more placating of the "tolerant" whiners that are the most intolerant of all.

 

No argument but if the leaders think there is a decent or better chance of violence or property destruction then I'm cool with them going that route. They do have to look out for people's kids. No easy solution.

[All Tell]

No argument but if the leaders think there is a decent or better chance of violence or property destruction then I'm cool with them going that route. They do have to look out for people's kids. No easy solution.

 

So just cave to the anarchists?

[Clyde]

So just cave to the anarchists?

 

If I'm the leader of a university I have to look at the impact on the entire school.

[All Tell]

If I'm the leader of a university I have to look at the impact on the entire school.

 

And if that impact is to shut down an open expression of ideas that's OK with you?

 

Maybe all political speech should be banned on college campuses since one side seems to be the most impacted.

[Clyde]

And if that impact is to shut down an open expression of ideas that's OK with you?

 

Maybe all political speech should be banned on college campuses since one side seems to be the most impacted.

 

Is it your belief that the right to speak on the campus should outweigh the safety of the community? Is it black and white to you?

[capt278]

Is it your belief that the right to speak on the campus should outweigh the safety of the community? Is it black and white to you?

 

It is a state funded school. Should the state be deciding that only Left wing speech is allowed on campus? First Amendment issues?

 

I fully understand safety concerns. Seems the university should pony up for more security, IMHO.