Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
An editorial in the Wellesley College student newspaper that called for "shutting down" some forms of hateful rhetoric became the latest flashpoint in a contentious national debate over free speech and its limits on college campuses.
The editorial, published Wednesday in the Wellesley News, argues that the campus community will "not stand for hate speech, and will call it out when possible."
"Shutting down rhetoric that undermines the existence and rights of others is not a violation of free speech; it is hate speech," the editorial states. "The spirit of free speech is to protect the suppressed, not to protect a free-for-all where anything is acceptable, no matter how hateful and damaging."
The editorial was widely criticized on social media as antithetical to the free exchange of ideas that is critical in a democracy and in liberal arts education. It comes as colleges across the country are wrestling with how to protect free speech in an era of trigger warnings, safe spaces, and even assaults on incendiary speakers invited to campuses.
Free speech for all. Unless they disagree with us on something...
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Monday April 17 2017, @04:53PM (2 children)
The guy is a painted clown and attention seeking nobody but keeps trying to claim he was instrumental in getting trump elected. His articles were lazy and degenerated into a dumb rant and his speeches were nothing more than circus side shows specifically tailored to get a rise out of people.
If he were coming to my campus I'd just ignore him. He wasn't inciting violence. Just diarrhea of the mouth. But no. Lets start a real circus for the clown to revel in.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday April 17 2017, @04:57PM
It doesn't matter what Milo is. Shutting him down with violence or threats thereof should be prosecuted.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Monday April 17 2017, @05:55PM
If he were coming to my campus I'd just ignore him.
Or even just picket outside the auditorium or something. But no, these guys have to be in the audience shouting him down. Really quite rude to the campus bureaucrats who were trying to host the thing, too.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"