Even the Professors Union Thinks David Horowitz Should be Allowed to Speak at Colleges!

Nick Gillespie | September 29, 2009

St. Louis University, a Catholic school, has stopped a David Horowitz appearance, claiming that the controversial speaker might offend Muslims:

"University officials expressed concern that the program in its current form could be viewed as attacking another faith and seeking to cause derision on campus," said a university statement. "Believing that this was not their intent, University officials offered the students several suggestions to modify their program in a way that could achieve their aims while remaining true to the university's Catholic, Jesuit mission and values. Among the suggestions was that the students engage scholars with expertise on historical and theological aspects of Islam to help prepare their program."

So far, this is SOP on a PC campus, right? What's interesting is that the American Association of University Professors, a leading union, is outspoken in Horowitz's speech rights:

Cary Nelson, national president of the American Association of University Professors, issued a statement on the association's Web site, denouncing the university in harsh terms.

"Now that Saint Louis University has cancelled a scheduled October speech by conservative activist David Horowitz, it joins the small group of campuses that are universities in name only," Nelson wrote.

"The free exchange of ideas is not just a comforting offshoot of higher education; it defines the fundamental nature of the enterprise. As the AAUP has long asserted, all recognized campus groups have the right to invite any speakers they wish. The College Republicans exercised that right. There should not have been a mechanism in place for the administration to review the offer to Horowitz and withdraw it. The administration's claim to support academic freedom has been hollowed out by the practical and symbolic effects of this one public act," said Nelson. "A campus that enforces ideological conformity supports indoctrination, not education."

That's about right. More here, from the invaluable Inside Higher Ed.

Jesse Walker and Horowitz debated academic freedom here.

Comments

John Tagliaferro|9.29.09 @ 9:32AM|#

St. Louis University, a Catholic school, has stopped a David Horowitz appearance, claiming that the controversial speaker might offend Muslims

I am convinced that the group in question comes pre-offended, from birth. Like the recent story of Palestinian Muslims having a big sissy-fit about a few Jews wanting to pray at an open place of worship. But I am not advocating banning Muslims from anything.

Second item. I think Nick misses MNG already this morning. Stories like this are like the Batsignal for him.

|9.29.09 @ 9:44AM|#

You know, in my day, we Catholics didn't worry so much about offending the Saracens.

Banana-eating Jungle Monkey|9.29.09 @ 9:51AM|#

I'm offended.

Anonymous|9.29.09 @ 10:18AM|#

Union? Of professors? Free speech?

boggleboggleboggleboggle

Russ 2000|9.29.09 @ 10:21AM|#

What's interesting is that the American Association of University Professors, a leading union, is outspoken in Horowitz's speech rights:

What's so interesting about it? They have zero responsibility/liability should problems arise. They will have zero backlash against them, no irritating phone calls, no fund raising problems, etc. What WOULD be interesting is the group opinion of an association of private college PRESIDENTS.

|9.29.09 @ 10:49AM|#

The professors figure they are in power now and can afford to be magnanimous. Besides, if they let him speak, he might say something they can use to pillory him during the show trials they have planned next spring.

JB|9.29.09 @ 10:54AM|#

Universities: we have no balls and every single Muslim is a savage beast that can't be trusted.

Now that's some higher learnin'!

dhex|9.29.09 @ 11:38AM|#

alternate take: david horowitz does come across as a total douchebag. i wouldn't necessarily want to invite him to my campus (presuming i had one), anymore than i'd want to invite creationists or truthers or other delusional types.

however, i don't think i'd go so far as to block it. sure, he's a total dink, and the term "islamo-fascist" is a red flag for idiocy, but it's college! idiocy and dinkitude are the order of the day. picking on horowitz only fuels his awesome martyrdom narrative.

NAL|9.29.09 @ 11:48AM|#

"I am convinced that the group in question comes pre-offended, from birth."

Muslim: "Just for that remark, you're on my Jihad list, Mister."

Michael Ejercito|9.29.09 @ 12:04PM|#

Would the school host a bigoted anti-Catholic speaker?

There is nothing in story to indicate that Mr. Horowitz was denied a speaking forum due to violent protests from students (likewhat happened to Tom Tancredo). The school may have a policy of not having speakers who would offend a religious group, be they Catholics or Muslims. You may disagree; it is much more respectable than giving in to violent protesters.

|9.29.09 @ 12:27PM|#

The school may have a policy of not having speakers who would offend a religious group, be they Catholics or Muslims.

If so, this is perfectly consistent with "A campus that enforces ideological conformity supports indoctrination, not education" which is rightfully condemned by the union.

cangrejos fantasmas|9.29.09 @ 12:39PM|#

"i wouldn't necessarily want to invite him to my campus (presuming i had one), anymore than i'd want to invite creationists or truthers or other delusional types."

What are the views he holds that you find delusional? (show your work)

John Tagliaferro|9.29.09 @ 12:53PM|#

Muslim: "Just for that remark, you're on my Jihad list, Mister."

Gun toting Italian: "Bring it on."

jtuf|9.29.09 @ 4:27PM|#

Every year I read more and more evidence that leaving academia was the right move.

the innominate one|9.29.09 @ 7:33PM|#

A friend of mine attended SLU for a year. During that time, one of his instructors mentioned either birth control or abortion in response to a question from a student (can't remember the exact detail) near the end of the class meeting. He was forced to apologize not only to his own class for the forbidden topic, but the following class, which had gathered outside and was within earshot of the the comment.

Russ 2000|9.29.09 @ 8:09PM|#

I thought this was fairly important:

"The university says that it cannot be said to have banned the talk because it was still in discussions with student groups about the issue when they [the student groups] decided not to continue the negotiations."

Sounds like the student groups and/or Horowitz had a hissy fit.

"But they are not free, in any university worthy of the name, to suppress a speaker because he is offensive and wrong."

Sure they are. It's called "property rights". I'm not surprised college professors don't grasp the concept. Their argument might have some merit at a public university, but SLU is a private school. A lesson the conservative student groups ought to understand.

Space Fiend|9.29.09 @ 10:40PM|#

I attend a similar Jesuit school [Creighton, in Nebraska] and I know we have a very similar policy, and many other Jesuit schools do too. Although in this case it affected a talk about Muslims, the reason these rules exist on a Catholic campus should be obvious: Catholics against Protestants. If you start allowing anyone to rant on an on about religion in an expressly Catholic environment, pretty soon you are the Catholic version of Bob Jones, with a litmus test of being a crazy zealot instead of an open, useful university.

It's a Catholic school. A private institution that supports itself through very high tuition. Get over it, Reason.

zoltan|9.29.09 @ 10:58PM|#

Is it one of those private institutions like Harvard that get a quarter of their funding from the government? I'd be surprised and satisfied if they were fully private.

|9.30.09 @ 6:39AM|#

Let the asshole speak. Let everybody hear what a tool he really is. Not doing so just perpetuates the myth that the schmuck actually has something worth saying...

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