Universities After October 7: The Role of Title VI

Panel discussion at the NYU Federalist Society Chapter

On October 15, I spoke on a panel at the NYU Federalist Society with Ken Marcus of the Brandeis Center. We discussed the role that Title VI plays on college campuses in the wake of October 7. It was a thoughtful and informative event, with no disruptions. Alas, at the very end, after the event concluded, several students started chanting "Free Palestine" as they exited the room. Whatever.

I am grateful to the NYU Chapter for hosting us.

Comments

[Malika the Maiz]

Not sure why the “alas,” sounds like they engaged in proper speech (after the event concluded). From a free speech perspective, kudos seems more appropriate than alas.

[David Nieporent]

I mean, I agree that they weren't being disruptive (given the description of events provided by Blackman) and thus don't deserve to be punished or anything, but one can still lament that people are lawfully chanting things. If they were, instead, waving swastika banners and chanting "Heil Hitler," don't you think that it might merit an "alas"?

[SimonP]

"Free Palestine" is hardly comparable to swastika banners and chanting "Heil Hitler."

Never mind that Josh is complaining about a glimmer of permitted protest occurring on the periphery of his attention. Protest no doubt calculated to comply with updated policies and heavier-handed enforcement by university administrators designed to limit and constrain that kind of protest. At an event dedicated to brainstorming new ways to push universities to clamp down on pro-Palestinian speech.

[TwelveInchPianist]

"'Free Palestine' is hardly comparable to swastika banners and chanting “Heil Hitler."

They are in the sense that they both are things that on might respond "alas" to.

[Malika the Maiz]

And the Pork and Beans War and WWII are both things one might respond alas to!

[TwelveInchPianist]

Point?

[David Nieporent]

“Free Palestine” is hardly comparable to swastika banners and chanting “Heil Hitler.”

YMMV, but I didn't say it was. I was citing a hypothetical that I assume all but a couple of the trolls here would agree with to illustrate that one can reasonably say "Alas" even about people who weren't disrupting an event.

[John F. Carr]

Free Palestine? I'll take one!

I'm glad to hear they were not disruptive like so many of their allies.

[Da5id]

I'm not on the protestors side. But as the first two posters said, this seems like a *good* example of free speech that doesn't suppress or curtail other's ability to get their message out. Doesn't seem like any harm done here?

[Sarcastr0]

If one doesn't like the content of the speech, an 'alas' in response to even nondisruptive speech seems fine.

[Da5id]

I guess. He was raising it as if it was an issue of some sort.

[Sarcastr0]

Not the clearest to figure what he was going for, agreed.