You know those bastions of free speech, political discourse, and opposing viewpoints? Those physical locations spread throughout our great country that are welcoming of all opinions and have an undying love for diversity of thought? You know what I’m talking about right?
Of course I’m referring to college campuses. In theory, our college campuses are supposed to tolerate and encourage discussions – especially on contentious topics. And like venereal disease, ideas are meant to freely fly back and forth between all students on the campus. However, in practice, modern day college campuses seem to tolerate the free exchange of VD much more than they do the free exchange of ideas.
Take for example Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There was supposed to be a town hall meeting on the constitutionality of the health care reform bill today on Carroll’s campus. However, in a last minute show of tolerance and diversity, the school disallowed the public discussion, which featured Independence Institute Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence Rob Natelson. Of course it’s difficult to keep a story straight when no one can agree on the terms of refusal, so school administrators are offering a couple of different excuses.
The Director of Student Activities offered their stance on public speakers at one point,
Where the perspective of the speaker, program or event might appear to be in opposition to the mission statement of the College or is so controversial as to arouse emotions or create unnecessary turmoil, the academic department or faculty organization proposing the event will consult with appropriate members of the college community before extending the initiation.
Then the Executive Director for Advancement said,
It really is a matter of timing.
Then they both kind of resorted to the timing issue, citing the lack of time they had to put the request through the proper channels, how the room was already reserved for someone else, yada yada yada…. Then the answer most aligned with the truth came out:
For many reasons it was decided that this event does not fit into our Carroll Mission. … The Committee was very worried that the ‘Town Hall Meeting’ would look much like scenes we have seen on T.V. across the nation the last few months.
BINGO. In other words, entirely too much debate + entirely too many differing views + an unapproved stance on health care = typical campus hypocrisy. It fits quite well with the overall college campus view of free speech, “we love free speech, just as long as we agree with it.” In the end, Rob Natelson was denied the opportunity to present the view that the health care reform crammed down our throats passed by Congress and signed by President Obama is in fact, unconstitutional. Too bad Carroll College denied their students the chance to hear one of the country’s best law professors and legal minds argue a point that currently 18 state Attorneys General agree with.
Fortunately diversity of opinion still matters in some places. Research director Dave Kopel will be provided the opportunity to argue in favor of state’s rights and AG Suther’s lawsuit citing the unconstitutionality of health care reform in just under two weeks time. We would like to thank the Boulder County ACLU and CU-Boulder for coming together to arrange a forum for Dave to debate former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Jean Dubofsky on this incredibly important issue. It’s a wonderful thing that CU-Boulder students and the general public will not be shielded from the free exchange of ideas and diversity of opinion.
