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Speaking out on hecklers and other noisy censors
This staff editorial in today's Michigan Daily shows that Michigan has been having some problems with heckling protesters rather akin to those that have made national news at Columbia--and that at least some students would like to see a more civil intellectual climate on campus:
Raymond Tanter, a former professor in the political science department who currently teaches at Georgetown University, delivered a talk a week and a half ago about the issues surrounding diplomacy with Iran. Better than anything Tanter said, however, attendees probably recall the actions of some pro-Palestinian activists who attended the event, which was sponsored by the American Movement for Israel.Citing the University's policy on freedom of speech and artistic expression, event organizers repeatedly asked that audience members pose questions respectfully and abide by the policy's guidelines. That policy permits heckling, but it forbids actions that unduly interfere with a lecturer's communication with the audience. Despite these requests, continued angry shouts triggered a domino effect that ended with multiple arrests and allegations of police brutality.
It is admirable that the University maintains a policy that attempts to preserve the free speech of speakers and dissenters alike. If fairly and correctly administered, that policy can avoid undue abridgements of expression while making removal of disruptive individuals a last resort. But though the policy is designed to mediate situations like this one, its application rarely ends up satisfying anyone.
Expressing opinions openly and passionately is a practice central to the goals of the University. But defining the difference between emotionally charged activism and outright disrespect that shuts down discussion shouldn't have to be contentious. Take, for instance, an unpopular event earlier this semester, the "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" sponsored by Young Americans for Freedom. Counter-protesters who considered the event racist drowned out the YAF chair's voice with chants whenever he tried to speak - giving ammunition to ideologues convinced that progressives are out to suppress any thought they deem politically incorrect.
Making one's case with intrusive shouts and unrelenting interruptions that seek to shut down an opposing view is, generally speaking, an unproductive means of making a point. The pro-Palestinian activists had every right to attend Tanter's event, ask tough questions and hold up signs - but the fracas that eventually played out probably hasn't done much to advance their cause.
The Daily editors are right about those policies on free expression and dissent--while every school has one, and has one because it needs one, it is nonetheless the case that the enforcement of the policy marks a disappointment and a failure--an event gone bad, a speaker shouted down, peaceful protest warped into the potential for riot. At the same time, though, not enforcing the policy--which is what Columbia is currently doing--is worse. It sends the message that the school takes neither its policies nor the delicate work of reasoned debate seriously, and invites others to emulate those who have heckled and disrupted and threatened and otherwise outdone themselves in the name of preventing certain views from being heard and discussed. Columbia needs to be reminded that strong enforcement is a form of deterrence -- and Michigan should be congratulated for the effort it has made to foster an environment that honors all views.
Posted by acta online at December 11, 2006 10:11 AM
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Comments
I applaud the editors of The Michigan Daily for their clear statement in favour of debate rather than disruption and discourtesy.
Posted by: Jacques Albert at December 12, 2006 06:54 AM
WARD CHURCHILL-ITES IN TRAINING
After the left-wing Neo-Nazi incidents at U-Michigan and Michigan State -- can it be any wonder that these things can happen in places that tolerate and promote psuedo-intellectual yahoo's like Ward Churchill?
Recall the loud, uncouth, and belligerant (sp?) way that WC, for eight years, disrupted the Columbus Day parade in Denver. And CU and the criminal justice system did nothing. Only after Psycho Ward finally got caught in his total phony American Indian thing and suspended by CU, was WC stopped on Columbus Day.
This is the left's fatal flaw. Americans believe in free speech. They also believe in fairness. Crudely shouting down others with legal parade permits is a final step before becoming the Hitler Youth Corps.
Posted by: L.H.H. at December 12, 2006 03:32 PM