Most universities and colleges today are radioactive wastelands of hard-Left indoctrination, in which only one point of view — the Leftist one — is allowed to be expressed. Any others are vilified, demonized, and often forcibly silenced. This happens at universities and colleges large and small, from the University of California Berkeley to the University at Buffalo and Saint Anselm College. These aren’t centers of higher learning; they’re recruitment centers for Antifa. They should be denied all public funding that they may receive. In the meantime, this bill is a good start.
“Ohio bill would block universities from disinviting controversial speakers,” by Amanda Tidwell, College Fix, September 4, 2017:
A pair of Republican state lawmakers in Ohio seek to block university officials from disinviting speakers based on any potential negative reactions or protests the guests might prompt.
It’s one aspect of a Campus Free Speech Act that also aims to eliminate so-called free speech zones in an attempt to open up First Amendment activities campuswide.
Republican Reps. Wesley Goodman and Andrew Brenner announced the act in a press conference Tuesday at the Ohio statehouse. The lawmakers seek to protect the First Amendment rights of students at public universities across the state as well as promote and protect intellectual diversity.
The act, expected to be introduced in the Ohio House in coming weeks, aims to prohibit administrators from taking action “that limits or chills the expression of any member of the campus community or their invited guests based on the content of the expression,” according to a news release from Goodman.
It would prevent “heckler’s vetoes” by “prohibiting universities from disinviting speakers based on the potential reaction, opposition, offense, or irritation taken to that speaker’s expression,” it adds.
“Americans are growing increasingly concerned about the level of openness of debate on Ohio’s college campuses,” Rep. Goodman told The College Fix via e-mail. “People can only be truly free if they are allowed to think and speak their deeply held beliefs freely.”
Students would be permitted to bring a cause of action against an institution they believe is infringing on their free speech rights under the proposal.
“To give you an example, Ann Coulter is going to a college campus to give a speech and they just say, ‘OK, forget it. We’re not allowing her because we think it’s going to cause some issues,’” Brenner said during the press conference. “You can’t just say that.”…
Pet Charles says
Good news! Bad news because its a shame that such a bill has become necessary!!
John Forbes says
RIGHT -Finally a glimmer of common sense & MAYBE an understanding about what FREE SPEECH is all about !
Being aware that your opinion is not the only opinion & other people are quite entitled to have other opinions & being aware that we need to hear things we do not like to hear !
Currently there is a DETERMINATION to only allow ONE VOICE !
Potentially very dangerous !!
Voytek Gagalka says
Good start. But ultimate objective should be dismantling ALL public education system that is barring governmental interference in education, including FORCIBLY “sponsoring” it by using taxpayer’s money.
Oliver says
The US has had public colleges for over 100 years.
The Land Grant colleges
I belive started shortly after the Civil War
gravenimage says
Of course, public universities were not like this until quite recently.
Oliver says
A few hours ago, I posted this, ( possibly wording a bit different) and it was under review. I wonder why?
The U. S. has had PUBLIC COLLEGES for over 100 years.
THE LAND GRAND COLLEGES, started, (I beleive) shortly after the Civil War.
the following was not in
As for public education (the brainwashing today is wrong, and misguided) is what led to the US becoming a unified nation. After WW2, the G. I. BILL helped/financed returning G. I.’s get a higher education, and it led to the large burst in doctors, lawyers and other professionals, and helped fuel the boom that followed.
Or, the US could forget education, and follow in the steps of Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Indonesia and other 3rd world countries
Linde Barrera says
Reps. Goodman and Brenner should be publicly honored. God bless them.
t. says
I 100% agree, Linde!
gravenimage says
Ohio bill would block universities from disinviting “controversial” speakers
…………………
This *might* be a good thing–on the other hand, many universities may just make it more difficult to invite speakers to begin with.
Jack Holan says
2-Thumbs up! Thanks to the Reps for the Political Courage to take the bull by the horns. We need more People like them in Offiice. Where are you?
Skeptic says
Why is it never mentioned that these kids who disrupt speakers and cause violence should be disciplined?
Joe says
It is not only the students. The administrators and teachers are paid 6 figure salaries, and they are often the fascist leaders.
gravenimage says
And a lot of these thugs come in from outside the universities, as well–but the problem is that the schools do nothing to stop it.
billybob says
Universities sometimes make the excuse that a given speaker was disinvited because they could not guarantee security. This is a bogus excuse because they themselves fostered the atmosphere that led to violent demonstrations generating security risks. It should be unacceptable for a university to make this excuse. Stated another way, universities should be obliged to provide whatever security is required, no matter who the speaker. As they watch their funds get drained paying for expensive security, I’m sure they will eventually become very creative at reducing the culture that led to the problems in the first place. They will teach their students that violence and chaos are not permitted, and any students promoting such will be dismissed. End of problem. Beginning of restoration of not only free speech, but balanced perspectives.
Matthieu Baudin says
“… Ohio bill would block universities from dis-inviting controversial speakers…”
A good idea. It would also be nice to make other public venues accountable in some way for their frequent last minute cancellations of ‘controversial speakers’. Hard Left (New Left) intimidation is now a constant in the public sphere and many non educational venues, large and small, have dis-invited speakers who don’t follow the narrow PC road in a range of areas from climate change to migration and freedom of conscience issues.
Valkyrie Ziege says
; This bill is an excellent start, and I wonder how many of the “student protesters” are actual enrolled students in the university/college that they’re protesting/vandalizing?
eduardo odraude says
The ‘enlightened sophisticates’ on college campuses are shown up for what they really are by this bill. Cowards, conformists, and self-righteous thugs, with a veneer of literacy.
Jim says
Every U.S. college campus should have a “Speakers Corner,” an area on campus similar to that in Hyde Park, London where students, and perhaps non-students as well, can speak their mind. If more debate is permitted on our campuses then an avenue for telling the truth and exposing lies is open for all. The more our young people are made aware of Islamic hardliners attempt to dominate the rest of us by misinformation and deceit, then the more likely we shall overcome and Islam will undergo the reform it sorely needs to extract itself from the evil of the dark ages, I highly recommend you spend some time watching Muslims, Christians, Jews and others debating each other on YouTube every Sunday in Hyde Park, London. Learn how only in recent years has the truth emerged that the Koran was not handed down by Allah, but rather was written by men. In fact carbon-dating has revealed that the Koran may have been written even before Muhammad was born. Push for a Speakers Corner” on your campus or at your Alma Mater. May the force be with you.
Richard Courtemanche says
Good news. Bad news that it’s not the university administration doing its job. Also, prevent left-wingers from interfering with speakers. Control social sciences professeurs. Re-establish sanity in universities. Hopefully more universities will emulate.