There is an intense controversy at Tulane University (where I began my teaching career) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Kappa Alpha fraternity members built a wall made of sandbags with the message “Make America Great Again” and “Trump” plastered across it on their off-campus house. What is astonishing is that university groups and members have rallied to support alleged members of the football team who tore down the wall in a denial of free speech and an act of trespass.
It appears that the building of a wall is the local chapter’s annual tradition before its “Old South” formal ball. This time the students added the language as either a joke or implied support but student groups denounced the language as “filled with connotations of hate and ignorance.” Even if this were serious support for Trump, that is not hate speech. It would be pure political speech — just as students are free to support Bernie Sanders, as many do.
On the video below, student appear to be tearing down the wall and tossing the sandbags into the street as frat members object that “this is private property.” Students like Ana De Santiago seemed to miss the point of violently preventing the speech of other students because you disagree with them. She insisted that “By writing Trump in large, red letters across the ‘wall,’ . . . KA changed what was a tradition of building a wall into a tradition of constructing a border, symbolizing separation and xenophobia.” Or they could simply be supporting Trump and his view of immigration reform. I doubt seriously that De Santiago would take kindly to the frat tearing down signs in support of her presidential candidate or immigration policies.
The hypocritical position of these students reflects the growing intolerance for free speech on our campuses. These students believe that they have a right, even an obligation, to silence students with opposing views.
University spokesman Mike Strecker said frat members used Trump’s name and slogan as satire. But it really does not matter. The University should be investigating the students who engaged in a violent act to stop the speech of other students . . . whether satire or serious. Moreover, the University seemed to blame the students for engaging in free speech, saying that while it encourages the “free exchange of ideas and opinions”, the local chapter’s actions “sparked a visceral reaction in the context of a very heated and divisive political season.” That does not appear very supportive of free speech to blame the victims of an attack on free speech. Students and faculty are allowed to “spark a visceral reaction in the context of a very heated and divisive political season.” Indeed, we should want passionate debate on the candidates and their ideas. It was the students tearing down the wall who were bringing violence and intolerance to the debate. They should be the focus of the ire of the university.
By the way, Trump won Louisiana.
What do you think?
JT says: “What is astonishing is that university groups and members have rallied to support alleged members of the football team who tore down the wall in a denial of free speech and an act of trespass.”
I don’t know what planet JT has been living on, but here on Earth, there is absolutely nothing astonishing about university groups supporting the denial of free speech. Anyone on Earth who is paying attention to reality knows that universities today are all run by extreme leftists. And anyone with common sense knows that means they hate free speech, hate freedom, and hate America. They do love some things, however. They love gun control. They love authoritarianism, They love the abrogation of rights. They love Muslims. They love the expansion of depravity. So, of course, they would be upset with Donald Trump’s message of “Make America Great.” They favor the total destruction of America and a New World Order Government.
Interesting viewpoint, Mr. Fisher. I would challenge you on “blind justice” by offering “personally crafted idea of justice?” Or, perhaps better yet, “self-serving idea of justice.”
“Diversity is the sciamachy of philosophy.” -Me
Often, in addressing issues like this, I bring up the platitudes of history. Free speech, vox populi vox dei, speak of the devil and he shall appear. By now, we should probably have learned that the voice of the people isn’t the voice of God. It’s the voice of indoctrination. Where education, media, internet were supposed to free speech. Instead they gave the people identical mallets to bang at approval and disapproval. In the end, everyone is looking for blind justice however their approach. You can be the sword, or you can be the shield. Let the hatred and brutality ring out against posterity or cut through it with your own cruelty and indignation.
One of my kids is a recent Tulane alum. Told me that this frat is known for satirical stunts of this kind and that “anyone who knows them” knows that this was to make fun of Trump not to show support for him. I have no idea but I know my kid has no reason not to be honest about this. Just passin it along for what it’s worth.
Karen S,
I don’t think our schools are liberal at all. A liberal view of society would be one that counters speech with more speech. If people protested, they would protest using civil disobediance or creative non-violence. I wouldn’t call the school system a bastion of conserative thought either, at least not in the traditional meaning of conservative.
What the schools teach is obediance to authority. They are actively preventing students from having reasoning skills, so that as adults, people cannot think for themselves and see BS for what it is.
Bernays (Bernie) and Trump are two sides of the same coin. It’s difficult for people to see this because we are heavily brainwashed in this society. Neither of these candidates would have been called either a liberal or conservative back in the 1970’s. I don’t think we have names for what candidates are any longer. I use the term fascist because of the complete interlocking directorate of corporations and the govt. but maybe that’s not the best term either.
This is hardly surprising.
The public school system from K-12, as well as universities, have been openly discriminatory against conservatives. Free Speech has been interpreted to mean “free liberal speech” on campus. We have seen enough examples nationwide to see that it is epidemic.
Physician, heal thyself.
Academics, reclaim critical thinking and exposure to opposing ideas, or become a censorship committee.