The officials at the University of California at Berkeley have had a change of heart and agreed to the planned speech by conservative Ann Coulter. The decision to cancel the speech was criticized on this blog and in other forums as the latest example of mob rule on our campuses. The decision is a welcomed change. However, Coulter has objected to the scheduling change in the speech when no students are likely to be on campus. Coulter has rejected the change and plans to move forward as previously set for the event.
The speech will occur on May 2 and will be held at an “appropriate, protectable venue.” However, that would fall during “Reading/Review/Recitation Week” after the end of formal classes but before final exams. It is well known that that period is a dead zone for events since few students can attend. Coulter also says that she is not available on May 2nd.
The result is that there is again a risk of a confrontation over trespass with school security. As previously noted, I would have kept the original date and, with any rescheduling, the onus is on the school make the aggrieved parties whole. Those would be Coulter and these Berkeley students who wanted to hear her.