I have previously written, as a long supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), about my concern over how the venerable group has changed under its current leadership, including a departure from its long robust defense of free speech. Recently, the ACLU has abandoned its famed neutrality and has not supported some on the right while supporting those on the left. Now, the ACLU’s Samuel Crankshaw in Kentucky has targeted Transylvania University for admitting Nick Sandmann, who was falsely accused of abusing a Native American activist in front of Lincoln Memorial. (Crankshaw identifies as an ACLU staffer on social media) Despite various media organizations correcting the story and some settling with Sandmann, some in the media have continued to attack him. Yet, it is far more alarming to see an ACLU official rallying people against a young man whose chief offense appears to be that he is publicly (and unapologetically) conservative and pro-life.
Crankshaw went to Facebook to alert people that Sandmann would be attending the college and expressing veiled outrage that the school would admit someone with his opposing views. He warns that this kid is “more dangerous” than figures like Milo Yiannopolous. The “danger” is that a young freshman holds conservative views that are shared by roughly half of this country:
Does anyone else think it’s a bit of a stain on Transylvania University for accepting Nick Sandman? I’m sure it’s a “both sides” defense, but it’s pretty counter to their mission and another instance of there not actually being equal sides to an issue. I think TU should accept anyone willing to have an open mind and engage in debate, regardless of their views. That’s how we all learn. That’s Transy’s mission…
Having experienced the incredibly high standards Transy requires for admission and then holds its students to, this seems like a slap in the face. I hope some time in a real classroom changes him, but his twitter and public persona suggest otherwise.
The “both sides” defense used to be the position of the ACLU in fighting for all sides to be given equal opportunities and protections. Moreover Crankshaw labels Sandmann a “provocateur in training with no intention of learning.” Putting aside the provocateur label how would Crankshaw know that Sandmann has “no intention of learning”?
While the statement is from someone who expressly identifies as an ACLU staffer on social media, it is not a statement from the ACLU itself. Yet, the sentiment reflects the growing concern over the new direction of the ACLU and the shift away from neutrality in the support of free speech rights.
Later Crankshaw responded to the National Review and said “The views I expressed on my Facebook page are my personal views that I shared on my personal time. I have a First Amendment right to express them just as Nick Sandmann has a First Amendment right to express his.” Of course, none of us doubted that Sandmann has first amendment rights. The suggestion of his posting was that the university should have barred the admission of Sandmann due to his views. Indeed, he was expressing outrage that Sandmann was allowed to attend such an institution of higher education. While we have been discussing the intolerance for opposing views expressed at colleges, Crankshaw apparently does not even want to see people like Sandmann allowed into college.
One person responding positively was Dr. Avery Tompkins, an Assistant Professor and Diversity Scholar at Transylvania University, acknowledged that the university supported diverse viewpoints but promised to closely monitor Sandmann while he is on campus: “If he were to cause problems by being disruptive, trolling, or engaging in unethical behavior of any kind, I would immediately document it (just like I would for any student doing the same thing)…and he would just be putting himself in a position for me to file a conduct report.”
Doing the same thing? What thing? Free speech?
Rather than say that there is no reason why this conservative student should be singled out in this way, Tompkins declares publicly “I get where you are coming from.” Where would that be? Cranksaw was coming from a place where a wrongly accused conservative teenager will be harassed or targeted for daring to take his views to a college.
I appreciate Tompkins noting that students cannot be denied admission based on their political views, though that was once assumed. Yet, Tompkins labels this incoming freshman as part of an anti-intellectual movement and publicly assumes that Sandmann will reject core principles of learning. This is a freshman being publicly shredded by a professor at his school. Tompkins then expresses the same uncertainty why this student would pick a university dedicated to higher education and “the antithesis of what he belies and promotes.”
Despite Tompkins later apology, Cranksaw responded that her stated hostility and bias toward this student is precisely what wants to see in higher education and “why [Transylvania University] is a great place to learn.”
Cranksaw was describing the exercise of free speech by someone with opposing views as unacceptable. Tompkins responds that she will be closely watching him. Both single out this one students for such added scrutiny and Cranksaw thanks Tompkins for the assurance of close monitoring. I have repeatedly defended the views of liberal academics attacking police, Trump, and a wide array of conservative causes. These are statements made outside of the school. Here, however, Tompkins is speaking as an academic, acting a specific students, and promising to monitor his conduct. That is deeply problematic.
Sandmann like all college students should feel greater freedom in expressing their views at colleges, not being closely monitored as someone with dangerous thoughts and ideas. That fact that figures in the ACLU and academia would publicly espouse such views of intolerance is a chilling example of how our faith in free speech has eroded in the recent years.
Transylvania University has responded to my inquiry with the following statement:
A college campus is a place where the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences and opinions of the community — students, staff, faculty and alumni — meet. Transylvania, like nearly every campus, is composed of those holding the full range of viewpoints.These differences often form the backbone of a vibrant and challenging educational experience. In this place of divergence, we strive to foster dialogue and listen to each other with generosity and a presumption of goodwill in the pursuit of understanding.
The goal of a liberal arts education is to give students the skills and ability to engage in encounters that may cause them to reflect and think differently or to understand and validate their original belief or viewpoint. In either case, the exposure to the ideas, individuals and diverse viewpoints and the subsequent reflection is the critical aspect.
There are two things that, as a university, we are not able to discuss: our students (without their permission) and personnel matters. In response to posts on social media and other websites over the Labor Day weekend, we reiterate that point. A review of the situation will be conducted expeditiously by the appropriate university officials.
Second Update:
Professor Tompkins has now issued an apology:
I want to apologize for my mistake in singling out a student and any misunderstandings that arose from that. One of my favorite things about working at a liberal arts institution is that the University community has diverse perspectives. All students, faculty, and staff are able to engage in civil discourse with those whose views may be different from their own, and to learn about those views in an academic setting. I value and support these conversations with students, and I know that students value these conversations with their peers as well.
Never mind that this student has different beliefs/ideas from those directing the college. WHY is the acceptance of a student, ANY student now dependant on his ideology instead of his academical merits? If I am going to study computer programming, math, business, administration, even subjects that can be a little more subjective like, literature or history, WHY would my own personal convictions/ideas/faith/ideals be a stumbling block to my acceptance? If I graduate knowing how to program a computer, and willing and able to do so, then is THAT not the whole point? Are we just going to stop educating anyone who does not meet our neatly packaged ideology? Sheesh!
Yes – absolutely! Colleges have been saying this for a decade but people refuse to see it.
Yes. Its called Communism and under it you either go along with your enslavement to their gang or you get cut off, imprisoned or executed. They are bullies and toadys serving their time, egging each other on and being rewarded with tax money for their adherence to the Party. Deeply criminal ideologues just like Mr. ACLU and the professor have killed hundreds of millions for publicly disagreeing with their demented ideology. .
That professor should not be allowed to apologize, fire them immediately!
The professor should be fired immediately.
No. Inform yourself first: https://openlettersotherthings.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/our-best-crepes-recipe/
Remember when the ACLU would have been the first in line to DEFEND this student?
That was a long time ago.
Excellent point. Very sad, and many true civil libertarians have left the ACLU mob as a result.
They’d never have defended him. Transylvania U is not a public agency, nor are any of the media outlets who defamed him. Not sure about the ACLU, but, back in the day, people like Anthony Lewis thought all defamation law was a violation of free speech. Lewis, of course, was employed by the New York Times Company.
Yeah right. I throw the BS flag on the “apology”. His first statement is his true statement. His second statement is the public statement he is being forced to make to keep his job where he undoubtedly makes over 6 figures. While I support fully his “right” to make his first statement, there are consequences for speech. I revile at his second statement because it underscores that not only is he intolerant, he has no compunction about lying and saying he’s tolerant when he needs to. How can someone with this level of principle to truth telling and lack of belief in free speech be in a position to monitor conduct of adults on a college campus? The answer clearly is that he should not. He is willing to essentially sell out his his strong beliefs when the university tells him to do so he can avoid consequences and retain his ability to punish other adults on campus for espousing a belief that made someone uncomfortable. So he is being bullied into submission to retain his position where he is paid to bully people into submission. See how insidious this is. And so what’s up with the university? Do they value differing beliefs? Evidently not, since the guy is being forced to publicly apologize for his personal beliefs. Instead of an apology the university should fire him, not because he exercised free speech but because someone who holds these beliefs cannot be in a position to “monitor” adults on a college campus for “violations of conduct.” He clearly lacks the objectivity necessary for that function. His public apology does nothing for me except to illustrate that the university also believes in his function which is bullying someone into saying something they don’t believe to avoid a consequence and damage the university’s brand: in his case firing while in a student’s case it would be suspension or expulsion. The rot is deeper than this man. It runs to the university’s administration, its board and its business model.
Pam, the point is not what is in the Associate Professor’s (dollars to donuts he does not make anywhere close to 6 figures) heart but that he publicly apologized. Who cares what’s in his heart if he behaves going forward and others learn from the incident. Can you imagine having a President who even pretended to take responsibility and blame every once in a while. That’s the first step in correcting screw ups and injustices.
Who you trying to kid? Avg salary 67K to 247K. You have no clue what this Leftist indoctrination master makes.
Oh, your a shill, sorry for bothering you.
Linkedin:
“$77,900
The average salary for the role of Professor at Transylvania University in Greater Lexington Area is $77,900.”
The person in question is an Associate Professor.
They’re not in it for the salary (though they complain about their salaries). They’re in it for the fringes and working conditions.
If you think that Averyh’s apology was serious, there’s also some Kansas City oceanfront property available you’re gullible enough to buy. All it was is cya, nothing more. There’s no such thing as truth for lefties anymore, just their agenda, the delusions of godhood of the godless.
1. As another Transylvania University graduate who has worked in academia for more than twenty years, I can assure you that untenured assistant professors don’t make six figure salaries. Even at a private liberal arts college like Transy.
2. If you actually read Professor Tompkins’ comments in full and in context, you’ll see he’s actually *defending* Sandmann’s right to be at Transylvania. He assures Crankshaw (who is the one concerned about the effect Sandmann might have on the campus community) that should Sandmann “cause problems by being disruptive, trolling or engaging in unethical behavior” that he would document the behavior and file a conduct report if necessary, “just like I would do for any student doing the same thing.”
if you were in the know about events at TU over the past few years you might better understand his concerns. A DACA student who was targeted and threatened by others both on and off campus; internet trolls began encouraging others to report her to ICE. A Republican white male student stabbed a female student outside and then brought a machete into a campus coffee shop where he tried to open attack on others who didn’t identify with his beliefs.
3. I’m disappointed to see an intellectual like Turley, someone who claims to value freedom of speech, mischaracterize Tompkins’ comments (and misgender him as well– Tompkins is a transgender MAN whose easily accessible university bio uses he/him/his pronouns). Tompkins does NOT “promise to closely monitor” Sandman’s conduct. He merely says that if Sandmann were to engage in disruptive, trolling, or unethical behavior in his class, that he’d document it and file a conduct report if necessary. That’s a pretty standard thing at universities. As professors, we are expected to keep the learning environment safe for students. Students are bound by their university’s student code of conduct. If I had a student disrupting my classroom, trolling another student, making threats, or engaging in unethical behavior (plagiarism or cheating for example), I’d file a report too.
Despite your hand-waving and gaslighting, the facts remains that University officials have targeted a student for absolutely no reason other than a dislike of his personal beliefs, which are quite orthodox and rational, unlike your irrational attempt to smear him merely because he supports conservative causes. You are presupposing that he is a criminal when such presupposition is completely unjustified.
Amazing how crazy the left has gone over this kid for merely doing nothing.
“We can’t not admit academically qualified students due to their political and personal views,” – Avery Tompkins
“We admit academically qualified students due to their political and personal views,” There I fixed it for you. Maybe a logic class for this brilliant “professor”?
Disgusting that the school is not properly addressing this by suspending this so called teacher. He is using his own bias and actually pointing a finger at this kid. If anything happens to the student hopefully he sues this teacher … but the ACLU will surely pay of his defense… shows you what is 100% wrong with education today.
Call me stupid but if one can talk, how is he/she being destructive.
I learned most by those who didn’t agree with me. It’s called learning.
To see the opposite view diatribes of Putin.
BTW isn’t it delicious the scholar(?) who is asking address is named Crankshaw?
This kid is being targeted by the “adults” at this school when he did absolutely nothing wrong. (Bet they’ll take his tuition money though.)
I think the school should have to provide him with security at all times! Otherwise, I won’t be shocked to read that, at the very least, he’s been attacked physically.
So Avery Tompkins goes by “He”, not “She”. Take a look at this person’s bio at the school. Degeneracy on full display. Sandman should take a restraining order out on this disturbed lady.
The irony is so obvious yet some liberals can’t see the woods through the trees: their sheer arrogance & the self-serving sense they have the moral high ground narrow their perspective so much that they become closed minded. Self-righteousness makes them intolerant & unable to agree, that it’s ok to disagree. Diversity of thought should be respected as much as diversity in people.
Stop calling them liberals. They’re anything but liberal. They’re leftists, and there’s a huge difference.
A professor with intellectual integrity is the most endangered species on the planet!!
Exactly. Turley needs to go. Let GWU know what’s happening immediately.