Free Speech on Campus

For John, BLUF:  Free Speech is our right, but it can carry consequences for the utterer.  The author Mr Ken Tashjy, who served as General Counsel for the Massachusetts Community College System for over 21 years.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Campus unrest over Hamas attacks on Israel offers students tough lessons on free speech in higher education

Here is the sub-headline:

Many students are coming to the vivid realization that their speech, although free, may carry with it consequences they never contemplated.

From Campus Reform, by Mr Ken Tashjy, 19 October 2023, 12:00 pm ET.

Here is the lede plus four:

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel, there has been much attention focused on America’s colleges and universities and the profoundly conflicting views expressed by students over the origins of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the justification for Israel’s declaration of war and strong military action in respond to the attacks.

Following a call for a ”Global Day of Jihad” by a former Hamas leader, and a “Day of Resistance” by the National Students for Justice in Palestine, protests erupted on campuses with many students not only expressing support for Palestinians, but also endorsing the deadly Hamas attacks.

Other students stood with Israel, denouncing the murder by Hamas of more than 1,200 innocent people and the rape and kidnapping of dozens more, including many Americans.

In the wake of these campus protests, renewed attention has been focused on the right of free speech in higher education, the right to protest, and the authority and responsibility of campus leaders to limit or prohibit certain speech.

Many students are coming to the vivid realization that their speech, although free, may carry with it consequences they never contemplated. For other students, these events have crystalized the glaring disconnect that exists between their views and the views of institutional leaders and faculty.

Mr Tashjy's three lessons learned are:.

1. "Students have no First Amendment protections for illegal conduct."
2. "While a person may have a right to free speech and expression, they have no right not to be criticized, ridiculed, or held to account for their opinions."
3. "Those who support Israel and have witnessed the anti-Israel protests on their campuses should expect no support or assistance from their institution’s so-called Bias Response Teams."

I admit to taking some private pleasure in seeing Pro-Palistinian protestors finding near future employment opportunities shrinking as a result of their protests.  As retired National War College Dean of Faculty Cynthia Watson titles her Blog, Actions Create Consequences.  Is this Cancel Culture come home?

And the question in the background is how our vision of ourselves and others has drifted from that of the Silent Generation to the current group of college students.  A recent CNN Poll shows the stark contrasts by age regardsing the Israel/Palestine imbroglio.

Regards  —  Cliff