Will Cornell Protect Free Speech? | RealClearEducation

The ugly shout-down of Coulter raises a question with implications that reach beyond Cornell s storied campus, or even the Ivy League. Many university leaders talk about preserving the values of free speech and open inquiry, as Pollack does. But do they have the spine to punish students when they violate those standards?

Pollack s recent comments about the event do not inspire confidence. While she said she is disgusted by the behavior of these students and noted they were warned, she promised only that the students will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. They will decide what the punishments are. President Pollack should be taking the lead; instead, she s deflecting responsibility.

Cornell had previously resolved to allow the event to take place despite a petition demanding Ann Coulter be disinvited. Whether one agrees with Ms. Coulter or not, she, and the students who invited her, had a right to engage in the civil exchange of ideas. Any university worthy of the name ought to resist becoming an echo chamber for like-minded ideologues. Instead, it must be a sanctuary where challenging ideas can find a hearing.

via www.realcleareducation.com

Cornell has been hashing over free speech since I graduated those perhaps Ivy halls in 1979. Seems they would have figured it out by now.