Free speech and 'civility' at UF

The University of Florida has backed down on its demand for an apology from students who promoted a movie about radical Islam with a poster saying: "Radical Islam wants you dead."

I think this is a good decision, because if the university really wanted to be in the business of ordering people to apologize to each other when someone is offended, then it would have its hands full.

But I am curious as to the standard -- do you think there are ANY circumstances in which the university would be right to demand an apology for student speech? Lots of universities in modern times have some sort of code about not being racist, sexist, offensive and so forth.

For example, here is a passage from a document titled "Student Rights and Responsibilities" on the university's web site:

Organizations or individuals that adversely upset the delicate balance of communal living will be subject to disciplinary action by the University. Only in an atmosphere of equality and respect can all members of the University community grow.

Oh, really? So if you "adversely upset the delicate balance of communal living" at UF, you can be subject to university discipline? How does that square, then, with UF's backing down in this case? If the affected group had been Hispanic, Chinese, or African-American, would things be different? If cable-TV news or the state attorney general had not taken notice?

My question is whether the university needs to strike a balance between "civility" in campus life and free speech -- or whether there ought to be no balance at all, and students should be able to speak of each other any way they please. In either case, let's just make sure that it applies the same way to everybody.

Comments

[John Gibson]

Well, Howard, I am sure there are many who think the the university should act as mommy and daddy to all. Not surprising since so many real mommies and daddies have abdocated.

Free speech is free speech. We either have it or we don't. No university (or any other agency, for that matter) should be in the business of regulating what people say to or about each other. Society has developed its own ways of dealing with those who are patently offensive.

[Bland]

Hello Howard,

Here is my perspective on this recent situation in Gainesville.

In the last few years the University of Florida’s administration, instructors, and student population have become more liberal and guarded about assuring political correctness in their culture. Some may argue this is a great thing. The school administration says it allows more diversity and enhances all to get along.

On the other hand, I believe it is the university’s objective to promote “free thinking” and ideas counter to the majority. The freedom to think out of the box is what should be encouraged as well as seeking the facts about controversial issues, such as radical Islam. All of expression and discussion should be done so with decorum so all worthy ideas and facts may be communicated and considered.

I started at U of F during my junior year. I was placed in Beatty Towers, at the time the dorm was full of foreign, college transfer, and older students. It was quite an interesting group. We had Nuclear Engineering majors from Nigeria, Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia for example. Math majors from, at the time, Communist Poland. Allegedly, we also had agents for the Savat , the Shaw of Iran’s Secret Police, amongst the students as well. In my book, this Florida native would call this a diverse group.

Well as luck would have it the Yom Kippur War broke out. At the time I was rooming there with an Egyptian roommate was rooting for the Arab League like most of us cheer for an SEC football game. Across the hall my Jewish friends from Miami and their Israeli roommate were discussing whether Israel had and would use their nuclear weapons. Yes we had diversity, free speech, and a fluid exchange of ideas. No one got into fist fights and the taser had not been invented yet. Oh, and yes, this Pinellas native, got exposed to another part of world. Yes, this is what a university should provide in atmosphere and culture for its students.

Later that spring in 1975, the student government had the following speakers, Jane Fonda, Ramsey Clark, and Angela Davis, among others. The conservative administration did not object to these speakers who were just as controversial as this film on radical Islam. I will tell you this, most of us, thought Jane Fonda did not know what she was talking about. I would say we had diversity and yes that year we had streaking as well.

Florida needs to tone down the political correctness, as does our entire society. We need to study the facts and not “how” someone might be offended. We need to encourage the free exchange of ideas and perspective.

Class of ’75, BSBA, Accounting.

[RB]

Quite the Marxist element in that code of conduct clause. You will be cogs in our machine or you will be out of here. They even used the word communal! But the fact you even pose this question is a scary commentary, Howard. If it doesn't pass the shouting "fire" in a movie theater test for dangerous speech, then its free speech, period. I sure don't hear anyone making this big of a fuss when the preachers come on campus and call the girls sluts.

[Jay Ramage (UF '93)]

I think provided that the speech is not calling for violent action against another group, and that the "speech" itself is not illegal (yelling "fire" in a theater, child pornography, etc) then it is fair game. The university need not be in the business of coddling everyone, protecting their feelings from things others might say. Tolerance has to be learned by people; it will not be forced upon them.

[Jay Ramage (UF '93)]

I think provided that the speech is not calling for violent action against another group, and that the "speech" itself is not illegal (yelling "fire" in a theater, child pornography, etc) then it is fair game. The university need not be in the business of coddling everyone, protecting their feelings from things others might say. Tolerance has to be learned by people; it will not be forced upon them.

[Jim Johnson]

One of my ancestors was a Delegate to the Florida Secession Convention of 1861. He opposed secession, and the words he used to characterize his opponents would give Howard apoplexy; but generally speaking he made it clear to everyone assembled he believed they were a low form of traitor and they were doomed to Hades. He said it to their faces in the Capitol.

Now! I suppose the mild reaction he got had more to do with his skill using a duelling pistol, than tolerance or thick skin, but there's no evidence he got more than an oppositional cough or two from his rebel colleagues.