Colleges Should Choose Free Speech Over Coddling This Election Season​

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By Maggie Horzempa

October 30, 2024

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With less than a week left until the 2024 presidential election, college campuses nationwide are bracing themselves for the inevitable surge of heated political discourse, last-minute canvassing, and the vitriol and violence that could accompany it. The stakes are high, and the recent sweep of violent pro-Palestine protests that plagued some of our nation's most prestigious campuses signals that emotions will run even higher this year. However, universities must remember that they are uniquely responsible for fostering an environment where free speech is protected, academic business continues uninterrupted, and campus order is maintained, ensuring the safety and security of all.

 

Historically, elections have always been times of heightened emotions and intensified debates. However, the nation saw a change in tide after Donald Trump's win over Hilary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. It is safe to say the election of Donald Trump caught colleges by surprise. Institutions were ill-prepared to handle campus protests, some violent, which lasted several days after election night. In addition, professors at historically prestigious institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Cornell canceled classes and even exams in the wake of Trump's victory in the name of student safety, mental health, and liberal favoritism, sending a message to students that the election of Donald Trump was negative, no matter which Presidential candidate won your vote.

 

Instead of remaining politically neutral, higher education institutions went into coddling mode.  A University of Pennsylvania professor catered to "distressed students' who were unable to carry out their academic responsibilities due to their "disheartened" state. Many colleges never recovered from this slide into safetyism. Their shortcomings should serve as a poignant reminder of the important responsibilities colleges have in moments of political upheaval. It is essential that university business continues no matter who becomes Commander in Chief and that no special treatment is given based upon partisan feelings.

 

University leaders must remember that they are responsible for maintaining campus order and protecting free speech. Chancellors set the tone for how their institutions navigate contentious issues, and their actions can either reinforce or undermine their university's commitment to free expression and academic continuity. During this past year, we saw many Chancellors fail their campuses by allowing pro-Palestinian protestors to run wild. But, amid the disarray and lawlessness, the nation saw the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's then Interim Chancellor, now newly elected 13th Chancellor, Lee Roberts, offer a compelling example of how university leaders can strike the right balance. His actions demonstrated the importance of both welcoming dissent and preserving campus order, an example other leaders should strive toward.

 

Strong university leadership is essential, but not a cure-all, for the rise of viewpoint intolerance, which runs rampant on today's college campuses. While there is no fool-proof solution, campuses can combat narrow-mindedness by organizing workshops and discussion forums that encourage respectful, civil discourse––not behavior that incites violence and misunderstanding. Programs like Braver Angels offer frameworks for facilitating these conversations across political divides and can help students engage respectfully with differing views. However, respectful discourse must exist inside the classroom as well. Faculty must integrate civil discourse into their curricula and provide students with a forum to engage in healthy debate without fear of academic consequences or viewpoint shaming.

 

Fostering an environment where individuals feel respected and able to freely express their views, even in the charged atmosphere of an election season, is challenging. The Constructive Dialogue Institute has recognized the unique challenges posed by the 2024 election. Their guide, "Maintaining Campus Community During the 2024 Election: A Guide for Leaders, Faculty, and Staff," offers practical advice for university leaders. The guide acknowledges that no event divides communities as much as U.S. presidential elections. It emphasizes the importance of having a playbook to manage the intense emotions that elections can provoke. The guide's insights are invaluable for universities looking to navigate the complexities of this election season while maintaining campus cohesion and order.

 

Another critical aspect of maintaining campus order during election season is the principle of institutional neutrality, as articulated in the Kalven Report. The report, produced by the University of Chicago in 1967, argues that neutrality is essential for a university to fulfill its core mission: "the discovery, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge." By remaining neutral on political controversies, universities can ensure that they are welcoming to open inquiry and debate rather than advocates for particular political positions. This neutrality allows universities to serve as platforms for free expression and intellectual diversity rather than partisan actors. Returning to the core mission of higher education helps refocus campuses during times of political whiplash.

 

As we near Election Day 2024, it is clear that universities must focus on maintaining order, protecting free speech, and ensuring that academic life continues uninterrupted––no matter who is elected president. Universities are places of learning, and learning requires grappling with complex and sometimes uncomfortable realities.

 

University leaders must be willing to undertake the challenging task of balancing the rights of student protestors with those of the broader campus community. This requires a nuanced understanding of the competing interests at play and the ability to manage these interests in a way that preserves the integrity of the university as a place of learning and dialogue. By learning from the past, promoting respectful dialogue, and upholding the principles of neutrality and free expression, university leaders can preserve free speech and academic excellence in this challenging time.

 

 

Maggie Horzempa is a 2019 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and a proud UNC AFSA board member. She is a lifelong free speech advocate who has provided commentary on a variety of subjects to outlets including Fox News, Washington Examiner, and Townhall

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/m_horzempa