A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
As reported on the website of FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a controversy took place recently at the George Mason University School of Law. First the Federalist Society and the Jewish Law Students Association invited activist Nonie Darwish to the campus to lecture. Then CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, protested, demanding that, because of statements Darwish had made about Islam, she be disinvited.
Yes, I know. So far the tale sounds drearily predictable--but next comes a twist. Instead of capitulating to CAIR's demand, the dean of the law school, Daniel Polsby, last week sent a statement to students and faculty. You'd have to search long and hard to find another figure in American academia who has issued such a compelling defense of freedom of speech.
Dean Polsby's statement in full:
It appears that there is need to clarify the policy affecting speakers at the law school.
Student organizations are allocated budget by the Student Bar Association in order to allow them, among other things, to bring speakers to the law school. Neither the law school nor the university can be taken to endorse such speakers or what they say. Law school administration is not consulted about these invitations, nor should we be. Sometimes speakers are invited who are known to espouse controversial points of view. So be it. So long as they are here, they are free to say whatever is on their mind within the bounds of law. They cannot be silenced and they will not be.
Just as speakers are free to speak, protesters are free to protest. They must do so in a place and in a manner that respects the rights of speakers to speak and listeners to listen, and that is in all other ways consistent with the educational mission of the university. Student organizations which hold contrary points of view have every right to schedule their own programs with their own speakers, and these speakers' rights will be protected in just the same way.
The law school will not exercise editorial control over the words of speakers invited by student organizations, nor will we take responsibility for them, nor will we endorse or condemn them. There has to be a place in the world where controversial ideas and points of view are aired out and given space. This is that place.
Daniel D. Polsby
Professor of Law, Dean
Congratulations to Dean Polsby--and to the students who enjoy the honor of studying under such a man.
(A tip of the hat to Prof. Todd Zywicki.)
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Jan '11
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
Can we clone this man?
Dec '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
The destruction of free speech on campus by the left has crippled the American university system. 40 years ago the left was probably 2/3 of university faculties but it didn't matter that much. The core 1/3 conservatives were highly respected and always had an effect. For the last 25 years universities have become monolyths of the banal. Diversity is not a value. Respect for individual liberty is a value. Conservatives whatever their numbers (if identifiable at all) are marginalized by the relentless Stalinism of politically correct legalism. Their voice is destroyed, the next generation completely indoctrinated. Three generations enforce this. The detached older generation who don't understand the total moral free fall involved with PC tyranny. A younger generation who knows no other world but that of the PC tyrant left professor and his/her complete control. Finally, the middle generation, my generation, who is responsible for the change itself. When we are honest like David Horowitz we are totally disgusted by the product of our foolish youth and speak out stongly. However, nostalgia and intellectual laziness allow some of my generation to wallow in what they must know by now is simply evil.
Jun '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
I know little about George Mason University, except that it seems to be a bastion of sanity in the world of modern American universities (e.g., Walter Williams). Can any of the Ricocheteers explain this to me?
Congratulations to Dean Polsby.
Jul '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
Astonishing. The eldest little Sisyphus is considering matriculation at GMU. It appears to be a better choice than I hoped.
Mar '11
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
It is great to see that there is someone who has respect for freedom of speech and the right to express views that some oppose. However, it is really sad that this is what has come to; we feel compelled to praise this man for what should seem the obvious approach and immediate condemnation does not rain down on those who seek to repress the rights of others.
Jun '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
In case you've been trapped in a politically correct cave somewhere, and wonder (or can't remember) what controversial free speech looks like, I noticed a handy illustration from conservative Catholic, Michael Voris, today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QonhcyuS_sM
Dec '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
This literally made my day. Lines in the sand must be drawn. The good Dean did just that, and I'd like to give him a good-game slap should I ever have the privilege to meet him.
Thanks for posting this, Peter!
Dec '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
Dean Polsby's statement is flawless yet delightfully vapid as his statement of truths all Americans hold to be self-evident. They need no elaboration and would go without saying in any American assembly, university, law school, or dog show without CAIR.
Jun '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
Needed a little good news from Academia. Thanks, Peter.
Mar '11
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
Every time someone displays common sense I am at once both gratified by their courage and intelligence, and depressed that the prevailing winds are otherwise.
Mar '11
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
Good to know that the light of common sense hasn't been entirely extinguished in Academia. Thank you for that post!
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
What a great story. Thanks, Peter. I love the last sentence: "Congratulations to Dean Polsby--and to the students who enjoy the honor of studying under such a man."
Congratulations, also, to a great wordsmith.
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
tabula rasa: I know little about George Mason University, except that it seems to be a bastion of sanity in the world of modern American universities (e.g., Walter Williams). Can any of the Ricocheteers explain this to me?
Congratulations to Dean Polsby. · Oct 4 at 8:41pm
I have several friends on the faculty at George Mason, and I spent nine months there on a visiting fellowship in 1991. Maybe other readers can help inform me, but I think it's only the economics department and law school that deserve the sanity award. I think the other schools and departments are just like any other university.
Jan '11
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
I will take the words of VDH, who commented after Mr Robinson was asking questions about the killing of ObL - who stated that he wasn't superbly impressed, because "that's what presidents do" - and it wasn't wise to set the bar so low as to be thrilled that BHO did something right.
Similarly, it shows how far we have drifted if we are to be overjoyed that a Dean displayed the common sense that would be evidenced by the vast majority of Ricocheteers.
I'm not trying to rain on a parade - but just to point out how far things have gone :-(
Apr '11
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
Remarkable only in that he is applying free speech standards in rebuffing CAIR, a sweetheart of the politically correct.
May '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
I've always admired Dean Polsby, which is why I still wonder about the department flap that caused Ronald Rotunda and his wife, Kyndra Rotunda, to de-camp from GMU out to Chapman. Obviously, no one is talking.
Dec '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
I only note that both Professor Williams and Dean Polsby are of a certain age and that gives me no confidence that GMU is in good hands in the future. It's the Boomer professors and administrators, and their progeny, that are destroying our universities.
Dec '10
Re: A University Dean Displays Courage. (Yes, You Read That Right.)
The target has identified himself. Knives are being sharpened as we speak.