Professors Stand Up For Free Speech As Liberal Colleagues Seek Boycott Of Dennis Prager And Charlie Kirk

The Daily Wire readers will be happy to know that not all university professors support suppressing speech by those challenging campus political orthodoxy. A letter from Arizona State University colleagues to one dean has circulated widely internally over the past few days. The letter condemned an upcoming campus event that featured Dennis Prager, along with additional remarks by Charlie Kirk. We strongly disagree with the sentiments expressed in that letter.

One of the many things that distinguishes ASU from other top universities is our administration’s embrace of intellectual diversity. Michael Crow, ASU President, has been particularly vocal on this topic. We urge That “we can and should learn from perspectives different from our own.” In 2018, under President Crow’s leadership, ASU Formally adopted The Chicago Statement of Freedom of Expression says that “it is not the proper role of the University to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.” “[W]ithout a vibrant commitment to free and open inquiry,” The statement is concluded. “a university ceases to be a university.”

President Crow’s commitment to intellectual diversity at ASU has been longstanding, including last year’s establishment of the Center for American Institutions, whose mission is fostering and renewing the nation’s political, economic, and social institutions, including religion and the family. In 2023, our speaker series includes Katie Pavlich (writer and director), Matt Walsh (director), and Rosalind Ross. “Father Stu”Kimberley Strassel, Thomas Edsall and Dr. Peter McCullough. We hosted James A. Lindsay and Douglas Murray last year.

Six years ago, President Crow founded the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. It allowed for the appointment of faculty dedicated to a curriculum that focuses on the founding principles of American democracy and constitutionalism. Crow supported the T.W. The Lewis Center for Personal Development is now hosting the event.

Although some ASU faculty object to these programs, students and Arizonans are open to hearing different views at a public university that is supported by tuition fees and tax dollars. Students at universities should be open to considering a wide range of perspectives. But Study after Study It is clear that faculty’s ideological and political affiliations are not at all like those of the American public. 

The condemnation of Dennis Prager & Charlie Kirk by faculty letters reinforce campus conformity. They also serve as a subtly way to intimidate and silence any student or faculty member who is not on the same page. Many choose to self-censor Fear of rejection and even retribution. This is extremely destructive of the free and open exchanges of ideas.

Prager and Kirk are described in this letter. “two white nationalist provocateurs.” “Dennis Prager and Charlie Kirk are purveyors of hate who have publicly attacked women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, as well as the institutions of our democracy, including our public institutions of higher education,” The letter is as follows: “By platforming and legitimating their extreme anti-intellectual and anti-democratic views, [the college] will not be furthering the cause of democratic exchange at ASU, but undermining it in ways that could further marginalize the most vulnerable members of our community.”

The letter also states that students should “encounter a broad diversity of voices and viewpoints,” It is obvious that there are many ideas that cannot be tolerated. These include centrist and mainline conservative views, as well as those supported by a majority.

This letter suggests that any one of the following views would make it unfit to speak at a university.