We Can’t Promise Not To Hit You
November 14, 2016
Emily Zanotti spies more campus censorship backed by the threat of thuggery:
DePaul University’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom says they will defy an administration ban on “controversial” speakers, and go ahead with an event next week at the Chicago school featuring conservative speaker Ben Shapiro and “Based Mom” Christina Hoff Sommers. Late Friday, YAF issued an open letter to DePaul University’s administration, noting that they could no longer accept DePaul’s argument that Shapiro did not “substantively contribute” to campus discourse, and that “security concerns” warranted keeping him off campus. DePaul’s Vice President of Facilities, Bob Janis, issued the ban in August, telling YAF students that they could not host the author... [because] DePaul’s modest security forces simply could not handle the ensuing chaos.
“Given the experiences and security concerns that some other schools have had with Ben Shapiro speaking on their campuses, DePaul cannot agree to allow him to speak on our campus at this time,” Mr Janis wrote. Since then, however, Shapiro has spoken at several schools, including Yale and UT Austin, without incident — as has Milo Yiannopolous, whose “Dangerous Faggot” tour has criss-crossed several states. YAF argues that it’s DePaul’s students, and not its invited speakers, that create the problem. DePaul’s YAF branch also note that DePaul claims to have doubled down on its commitment to free speech and the open exchange of ideas on campus, creating a “free speech” speaker series that did not feature any conservative speakers. Hosting Shapiro, they contend, would be well in line with that commitment.
So, to recap. The university’s stated rationale for censorship is that it can’t protect either the speakers or their audience from disruption and thuggery by its own students, which is quite an admission, really. And as we’ve seen, the threat of physical intimidation and mob harassment – by these would-be intellectuals of the left – is quite real. What the university doesn’t admit, however, is that this problem won’t be solved by banning any speakers deemed remotely controversial – in this case, two speakers who prefer evidence and debate over threats and hysteria. It seems to me that the problem will only be addressed, or begin to be addressed, when leftist students no longer feel that mob censorship and physical intimidation are things they can get away with, and get away with repeatedly, without facing consequences. Say, being expelled.
Given the rich seam of psychodrama hinted at above, in which victimhood is professed with rumblings of mob intimidation, and “diversity” comes to mean intolerant mental conformity, it’s perhaps worth revisiting this earlier episode at California State University, Los Angeles, where Mr Shapiro was attempting to speak, and noting both the level of student thuggery and the participation of faculty. Specifically, one Dr Robert Weide, an assistant professor of sociology - a grown man who spends his time tearing down flyers for events he doesn’t like, who denounces those who disagree with him as “fascists” and “white supremacists,” and who offers to fight dissenting students in the university gym, boasting, “I lift bro.” Several videos of Dr Weide’s progressive protégés and their, um, physical vigorousness can be found here.
Those of you unfamiliar with Ben Shapiro’s lectures may enjoy his comments on Dr Weide’s mental contortions, which are interrupted repeatedly by protestors pulling the fire alarm. There’s also a short but effective deconstruction of so-called “white privilege,” and a longer Q&A session filmed at the University of Rochester. And this lively lecture and discussion at Westmont College, which students were banned from recording by university administrators. With the result that Mr Shapiro is obliged to speak with one arm outstretched and holding his own camera, while sharing a number of facts one isn’t supposed to know about.
Christina Hoff Sommers’ notoriously violence-inspiring opinions can of course be viewed here. Oh, and here’s Dr Sommers’ security detail for her talk at the aforementioned California State University, Los Angeles. I’m sure the officers were only there to prevent Dr Sommers from jumping off the stage, glassing someone and feasting on their blood.
And at risk of banging the same old drum, it may be worth bearing in mind that the Clown Quarter of academia, as seen above, is, in effect, the left’s proving ground and fiefdom, a place where leftist conceits are developed and institutionalised, and where they prevail untroubled by embarrassment and all but unopposed. The Clown Quarter is therefore a taster of the left’s idealised, corrected, more compassionate society. And as such, it tells us quite a lot about who its proponents are, and who they would be, given more power.
Update:
Thirty burly chaps, one short Jewish guy and the miracle of Skype.
I’m sure the officers were only there to prevent Dr Sommers from jumping off the stage, glassing someone and feasting on their blood.
In the mirror universe Dr Sommers has tattoos and carries a flick knife.
Posted by: Anna | November 14, 2016 at 09:59
So, to recap. The university’s stated rationale for censorship is that it can’t protect either the speakers or their audience from disruption and thuggery by its own students, which is quite an admission, really.
They can, they just don't want to.
Posted by: sk60 | November 14, 2016 at 10:26
YAF argues that it’s DePaul’s students, and not its invited speakers, that create the problem.
That. They're keeping the wrong people off campus.
Posted by: John D | November 14, 2016 at 11:58
They're keeping the wrong people off campus.
Worse. They're letting in the wrong people as students on the campus.
Posted by: billdehaan | November 14, 2016 at 12:18
They can, they just don’t want to.
Yes, probably. But I also wonder if there’s an element of actual fear. Certainly, there’s plenty of cowardice.
Posted by: David | November 14, 2016 at 12:23
The world will be able to tell if Trump is serious by his treatment of education. The money needs to be cut off. The research grants, cutoff. The loan guarantees, cutoff. Harvard is wellspring of the swamp; it needs to be treated accordingly.
Posted by: Kevin | November 14, 2016 at 12:37
Given that DePaul has confessed both an inability and unwillingness to protect a portion of its student body from physical harm, perhaps the YAF could crowd source its own security. The Patriot Guard perhaps?
Posted by: R. Sherman | November 14, 2016 at 13:18
Obviously -- certainly DePaul has policies about free speech, right?
[a minute or so of Google-fu, and, by golly, there is.]
Following that is some edu-speak pablum (there must be an entire year devoted to teaching writing jargon-laden damp flannel prose):
Having watched Milo, Shapiro, and Sommers, they can't possibly be guilty of not getting the distinction between provocative and hurtful. (And if there is any doubt on the matter, DePaul needs to be specific.)
If, and this is a big, huge, looming IF, DePaul isn't Maoist to the core, then they have no choice but to allow the presentation to go ahead, and, again with that big IF, advise any students that if they impede access to the venue, disrupt the presentation, or assault or batter attendees or speakers, they will be expelled without recourse.
Fat chance.
Which will give, as Kevin suggested, Trump a golden opportunity to shore up his base.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn | November 14, 2016 at 13:34
Just so we're clear, the functional process here is to take the schoolyard game of "stop hitting yourself" and use it as the basis of an exotic new Blame Ethics, right?
Posted by: Sporkatus | November 14, 2016 at 14:31
Just so we’re clear, the functional process here is to take the schoolyard game of “stop hitting yourself” and use it as the basis of an exotic new Blame Ethics, right?
Pretty much. Though to convey some flavour of the sinister dynamic, you need something more like this: “Don’t make me hurt you, baby. You know I hate hurting you.”
Posted by: David | November 14, 2016 at 14:36
Sinister, yes, but even the meanest drunk can probably articulate his Fake Reasons for abuse better than these daffy children.
Posted by: Sporkatus | November 14, 2016 at 14:47
How the campus garbage babies came to be: rampant Trumphausen By Proxy from the two standard deviations to the left product of schools granting degrees in "education".
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | November 14, 2016 at 15:56
I see a biz opportunity for an independent evaluator of education, one on whom normal people and biz's could rely when assessing candidates. It could include campus political activities in the profiles, for those who wish to make a special effort to hire SJWs.
Posted by: Hopp Singg | November 14, 2016 at 16:19
“Don’t make me hurt you, baby. You know I hate hurting you.”
https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/797869339621801985
"Consider this a warning"
Posted by: sH2 | November 14, 2016 at 16:43
“Consider this a warning”
Or, “Do as we say and no-one gets hurt. Apart from the people we’re going to hurt while you’re not filming us, obviously.”
I believe the term is vermin.
Posted by: David | November 14, 2016 at 17:22
"Yes, probably. But I also wonder if there’s an element of actual fear. Certainly, there’s plenty of cowardice."
I think that fools such as Weide somehow picture themselves as radical heroes to the ignorant student population they purport to "teach."
Posted by: champ | November 14, 2016 at 17:23
O/T. Is Lena Dunham actually insane?
https://twitter.com/mtracey/status/798164155693928449
Posted by: Joan | November 14, 2016 at 17:46
Is Lena Dunham actually insane?
Irreparably damaged, certainly. There’s just no way a mind like that is ever going to work properly.
Posted by: David | November 14, 2016 at 17:49
"fools such as Weide somehow picture themselves as radical heroes"
Read Hoffer's 'The True Believer'.
Posted by: PiperPaul | November 14, 2016 at 17:53
Is Lena Dunham actually insane?
Irreparably damaged, certainly.
While reading her self-absorbed whimper, this caught my eye:
My voice was literally lost when I woke up, squeaky and raw, and I ached in the places that make me a woman, the places where I've been grabbed so carelessly,
Maybe she should ask her sister about that.
Posted by: Spiny Norman | November 14, 2016 at 19:28
There’s just no way a mind like that is ever going to work properly.
Have I topped Lena with this one?
https://twitter.com/fred_connection/status/798186377523253248
Posted by: Rafi | November 14, 2016 at 20:19
Wonder just how many snowflakes would wimper if they read this :
https://heartiste.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/the-opposite-of-hoverhand/
Posted by: david morris | November 14, 2016 at 22:38
Just so we’re clear, the functional process here is to take the schoolyard game of “stop hitting yourself” and use it as the basis of an exotic new Blame Ethics, right?
Pretty much. Though to convey some flavour of the sinister dynamic, you need something more like this: “Don’t make me hurt you, baby. You know I hate hurting you.”
Personally, I always find this thing reminds me pretty strongly of the Mafia paying a visit to a local business-owner. "Looks like you've got a nice debate lined up here. It would be a shame if someone were to... disrupt it."
Posted by: The original Mr. X | November 14, 2016 at 23:14
Except that the mafioso knows his "protection" agreement will only hold as long as he actually, y'know, doesn't set fire to the paratroopers if the payments are made. Usually.
Lefties, on the other hand, are more Darth Vader than Dinsdale Pirahna, viz altering the deal, making things worse all the time, etc. etc.
Posted by: Sporkatus | November 15, 2016 at 03:27
More Darth Vader than... who?
;-)
Posted by: Spiny Norman | November 15, 2016 at 03:33
Well, I should have said Luigi Vercotti for the burning paratroopers bit, but Dinsdale dragged the reference into the right neighborhood and is just a funnier name to say. As you giant hallucinatory hedgehogs are aware.
Posted by: Sporkatus | November 15, 2016 at 03:48
But don’t call them snowflakes.
And here’s post-election “hate crime” hoax #3,022.
Posted by: David | November 15, 2016 at 07:05
Have I topped Lena with this one?
Help yourself to cake. Unless of course someone else wants to pick up that gauntlet.
Posted by: David | November 15, 2016 at 08:54
My voice was literally lost when I woke up, squeaky and raw, and I ached in the places that make me a woman...
That's not the election, that's gonorrhea.
Posted by: Dildo Schwaggins | November 15, 2016 at 09:14
And speaking of snowflakes: “People just think we’re being overdramatic.”
Posted by: David | November 15, 2016 at 09:29
O/T. Is Lena Dunham actually insane?
Michael Tracey has been outstanding on twitter - even though he's a lefty.
Posted by: Jonathan | November 15, 2016 at 09:50
Campus Reform is trying to list the "Latest 3325 Articles"? What a memory hog.
Posted by: Ted S., Catskill Mtns., NY, USA | November 15, 2016 at 09:52
Ack! It looks like I forgot to close the italics tag! Off to the Correction Booth for me, I suppose.
Posted by: Ted S., Catskill Mtns., NY, USA | November 15, 2016 at 09:55
Hate Crime hoax #3,023 ( actually earlier this year, but you catch my drift)
Posted by: Jonathan | November 15, 2016 at 10:21
#3,024
Posted by: Jonathan | November 15, 2016 at 10:42
More condescending rubbish from American feminists:
That is exactly where I’m starting. I live in a Muslim neighborhood and it’s making me sick thinking about how terrified everyone must be. I’m going to talk to a Muslim coworker today about who to approach and how, and exactly what I can do.
Could this be any more condescending?
Posted by: Tim Newman | November 15, 2016 at 12:20
Have any of y'all picked up on this cognitive dissonance and such going on on LinkedIn? By people in very senior positions, no less. Some in HR as well. Nothing I didn't already know/suspect but with it now out in the open it explains much about how messed up some corporations are. Especially in the so-called diversity department.
Posted by: WTP | November 15, 2016 at 12:55
Have any of y'all picked up on this cognitive dissonance and such going on on LinkedIn?
No, but I'm going to go and look now. LinkedIn has become a rich depository for essays of dim middle-managers and CEOs on how the world should be run. For most it's obviously the first time they've ever put their ideas in writing and put them to test in the public sphere.
Posted by: Tim Newman | November 15, 2016 at 13:07
Especially in the so-called diversity department.
That is where it starts. One has to remember that their existence is dependent upon their finding (read fomenting) "diversity" issues.
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | November 15, 2016 at 13:22
“Don’t make me hurt you, baby. You know I hate hurting you.”
Posted by: David | November 17, 2016 at 12:37
and the ony motivation I have is to spite you
Like he's ever needed an excuse.
#TrueColours
Posted by: [+] | November 17, 2016 at 13:08
re:Chu. There are entire continents with almost no white people. Is he chained to a radiator somewhere such that he can't up and leave? If it's a money issue, a simple GoFundMe campaign would likely raise the necessary funds (probably from white people) to facilitate is evacuation.
Posted by: jabrwok | November 17, 2016 at 15:25