More than 1,300 sign a petition that champions free speech
While students from Yale University in Connecticut to Claremont McKenna in California are protesting, demanding more cultural sensitivity, safe spaces and trigger warnings, some students at Princeton University in New Jersey are fighting back.
In response to a sit-in of the university president’s office by 200 members of the Black Justice League, over 1,300 members of the university community signed a petition to ensure that Princeton “maintains its commitment to free speech and open dialogue and condemns political correctness to the extent that it infringes upon those fundamental academic values.”
As signatures on the petition climbed, students formed the Princeton Open Campus Coalition. They wrote to Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber and asked to meet with him to discuss preserving the freedom of speech and civil debate that are the hallmarks of a classical education. Evan Draim, a Princeton senior and one of the group’s founders, told me in an email: “We hope that our peers at other colleges gain inspiration from what we are doing at Princeton.”
The Black Justice League’s demands include a dorm for those who want to celebrate black affinity; mandatory diversity training; and a requirement that students take a course on so-called marginalized peoples. They also want the renaming of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the removal of a mural of President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson, who graduated from Princeton in 1879 and who served as the university’s president from 1902 until 1910, formally segregated the federal workforce.
Campus protests are the latest in many students’ efforts to be protected from situations that they find difficult.
Eisgruber has agreed to set aside four rooms on campus for the use of students of different cultures, and to consult with faculty and the board of trustees on other demands.
Asanni York, a junior who helped organize the protests, said the university was not doing enough to address racial problems on campus, and that “black students on this campus feel uncomfortable every day.” York told me: “I’m focused less on how President Eisgruber resolved the sit-in and more on how campus will change in the next two semesters.”
Wilson was a racist by today’s standards, but he was hardly a reactionary figure in his time. As university president, he tried unsuccessfully to disband Princeton’s now-famous eating clubs on the grounds that they were elitist, and he pioneered the idea that Princeton should be a university “in the nation’s service.” As America’s president, Wilson substantially expanded the size and scope of the federal government including such institutions as the Federal Reserve Board.
Campus protests are the latest in many students’ efforts to be protected from situations that they find difficult. Some students are concerned about eliminating “micro-aggressions” — speech that might, intentionally or not, be offensive. They are asking for “trigger warnings” so they can avoid material that might upset them. All of that results in limiting speech because, if something is potentially offensive, then, according to the new campus fads, it should not be said. And practically everything is potentially offensive to someone.
The fear of limiting speech is what led to the Princeton petition countering the Black Justice League’s demands. The petition’s signatories are concerned that eliminating any mention of Wilson constitutes “historical revisionism”; that mandating what courses students have to take would allow the BJL undue power over the curriculum; and that having black-affinity housing would result in de facto campus segregation.
They suggest that a “diversity requirement” should permit students to study any minority culture, not just a marginalized one, and that students should also have to take a course in Western civilization.
One of the Princeton Open Campus Coalition’s members, Beni Snow, a freshman from Massachusetts, told me: “I don’t think of myself as fighting against the Black Justice League. I agree wholeheartedly that racism is an issue that needs to be addressed. I simply feel that the way to fight racism should not include methods that limit anyone’s academic freedom.”
Not only is the Black Justice League trying to squelch academic freedom, but someone falsely added the signature of politics professor Robert George to the letter sent to President Eisgruber. George is the founder of the James Madison Society, which provides intellectual diversity by bringing conservative speakers to campus.
George wrote in a Facebook post: “In what is the most underhanded tactic I have encountered in 31 years in academic life, my name was fraudulently added to a petition supporting student protestors at Princeton. … Needless to say, this is extremely distressing — especially because the issue concerns values I cherish and that I believe are being placed in peril on campuses around the country, including my own.”
It used to be that education was about being challenged. Now some students want to be shielded from different views and debates. That will not prepare them for life after college. Let’s hope that the example of the Princeton Open Campus Coalition will be emulated by students in universities around the country.
Michael W. Perry Works at Inkling Books DEEP THOUGHTS BY THE DNC NOVEMBER 21, 2015 BY SCOTT JOHNSON IN 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,DEMOCRATS, ISLAM
Most people struggle to make their judgments about people as particular as possible. In contrast, bigots generalize, equating every member of a group with the behavior of some. Don’t forget that applies to both good and bad behavior.
* Some of the time bigots claim that all members of a group are bad because of the behavior of some. That’s how Obama and the Democrats treat Catholics, Evangelicals, and anyone who own guns.
* On other occasions, that’s claiming that all members of a group are good because of the behavior of some. That’s how Obama & Co. use moderate Muslims to ‘sanitize’ the large number of Muslims who support or engage in terrorism. Keep in mind that’s still bigotry. But it’s now a bigotry that hates the critics of violent Islam and equates the criticism of some with criticism of all.
The two behaviors virtually always go together. White supremacy was as much about the superiority of Southern whites as it was about the inferiority of black people. Nazi ideology was about the greatness of ‘Aryan’ Germans and the perversity of Jews. Communist leaders glorified themselves with cults of personality at the same time that they denounced capitalists.
The bigotry of Obama and his party works much the same. For each praised and protected group, there’s a corresponding group that’s portrayed as evil.
1. Christians are bad. (Obama’s remarks about the Crusades.) Islamists are good. (Paris and 9/11 was not about Islam.)
2. Gun owners bad without distinction (Attacks on the NRA). Gun controllers good, even when they are billionaires protected by armed guards who want to disarm everyone but themselves.
3. Police are bad and racist killers (even black cops). Black criminals good and the victims of cops. And notice that the ‘goodness’ here isn’t extended to poor blacks in crime-ridden neighborhoods.
In fact, bigotry often focuses on loudly defending the badness members of a protected group. That’s Kerry ‘rational’ terrorist acts. The Klan were the heroes in the film, “The Birth of a Nation” that was praised by Woodrow WIlson. Islamic terrorists are terrorists. In the news media of various countries, terrorists are described as anything but terrorists: militants (Iraq), youths (France and Sweden), or Asians (UK).
I could go on, but you get the point. Bigotry is dualistic. Denouncing one group as bad is paralleled by praising another as good. All that is, independent of the actual behavior of either the groups as a whole or individual members of it. That’s the essence of bigotry.
What we’re talking about here is the Democratic party being now what it has always been historical, the party of bigotry, standing for bad behavior and opposing good behavior. Generally, that’s done to win elections. In this case, the party seems to have sunk so far in that madness that it is costing them elections. Yet they’re doubling up, refusing to change.
Much of that is due to the dreadful party leadership of Obama and the refusal of Democratic politicians to break with him. He is our Bigot in Chief. Indeed, stirring up hatred seems to be his only talent.
GLWT
“The Black Justice League’s demands include a dorm for those who want to celebrate black affinity”
Does that mean what I think it means?
History may not repeat itself, but it raps.
“the Black Justice League”
I’m waiting to see black Superman vs. black Batman.
“…mandatory diversity training…” The BJL should start with the NBA and college basketball teams whose players are primarily black. I forgot, diversity training is a one way street.
Are they cultural marxists going to demand that Yale change its name? Elihu Yale donated money to the Collegiate School. By doing so, the school changed its name to Yale in his honor. Elihu “amassed a fortune while working for the [East India Company], largely through secret contracts with Madras merchants, against the East India Company’s directive. By 1692, Elihu Yale’s repeated flouting of East India Company regulations and growing embarrassment at his illegal profiteering resulted in his being relieved of the post of governor.”
I wish blacks would bury the hatchet, forgive, and realize we are “all animals on the tax farm.” Whites, blacks, and every other color are modern day slaves on the White House plantation. The oligarchy loves to divide and conquer. We will be unable to work on the bigger issues if we constantly have to deal with this. To me, there are no such thing as African-American, Chinese Americans because that only divides us. We are all Americans…period. Well…except for the treasonous ones.
I wonder what would happen if we were hit with a nuclear bomb or some other kind of weapon?These blacks have no idea how good they have it in this country. I detest these ungrateful bastards. They are thankful for nothing. These called people of color from other countries will not be so kind hearted to these negrows.
Is there a black aquaman in the black justice league? I mean, blacks dont swim, right? Is that a micro aggression? Should I have posted a trigger warning?
It’s the net result of being given everything for 50 years. And what have they made of it? A ghetto / thug culture. They have failed to progress, failed to act like members of the human race. Instead of using the entitlements to raise themselves up, they made a game of it. They are fucked, and they know it. So what’s left to do? Demand more, create phony injustices.
They backed themselves in to a corner.
@destroyer: Sure blacks swim: shit floats.
Im waiting for the Onion image.
Bunch of whining pussies who are mad when they get upset. How in the world are they ever going to hold a job or fight when the chips are truly down. This crap is weird
Fuck you all. I love black people. I think every house should have one…
Were did I put that chain….
I don’t think real free speech will last long at Princeton. They will be silenced soon. If you don’t have the balls to fight, you lose.
Black justice league? You gotta be fucking kidding me !
When blacks clean up their own house up maybe we can have a conversation . But till then fuck em .
When I look at old photos of MLK , man the brothers and sisters were dressed sharp , suits and ties , full dresses and bibles in their hands !
Nowadays cant even seem to pull their pants up .
I want reparations for all the labor dollars taken from me to lift them up that they have UTTERLY wasted !!!!!!.
Think LBJ started this destruction of the black Family and today ? They had the potential to improve, and wasted that chance .
Who does this serve? MR. bb called it . Research the hidden history that aint that damn long ago .
I know I will be flamed , but man, what group is at the core of the vast majority of the LIES that are propagated to todays society ?
If you have the thought to downvote me , I expect you to site what part of history you are referencing , maybe I will learn something . Maggies article on narcissim was eye opening ! I am not adverse to learning a new subject !. But I respectfully ask ,If you respond ,be equally open to new info.
Who were the founding members of the naacp ? Why ? etc , etc , etc ,etc . It is a very deep rabbit hole . The whole history of the world appears to be at least a partial falsehood.
There is a gab in the historical record that I cannot find info on . The answer was contained in the Library of Alexander . Which was burned . 5 different groups conspired to do this . What was lost?
I have found bits and pieces . But the fundamental equation of where civilization came from is LOST. Do not give trite answers . Apparently ,most technologies have indeed been on this earth before . I will give examples if needed .
Einstein said he had no idea what weapons would be used in WW3 , but WW4 would be fought with sticks and stones . I think this has happened at least once in the timeline and bout to happen again (((((((((((((
I am in at least partial agreement with Mr. Hawkings and CERN is a bad idea beyond bad ideas
Anyway , just the ramblings of a cook , trying his best to make it in the world .
Happy Turkey Day !
“History may not repeat itself, but it raps.” Best line evah.
Bob.
Q: Why can’t you call a spade a spade?
A: Because it’s black.