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The delicate balance of free speech
By: R. Gerald Turner
Posted: 4/17/07
Supporting the right of free speech, especially regarding content
that can be offensive morally, religiously, politically and
academically, is a challenge faced continually by institutions of
higher education nationwide. The issue is especially delicate when, as
part of leadership training, an institution gives student groups the
ability, under certain guidelines, to originate or co-sponsor events
that may include controversial topics and speakers.
Over the past weekend, two events co-sponsored by SMU student
groups in campus facilities have stimulated debate on whether the
university should allow such events involving external groups that
espouse views contradicting accepted scientific and/or historical
findings and processes. Each instance requires balancing sometimes
conflicting but cherished academic and human values with the tradition
of free speech and open dialogue embraced by our nation and this
institution. In my 12 years as president of SMU, I have leaned toward
free speech when the balance is close.
To be sure, there are topics and circumstances that warrant
institutional intervention, perhaps leading to cancellation of the
event. These include content or activity that threatens safety or
violates standards of decency. The most difficult and delicate cases
are those in which content rises to an egregious level of offense, and
the institution must make a judgment call on whether this circumstance
is extreme enough to warrant restriction of free speech. One of the
obvious thorny elements in such decisions is that the level of offense
can vary according to the eye of the beholder.
In most cases, the institution simply restricts its involvement to
reaffirming its educational values and making clear that the event's
location on campus does not imply the university's endorsement of its
content. The student group sponsoring the event then coordinates the
program. It is entirely appropriate, however, for the subject matter
experts on campus and elsewhere to challenge information that ignores
or distorts knowledge based on bonafide research, thus invigorating
campus dialogue and making the situation a teachable moment. The recent
commentaries and letters of SMU science faculty regarding last
weekend's "intelligent design" event are a good example.
We monitor our policies and procedures to ensure that campus groups
sponsoring events are following university procedures, that they gather
sufficient information before providing sponsorship, and that they work
appropriately with campus officials in managing issues that may arise.
Those issues may include consideration of freedom of speech and the
worthiness of program content, but debating and addressing them will be
an important part of the students' learning experience, and perhaps our
own.
About the writer:
R. Gerald Turner is the president of SMU.
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