“Controversial” (i.e., conservative) campus speakers have had a difficult spring semester, with responses from students and administrators ranging from full-blown riots to cancellations to literal bans of certain speakers.
It was enough to inspire a commission at Wellesley to ask student groups to think twice before inviting speakers with “controversial and objectionable beliefs” and to consider the possible pain, injury, harm, and damage a guest speaker could inflict on the student body by his or her presence on campus.
People who don’t truly know Charles Murray know only that he co-wrote “The Bell Curve” and therefore is a horrible person who spreads hate wherever he goes. Murray was expecting an audience at Middlebury College in March but instead found a mob waiting for him. A professor from the school was injured when the mob tried to keep her and Murray from leaving campus in their car.
It’s been more than two months since that debacle was captured on video, and Middlebury has at last announced the disciplinary measures handed down.
Middlebury announces end of disciplinary process over disruption of Charles Murray visit https://t.co/oFjnmrpy1p No arrests will be made
— Josh Blackman (@JoshMBlackman) May 24, 2017
Nor even suspensions. https://t.co/JRs0PH2lXE
— Adrian Vermeule (@avermeule) May 24, 2017
No arrests? No suspensions? What, then?
@avermeule @walterolson Double secret probation, tho
— Josh King (@joshuamking) May 24, 2017
Speaker shouted down. Professor seriously injured. Middlebury says "Naughty naughty" to 41 students. Writes it down for 26 others. pic.twitter.com/Vy9vBqlkUO
— Charles Murray (@charlesmurray) May 24, 2017
So, 41 members of the indoor mob received sanctions for participating in the “disruptive protest,” while 26 more will receive a mark on their permanent record.
A disgrace. An utter disgrace. Middlebury ends disciplinary process with no serious punishments. Assault unpenalized https://t.co/oeJsbRv10U
— Robert P. George (@McCormickProf) May 24, 2017
@McCormickProf @PhilipTerzian Told you so. I NEVER expected any other outcome.
— Terry Teachout (@terryteachout) May 24, 2017
@McCormickProf Worded differently: "Future assaults encouraged."
— Tom Sutpen (@woadscrivened) May 24, 2017
@McCormickProf were the actual police involved or just the university?
— antagonist (@antagonist2000) May 24, 2017
According to the report from Inside Higher Ed, the Middlebury Police Department could not identify the specific individual who sent the professor to the hospital. Police added that “as many as eight masked individuals were in the area and used tactics indicating training in obstruction,” so who knows if they were even students? Maybe more schools could consider banning masks rather than banning speakers.
@charlesmurray Sorry , but not shocked, they didn't have the courage to actually punish the barking mad bullies.
— IronHeaver (@IronHeaver) May 24, 2017
@charlesmurray Not surprising considering # professors who condoned violence recently. Faculty doesn't care – probably think students fended off 4th reich
— New Paradigm (@NP_Podcast) May 24, 2017
@charlesmurray I called it months ago. Middlebury does precisely nothing, which is implicit permission for the same behavior to happen in the future.
— Tom Sutpen (@woadscrivened) May 24, 2017
@charlesmurray In the absence of an appropriate (severe) consequence, you can reasonably expect more of the behavior, you allegedly deplore.
— smittelmann (@amajorityofone) May 24, 2017
@charlesmurray I'm feeling better about my son's "transfer" from college to the Marines.
— Gerald Hasty (@GeraldcHasty) May 24, 2017
@GeraldcHasty I'd feel great about it from the get-go.
— Charles Murray (@charlesmurray) May 24, 2017
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Related:
Professor apologizes for his part in bringing about the 'very real pain' caused by Charles Murray visit https://t.co/4szlhj9xYz
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 24, 2017
