WAS Statement on Campus Protests

WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOLARS

PRESS RELEASE.     POSITION ON CAMPUS PROTESTS

The Wisconsin Association of Scholars, made up primarily of serving and retired academics in higher education, applauds the efforts of leaders of University of Wisconsin System to permit broad exercise of freedom of speech while encouraging civility in discourse. We defend the right to free speech even when many or most find the ideas expressed to be repugnant. But protest must not be allowed to violate university rules and descend into lawlessness. Tolerating unlawful protest undermines the university’s mission and amounts to endorsement of the lawlessness.

Our core principles are the upholding of the standards of a liberal arts education that fosters intellectual freedom, searches for the truth, and promotes virtuous citizenship.    The concept of “institutional neutrality” has been broadly accepted as a means to protect the mission of an institution and combat politicization.   Properly applied, it shields institutions when hot political topics arise.   The Kalven principles, adopted in 1967 by the University of Chicago, state that “the instrument of dissent and criticism is the individual faculty member or the individual student.  The university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic.”  

When misapplied by weak administrators, “institutional neutrality”, as noted by National Association of Scholars President, Dr Peter Wood, empowers the mob, excuses the college president, and undermines rightful authority.   Recent events on over 40 university campuses around the country have demonstrated the chaos and threats to civil discourse and safety that can occur when weak administrators permit the proper exercise of free speech to descend into lawlessness.  Lawlessness includes setting up permanent protest camps against university rules, vandalizing university property, and harassing, intimidating, and assaulting students and others with opposing views.

Administrators speaking for the university who selectively voice sympathetic political opinions and make concessions to protestors abandon institutional neutrality and endorse the protestors’ message and cause. When the protests are unlawful, such administrators reward and encourage lawbreaking.

We advocate for free speech and civil discourse, but also uphold the rule of law and institutional neutrality.  Protest must occur within bounds of civility and rationality.   When others’ rights are violated and laws are broken, the life of the university is obstructed and threatened. Discipline must follow in the form of suspension or expulsion and full prosecution under the law. Those who represent the university must not compromise the mission of the university by selectively endorsing protestors’ or others’ viewpoints. Administrators who fail to uphold the rule of law and institutional neutrality are not fit to lead the university.

Contact:  Professor Benjamin Whitcomb, UW Whitewater, President of WAS.