USA TODAY International Edition
THE ‘ MUSCLE’ AGAINST A FREE PRESS
What Mizzou and Yale students need to learn about the First Amendment
As a student at the University of Missouri in the ’ 70s, I learned about the then- recent civil rights movement and the role of the First Amendment in a free society. It appears the curriculum has changed.
On the one hand, students’ peaceful protests against racial discrimination and the unprecedented engagement of Missouri’s football team and coach led to the departures of Missouri system President Tim Wolfe and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin. Students used the full range of First Amendment freedoms — speech, press, petition, assembly and faith — to accomplish social and political change.
On the other hand, when reporters tried to report on these developments, they found student protesters carving out a chunk of university property as a private camp, proclaiming that journalists were not welcome. In a now- viral video, student photographer Tim Tai — working for ESPN — explained that the “First Amendment protects your right to be here and mine,” only to be met with a wall of protesters pushing him back.
When another young journalist worked his way around the line and started to ask questions, communications professor Melissa Click called for “muscle” to evict the reporter from public property. Suddenly, the idealists looked like bullies, seemingly oblivious to anyone’s rights but their own, and apparently unaware that a free press has long amplified the courageous work of those who fought for civil rights. Those who marched and protested were the heroes of the movement, but it was national coverage of their brave acts that helped turn the tide.
GIVING CRITICS AMMUNITION
The incident gives critics of “political correctness“ammunition. They point to the hypocrisy of the students who demand to be heard, but are willing to silence others.
Just this week, Yale lecturer Erika Christakis came under fire by students for her thoughtful memo questioning the university’s annual warning about inappropriate Halloween costumes. Her daring position: “Is there no room anymore for a child or young person to be a little bit obnoxious … a little bit inappropriate or provocative or, yes, offensive?”
Now students are asking for her resignation, a demand that is simultaneously inappropriate, provocative and offensive.
Yet the video of the student photographer has resonance because it seems to confirm what so many of us have seen firsthand. Too many of America’s universities focus on the right not to be offended — or even be made uncomfortable — instead of embracing America’s robust tradition of a free and open exchange of ideas. Too often, speakers are banned and professors are punished for controversial views.
A TEACHING OPPORTUNITY
We can’t let grade schools or high schools off the hook, either. A Knight Foundation survey in 2014 found that one in four teens believes that the First Amendment gives us too much freedom. There’s a teaching opportunity there. Unless we convey to the next generation that freedom of speech works best when we’re willing to listen to others, we’ll continue to have a national conversation based on outrage and anger.
A sliver lining to the confrontation between protesters and news media was the chance for the world to see Tai demonstrate grace under pressure. making his case for a free press with restraint and insight. We can only hope that for every “muscle”- bound professor, there are hundreds of other young men and women who with a straight face can say they’re there to “document history” — and mean it.