These College Kids Are Not Alright
Last week, students at the University of Virginia, including those on the editorial board of its newspaper,
The Cavalier Daily, demanded that the school forbid former Vice President Mike Pence from speaking there this April, claiming his speech would jeopardize “the well-being and safety of students.”
“We refuse to condone platforming Pence,” The Cavalier Daily wrote in an editorial. “Hateful rhetoric is violent — and this is impermissible. … Nevertheless, the university has accepted
Pence’s visit as an ‘opportunity to hear from, and engage with, leaders and experts from a wide variety of fields and perspectives.’ So-called ‘perspectives’ should not be welcomed when they spread rhetoric that directly threatens the presence and lives of our community members.”
Among their many complaints about Pence is the planned subject of his lecture. He plans to (God forbid) “take a stand for America’s founding,” the editorial board wrote, which should sound “warning bells” because such a topic would undoubtedly have racist undertones.
They also accused him of the usual transgressions: “transphobia, homophobia, and racism” — each of which is a cliche insult leftists throw around when they can’t think of any other way to express their disapproval.
“To our administration — we implore you to do better,” the students wrote. “Protect your students. To our fellow students and community members, particularly those who have been adversely affected by Pence — we stand with you.”
Just think: These are the future professionals who will one day be running our institutions.
It should go without saying that a former government official addressing a group of students is not a crisis. No one is forcing the students who dislike Pence to attend the event or listen to him speak. They could just choose to ignore him or respectfully protest outside the event if they so choose.
What they cannot do is try and chase Pence off-campus by accusing him of “violence” he has never committed. He has the right to hold beliefs that differ from the University of Virginia’s and share them with the students who want to listen. That does not make him a danger; it makes him a human being.
These students’ intolerance toward Pence is the real threat. They have sunk into a dangerous form of illiberalism in which the mob rules and anyone who disagrees is punished. And before long, they’ll be bringing this attitude into a corporation near you.