Students and faculty recently gathered to hear speakers address the issue of free speech on campus. And they got an earful from President Hahs. She spoke of the need for civility and non-disruptive behavior and reminded us of Dr. Martin Luther King, particularly of his “Letter From A Birmingham Jail”. Dr. King, she noted, recommended civil disobedience and knew what the price for such action amounted to. To practice civil disobedience could lead to jail time, and that she said was the “message of Martin Luther King.”
Now, I’ve read the famous letter and some of Dr. King’s other writing, and nowhere do I find his message to be, “Let’s take to the streets so we can get jailed.” That was more like the message of the Alabama state troopers. And that was pretty much the message of our president. When addressing students on the issue of free speech on her campus, she pretty much said, “I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death my right to have you arrested.” Our students rightly understood her statements as a threat.
Well, here’s my message to the president: Madam President, I first started teaching at this university in one of the nation’s most troubled times. A time when Martin Luther King was being arrested for demonstrating against racial injustice and when students and faculty were active on campus protesting the war in Vietnam. There were,on this very campus, marches, demonstrations, debates, some shouting and even pushing and shoving – though the latter was done by outside agitators brought in by an agent provocateur working for the Chicago Police Department. And do you know, Madam President, even with all that tumult on campus, there was never one arrest, and so far as I know, no threats of arrest. In fact then President Sachs spoke at one of our anti-war rallies. Moreover, classes were conducted as usual, students continued to study, subjects were taught and graduations occurred on time.
Universities might invite speakers, and demonstrations may occur at various events, but speakers and demonstrations remain tangential to what a university is about. The core of what goes on at a university is what happens in the classrooms, and no amount of unruly protest at NEIU has ever seriously damaged that. In fact when students are actively and passionately engaged in demonstrating on campus for various causes, this school has always been a more interesting place and classes themselves a lot more engaging. Students don’t simply ask us, Will this be on the exam?
Our ads don’t read, “Learn at Northeastern. Lead somewhere else”; and a president wishing to preside over a free and dynamic university can do well to overlook the actions of students whom she considers overzealous. They are not harming this university
Harry White
Department of English