4 ms·

Until the hecklers are punished, the "stand" is meaningless.

musicale 4y ago
As noted in the memo (p.9), a law school dean at the event appeared to grant permission and even to "endorse the disruption." Students could (very reasonably) argue that they were granted explicit permission and approval at the event by attending administrators.
flangola7 4y ago
On what charge would they be punished? Academia and the law both have broad speech protections.
- Georgelemental 4y ago
  Heckling, screaming, shouting people down, creating a disturbance…
  - flangola7 4y ago
    Are you kidding me?
- gnicholas 4y ago
  They violated the school's rules on disrupting events. The SLS dean had sent out an email that day reminding them of those rules. The DEI dean (lower ranking than the SLS dean) did indicate her pride at what was happening, which could be viewed as endorsing the behavior. But they were put on notice in writing, that day, by the senior dean. To be clear, they could not have been punished for violating any laws. But the school could have punished them, and the state bars to which they will be applying could deny them admission based on their behavior. This would have a serious impact on their ability to earn money and/or repay loans.
  - flangola7 4y ago
    Thanks for the clarification. I do wonder how the wealthy families who bankroll the school would feel about their kids getting punished for shouting down known bigots. I'm sure many would approve, but many also would not. It's likely the school's has incorporated this fact into their response.
- goatlover 4y ago
  Hecklers trying to prevent a speaker from speaking should simply be removed from the talk. Their only goal is to be disruptive.
  - flangola7 4y ago
    Sounds to me more like it's the speaker that shouldn't have been invited in the first place.
    - goatlover 4y ago
      Sounds to me like some students are trying to decide on behalf of everyone else in the university who should or shouldn't be invited. It doesn't work like that. You act as if it was all students and faculty. It's almost never that.

As noted in the memo (p.9), a law school dean at the event appeared to grant permission and even to "endorse the disruption." Students could (very reasonably) argue that they were granted explicit permission and approval at the event by attending administrators.

flangola7 4y ago

On what charge would they be punished? Academia and the law both have broad speech protections.

Georgelemental 4y ago
Heckling, screaming, shouting people down, creating a disturbance…
- flangola7 4y ago
  Are you kidding me?
gnicholas 4y ago
They violated the school's rules on disrupting events. The SLS dean had sent out an email that day reminding them of those rules. The DEI dean (lower ranking than the SLS dean) did indicate her pride at what was happening, which could be viewed as endorsing the behavior. But they were put on notice in writing, that day, by the senior dean. To be clear, they could not have been punished for violating any laws. But the school could have punished them, and the state bars to which they will be applying could deny them admission based on their behavior. This would have a serious impact on their ability to earn money and/or repay loans.
- flangola7 4y ago
  Thanks for the clarification. I do wonder how the wealthy families who bankroll the school would feel about their kids getting punished for shouting down known bigots. I'm sure many would approve, but many also would not. It's likely the school's has incorporated this fact into their response.
goatlover 4y ago
Hecklers trying to prevent a speaker from speaking should simply be removed from the talk. Their only goal is to be disruptive.
- flangola7 4y ago
  Sounds to me more like it's the speaker that shouldn't have been invited in the first place.
  - goatlover 4y ago
    Sounds to me like some students are trying to decide on behalf of everyone else in the university who should or shouldn't be invited. It doesn't work like that. You act as if it was all students and faculty. It's almost never that.