FreeSpeech and Censorship: Thread

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Democrats are violent, and gay...


University Of Colorado Declares Misgendering An "Act Of Violence"

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

The University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder) is under fire this week
for a statement on the “Pride Office” website stating that
misgendering people can be considered an “act of violence.”

The guide on pronouns is reportedly the work of students associated
with the office and states that “choosing to ignore or disrespect
someone’s pronouns is not only an act of oppression but can also be
considered an act of violence.”

It is a familiar position for many in higher education.

Opposing viewpoints are now routinely declared to be violence. That
allows professors and students to rationalize their own act of
violence or censorship.

The most vivid example was recently seen at Hunter College, which is
part of the CUNY system. Professor Shellyne Rodríguez recently was
fired after holding a machete to the neck of a New York Post reporter
and threatened to “chop you up.” However, Hunter College decided not
to fire her over a prior incident in which she trashed a pro-life
table run by students.

Rodríguez spotted students with pro-life material at the college. She
was captured on a videotape telling the students that “you’re not
educating s–t […] This is f–king propaganda. What are you going to do,
like, anti-trans next? This is bulls–t. This is violent. You’re
triggering my students.” Even after a remarkably polite student said
that he was “sorry,” Rodríguez would have nothing of it. After all,
espousing pro-life views is now “violence.” Rodríguez rejected the
apology and declared “No you’re not — because you can’t even have a
f–king baby. So you don’t even know what that is. Get this s–t the f–k
out of here.”

Just a week earlier, a professor stopped another “violent” display of
pro-life views in New York. Professor Renee Overdyke of the State
University of New York at Albany shut down a pro-life display and then
resisted arrest.

At the University of California at Santa Barbara, feminist studies
associate professor Mireille Miller Young criminally assaulted
pro-life advocates on campus, and later pleaded guilty to the crime.
She was defended by faculty and students, including many who said she
was “triggered” by a pro-life display and that pro-life advocates were
“terrorists” who did not deserve free speech.

It is that easy. You simply declare opposing views “violent” and then
you can justify your own violence as a matter of self-defense.

The Colorado controversy does not involve acts of violence over
misgendering. Moreover, the guide reflects a deep-felt concern that
using someone’s pronouns incorrectly, even unintentionally, leads to
“dysphoria, exclusion and alienation.” There are also some positive
recommendations in dealing with these difficult situations.

However, this is a university site and there are countervailing free
speech costs to characterizing of opposing views on pronouns as
violence. As have previously discussed how other countries are
prosecuting those who “misgender.” Schools in the United States have
promised disciplinary action against any misgendering despite some
court cases ruling for faculty with opposing views on pronouns. Even
passing out “he/his” candies can result in a university investigation.

Conservative sites like Campus Reform have reported on the Colorado
controversy and sought clarification.

Universities are often presented with difficult countervailing
interests. On one hand, it must maintain a welcoming and tolerant
environment. On the other hand, it must protect free speech values,
including the right to express unpopular views or values.

Colorado students have every right to declare misgendering as violence
in their eyes, even if many of us disagree. However, the university
has an obligation to clearly establish that such views are not the
policy or approach of the university itself.  The site states “This
information was created by students, for students. The university
supports an inclusive environment.” It should state that “while the
university supports an inclusive environment, the statements on this
site are not official statements or policies of the university.”
Otherwise, the university should address the free speech implications
of declaring misgendering as a violent act.