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“What If ….” UO’s leadership was as decisive as OU’s …

… instead of dumping millions on sophomoric strategic communicators and 160over90 branders? The RG Editorial Board asks the question, here.

Update: It appears OU President Bowen may have been a little too decisive, in following up his move to disband the frat with a decision to expel two students. Bowen’s move would be a violation of UO’s Free Speech Policy, which states:

Free inquiry and free speech are the cornerstones of an academic institution committed to the creation and transfer of knowledge. Expression of diverse points of view is of the highest importance, not solely for those who present and defend some view but for those who would hear, disagree, and pass judgment on those views. The belief that an opinion is pernicious, false, and in any other way despicable, detestable, offensive or “just plain wrong” cannot be grounds for its suppression.

Eugene Volokh has more in the WaPo:

University of Oklahoma President David Boren has expelled two students for leading a racist chant. These students’ speech was indeed quite repugnant, but for reasons I discuss here, it’s protected by the First Amendment.

And here’s one reason why. Consider the president’s statement to the students: “You will be expelled because of your leadership role in leading a racist and exclusionary chant which has created a hostile educational environment for others.” Similar things could be said about a vast range of other speech. …

5 Comments

  1. Anonymous 03/10/2015

    Call me cynical, but part of me wonders if OU president Boren is making a show of responding “decisively” to this obvious instance of overt racism to avoid having to deal with the harder stuff.

    This document from OU Unheard, the group that released the video, points to a much deeper set of systemic issues on campus: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dau7s1hpe5yd4ah/Unheard%20Letter.pdf?dl=0

    • Cynic 03/10/2015

      Nothing wrong with being cynical doing the truly right thing, even for the wrong reason is still the right thing.

  2. against racism 03/10/2015

    I hope UO’s greek community holds itself to a higher standard

  3. Dumpster fire 03/10/2015

    What do the RG editors think now? Oops

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