The Chronicle of Higher Education is reporting that Virginia Tech's Governing Board has voted to 1) bar advocates of extreme political views from speaking on the campus. Under the new policy, student groups must seek the president's approval if they wish to invite speakers who support or take part in activities that could be construed as "domestic violence or terrorism." and 2) change the university's antidiscrimination clause so that it no longer prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Where to begin?
First we'll throw out the First Amendment (Everybody's doing it these days. It's quite fashionable, dontchyaknow?) and have the State of Virginia start telling its citizens what sort of speech is acceptable and which sort is just too extreme for our college student's sensitve ears. Second, the justification for this has to return to that now-tired spectre of "terrorism". Please. I also find it odd that they used the phrase "domestic violence". Does this mean that someone convicted of beating his wife is not allowed to speak at Virginia Tech? That might actually be a policy worth thinking over!
But then the "While we're at it why don't we sanction some gay-bashing." is just too laughable for words. They've gone mad!
This board is appointed by the Governor of Virginia. Write him and tell him to remove every one that voted for this nonsense.
Update (3/14): The Washington post has an article that says the Governor is opposed to the board's actions and that the board also did away with affirmative action at that busy meeting on Monday. Up next on their agenda: burn all the library's books.
Posted by Brian at March 13, 2003 09:16 AM