Take a look at these students at BC who are working for a livable climate. They epitomize our best and brightest. So why are some of them are at risk of disciplinary action by the BC administration?
Because they continue to hold events about climate action on campus in spite of lacking status as an officially recognized student group. This status has been repeatedly denied in spite of the good faith efforts of the students.
BC’s President, Fr. Leahy, has been clear that this student group and its mission is not welcome at BC:
“BC will not lead on climate, and we certainly won’t lead Catholic or Jesuit communities on divestment.”
BC is located partly in Newton. Freedom of peaceful speech is being suppressed in our community by a university administration which refuses to recognize a legitimate student group and suppresses its message with threat of disciplinary action.
This Sunday (12:45pm starting at the BC T stop on the B line) is an opportunity for Newton to stand for freedom of speech, by joining Bill McKibben, Rev. Robert Massie, and many others working for climate justice across greater Boston. The BC students, some of whom fear severe disciplinary action including expulsion, are for that reason unable to attend, and so this event is being organized by ‘outsiders’ – like residents of Newton.
This is fundamentally opposite healthy democracy and indeed is not even appropriate from a Jesuit values standpoint.
To the President of BC and others acting so heavy-handedly: Fear eats the soul up. Let “your” community speak as they wish responsibly. If not in a University, then where?
The decision not to divest is, of course, debatable, but the unwillingness to recognize the group on campus is puzzling in view of what’s coming out of the Vatican these days.. Pope Francis is coming to the UN in September to talk about the ravages of climate change and concomitant environmental and ecological dislocations. I’ve read an initial draft and it’s as strong, detailed, broad ranging, technically sophisticated and complete as anything I’ve read on the subject.
Bill McKibben is to the Climate Justice movement what MLK Jr. was to civil rights. He’s someone your kids or grandkids will tell stories about seeing. He’ll be speaking at the BC Green Line Stop today at 1pm, in support of BC students being censured and censored by the BC admin.
I think it’s none of our business. The college is allowed to make it’s own rules. I’m sure there’s ample discussion of global climate change on campus.
I didn’t see outrage here when Ayaan Hirsi Ali was refused to speak at Brandeis. Nor do I see people expressing outrage when BDS and Palestinians shout down speakers who advocate for Israel on college campuses.
Oh, I see, free speech applies only to speech you agree with.
Barry, two prominent former Newtonites (Howard Zinn and Yosef Abramowitz) – and Massachusetts State Law – beg to differ with you on freedom of speech on private universities.
Google “yellow rubber chicken zinn abramowitz” and you can read the story.
Okay, Nathan, all I got was an entire book, and I wouldn’t waste my time reading Howard Zinn for more than a brief article.
Why don’t you tell me what YOU think?
Short version: “Rubber Chicken” was about a student defending his right to hang a “divest” (South Africa) sign in his dorm window- BU forced him to remove it- saying it was on aesthetic grounds rather than political/speech grounds (I know, haha, good one BU administration)- he sued, other students testified to hanging ridiculous things like rubber chickens in their windows without being asked to remove them.
Seems to me that case was about individual speech- the BC case seems to me about whether or not BC needs to provide their facilities to a non-sanctioned group- I’m not a lawyer, but it would seem they may be able to at least argue that right, whether or not you agree with BC’s politics in not sanctioning the group (or taking a position on climate change) in the first place. Would be interested in hearing more definitive reading on the matter.
Barry, if it wasn’t clear, I support the right of these students to be recognized as a student group and hold events on campus.
Doug – you are correct in that in BC it is a student group rather than the BU case of an individual. However, that this is a “non-sanctioned’ group is the issue. They have not been recognized as an official student group because the admin doesn’t like their message and wants to suppress it. That’s a freedom of speech issue.
Okay, Nathan, we’re back to where we started. You support this, and I say it’s none of our business and that BC needs to work it out with its students. It has no obligation to allow every group that wants some official status, which would allow use of facilities and a share in student activities funds, to get it.
By the way, I’m opposed to boycott and divestment movements, and not just because there’s an evil one putting pressure on Israel.
Anyway, Nathan, when I asked the question, I knew what you think. I wanted to know why you see it as a “free speech” issue. Nobody is interfering with their right to say anything they want.
The students have been threatened with academic discipline by the admin if they speak out on campus – so yes, this is interference with freedom of speech.
I don’t agree, Nathan, that it’s an infringement on “free speech”. It’s a BC decision on how their private property can be used. The article you posted on it even says there are a lot of outside agitators who want to demonstrate. I don’t call that a school activity.
The bottom line is that it’s something you believe in, with a dogmatic religious fervor, and you think you can interfere with everyone’s life in order to convey your message. There’s plenty of activity in support of combating global climate change. It’s not being suppressed. Even up to the President of the US and the United Nations.