Graduation Stories

[Belsnickel]

(05-22-2019, 12:53 AM)bfine32 Wrote: Interesting. You and Dill both say it doesn't matter if the institution is private. You learn something new everyday. 

(05-22-2019, 09:51 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: Correct, private universities and public universities are both... universities...

The difference between a public and private university is only that a public university has the potential to infringe on the right to free speech. Neither type of university should do it. They are both there for the free exchange of ideas and that includes the freedom to dissent and protest.

Commencement speeches shouldn't be political. Speakers at those events should take that into account. Other times at the university? Fine. It should be a place for that exchange of ideas. But a commencement address should be about encouragement, congratulations, moving on to the real world, etc. It should be about the graduates, not about politics. Pence's speech was political, and it was written before anyone stood up and walked out.

Were Pence there at the university to talk about things for any other purpose, I would be saying that those protesting him even being there were in the wrong, that he should be able to express his views and engage in that discussion. Commencement is not the place for that, though, and those that protested have every right to do so. Protesting is about making a public statement, and staying home doesn't send the same message as walking out, not applauding, or turning your back. That is free expression, something all universities, public and private, should foster. If you're going to bring in a contentious, political speaker for an event like this, then you should be willing to allow for the expression of dissent by those in the audience.