General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So any speech by anyone must be allowed an audience and center stage at a [View all]Azathoth
(4,607 posts)People often misunderstand the First Amendment as guaranteeing everyone the right to a platform for their speech. It doesn't. A radio host is not entitled to say whatever he wants on the air without fear of being fired. But universities are a special case. The hallmark of a university is free inquiry, the open and equal sharing of ideas in the search for knowledge... specifically without the requirement that a majority of people like or agree with the ideas being shared. Hence tenure. And hence the long tradition of inviting speakers with radical and often distasteful ideas.
I'm personally sympathetic to the notion that serious ideas and serious speakers should be given priority over entertainers and provocateurs. I would take a sincere Nazi philosopher over Ann Coulter any day. But since the definition of "serious" is inherently subjective, it's impossible to enforce that principle in practice. So yes, anyone whose words stay within the boundaries of protected speech is eligible to be invited to speak at a university, and once invited the university has a moral and professional obligation to allow them to speak.