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A closer look at Georgia Southernās response to studentsā book burning
A book burning on the campus of Georgia Southern University last week had the potential to ignite more than just the pages of the book in question. Controversy, censorship, and heightened campus tensions can result from such demonstrations. But a timely, speech-friendly assessment from Georgia Southernās president ā coupled with robust student media coverage and a responsive student government ā shows how an explicit commitment to freedom of expression can help a community respond to controversy.
Last week, Latina author Jennine CapĆ³ Crucet faced criticism at a Q&A session at Georgia Southern over her novel, āMake Your Home Among Strangers.ā FIRE the author of ādissing white peopleā and making āgeneralizations about the majority of white people being privileged.ā The book, required reading in some of the universityās first-year classes, explores the challenges of a Hispanic college student in a predominantly white environment.
Following the lecture, several students copies of the book on a grill while tweeted an image of a ripped-up copy of the book. Their actions sparked a firestorm of criticism and .
so after our FYE bookās author came to my school to talk about it... these people decide to burn her book because āitās bad and that race is bad to talk aboutā. white people need to realize that they are the problem and that their privilege is toxic. author is a woman of color.
ā elainaāļø (@elainaaan)
In response, Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero sent an to the university community:
From what we have been able to determine, the nightās events were another example of freedom of expression and a continuing debate of differing ideas, which are tenets of our ongoing efforts to align with our values and initiatives encompassing inclusive excellence. Specific to the reported events of that evening, while itās within the studentsā First Amendment rights, book burning does not align with Georgia Southernās values nor does it encourage the civil discourse and debate of ideas.
Thatās exactly the kind of leadership FIREPresident and CEO Greg Lukianoff encourages college presidents to take when campus controversies start brewing. Greg outlined five simple ways college presidents can prove their commitment to free speech. One of the recommended steps is to defend student and faculty speech rights loudly, clearly, and early. The sooner punishment is taken off of the table as an option, the sooner institutional resources can be devoted to viable, effective ways to address the issue.
āI canāt tell you how much of a difference it makes when a university president speaks out when there is a controversy about professor or student speech ā and says in no uncertain terms that the personās speech is, and should be, protected at that college,ā Greg said. āTime and time again, Iāve seen this show of leadership stop embarrassing free speech controversies before they snowball.ā
If Marreroās statement at Georgia Southern didnāt extinguish the flames, they certainly smothered some of the embers, allowing students to speak their minds about what had happened and how to move forward.
The student government quickly organized a with Marrero for students to express their thoughts on the book burning and Georgia Southernās response. The student government president ācontinuing the conversationā at future meetings, telling students that ā[o]pening the door to organic conversation is essential to learning and appreciating our differences.ā The history department opened a door of their own by on the history of book burning. The department of writing and linguistics with their disappointment about book burning and calling for students āto remain civil in disagreement, even on difficult issues.ā Each of these are examples of the āmore speechā approach that FIREencourages.
All the while, student-run newspaper, , offered of the controversy while providing a for students and other community members to weigh in.
All the ingredients were in place to allow civil discourse to take place at Georgia Southern: a student newspaper staffed with dedicated student journalists, faculty members empowered to give historical context to the event, and forums established for students to voice their frustrations. Thatās exactly what is supposed to happen on a college campus.
The only misstep may have been the cancellation of a subsequent event ā and a subsequent chance for angry tweets and book burning to give way to debate and dialogue. Crucet that the event was canceled ābecause the administration said they could not guarantee my safety or the safety of its students on campus because of open carry laws.ā However, a spokesperson for Georgia Southern said Crucetās representative canceled the event, according to . Either way, universities have an obligation to protect speech ā both from censorship and potential violence. As FIRE has written before:
Police officersā most basic obligation is to protect the public from harm ā even when expressing unpopular opinions. Failure to do so not only threatens the safety of individual community members but will inevitably lead to a chilling of speech on campus.
At Wednesdayās forum, the president tough questions. Marrero acknowledged their viewpoints and lamented the universityās history of racial tension:
[T]here is a history at this institution, these kinds of incidents that are at many state universities throughout the United States. We arenāt immune at this institution, and unfortunately have a history, one we have to own, admit and continue to work for to strive, correct and improve. We can't not look back and know that history. I canāt guarantee it wonāt happen again, but what I can guarantee is that we are striving to improve and to make your environment better here every day.
āIn essence,ā Marrero said, āthe First Amendment overrides [the] Student Code of Conduct. And so that is frustrating.ā
Heās right. The First Amendment can be frustrating. It can be frustrating to hear views we find distasteful, offensive, or outright wrong. But thatās part of the deal. We donāt get to unilaterally decide when someone elseās speech is so distasteful, offensive, or wrong that it loses constitutional protection. And in turn, no one gets to unilaterally make that decision about our own speech.
FIRE encourages other schools facing possible controversies to follow a similar path. By speaking out loudly, clearly, and early, Marrero may have avoided a larger controversy.
āSome of you would like to see more formal action taken on the students in the video and I can empathize ā I can sympathize with your frustration and even your anger,ā Marrero The George-Anne. āMy job is to protect the rights of all students.ā
FIRE applauds Marrero for doing just that. We appreciate the Georgia Southern communityās vocal and fiery debate on a difficult subject, and FIREwill continue to monitor the situation to ensure voices on all sides of this contentious issue are heard.
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