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Elizabethtown College bars TPUSA chapter from hosting speaker opposed to critical race theory

Joe Basrawi at the 2021 Young Latino Leadership Summit hosted by Turning Point USA. Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania recently notified a campus chapter of Turning Point USA it would not allow the group to host an event featuring Basrawi because of his views on critical race theory. (Gage Skidmore / Flickr.com)
Discrimination. Censorship. Elizabethtown College is quickly gaining a reputation for disregarding student rights. FIRErecently covered the college鈥檚 hosting of a racially segregated event. Now add to the college鈥檚 missteps its refusal to approve a student group鈥檚 guest speaker because of the speaker鈥檚 political views.
On Oct. 5, FIREwrote privately to Etown, calling on the college to recommit to its after it notified the campus chapter of a student organization, Turning Point USA, that it could not host conservative political commentator Joe Basrawi.
The college ignored our letter, just as it remained silent when we called out its decision to endorse racial segregation. If Etown won鈥檛 defend its actions to 果冻传媒app官方, the college at least owes its student body and the public an explanation for why it continues to trample on the rights it promises 鈥 or that it is required by federal law to respect, as in the case of nondiscrimination on the basis of race 鈥 to its students.
How Etown censors students: Gradually, then suddenly
In August, the TPUSA chapter president, Alex Russo, invited Basrawi to campus to speak at one of the group鈥檚 events. Basrawi chose critical race theory as the topic of his planned talk. Russo reserved a lecture room for the event. Before obtaining separate approval for the speaker, the TPUSA chapter advertised the event on its Instagram page, posting a flyer titled 鈥淐ritical Hate Theory.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

On Sept. 20, Carina Carpenter, the Assistant Director of Community Living and Student Activities, called Russo to tell him the event could not proceed with the word 鈥渉ate鈥 in the title and that guest speakers needed to be approved by the college. After the phone call, Carpenter emailed Russo to tell him what the college needed to approve Basrawi鈥檚 speaking appearance. Russo immediately replied with the requested information. TPUSA also changed the advertisement to say 鈥淐ritical Race Theory鈥 instead of 鈥淐ritical Hate Theory.鈥
The event appeared to be on track for approval.
Then, on Sept. 23, four days before the event was scheduled to take place, Dean of FIRENichole Gonzalez asked Russo to meet with her and Associate Dean of FIREJenn Crowder to 鈥渄iscuss concerns with your proposed speaker.鈥 At that meeting, Gonzalez told Russo and TPUSA officer Gavin Phillips that the Basrawi event would not be approved.
Crowder confirmed that decision in an email, which also noted that she had directed Russo 鈥渢o the Club and Org handbook so they were aware of the approval process to avoid publicizing events prior to approval, etc. which was an issue with this event.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
Russo replied to that email to memorialize what was discussed at the meeting. Russo鈥檚 email reveals that the denial of the speaker request was premised on objections to Basrawi鈥檚 views. Despite Russo asking Crowder and Gonzalez to let him know if his email left anything out, neither administrator disputed the account in Russo鈥檚 email. Nor has Etown鈥檚 president or any other administrator disputed that account in response to 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 letter.
FIRE again calls on Etown to right the ship and show that its commitments to free expression 鈥 and nondiscrimination 鈥 are more than just lip service.
According to Russo, Gonzalez told him and Phillips that she and Etown鈥檚 administration feel 鈥淭PUSA is an organization, and Joe Basrawi is an individual, that seeks to cause division and disorder on campuses,鈥 and that Basrawi would do exactly that by speaking about critical race theory. The administrators raised concerns that Basrawi 鈥渨as not a Critical Race Theorist.鈥 They said they 鈥渨ere strongly opposed to the speaker,鈥 claiming he is 鈥渋ntentionally disruptive,鈥 and Gonzalez 鈥渆xpressed concern that the college cannot sanction an event allowing or promoting an alternative or negative view of CRT.鈥 The administrators also said TPUSA 鈥渘eeded to follow proper Club and Organization Handbooks in order to approve future events properly.鈥
TPUSA ultimately held the event off campus, apparently without incident. But no student organization should be denied the use or benefits of tuition-supported campus resources merely because administrators disagree with the group鈥檚 beliefs or those of the speakers it wishes to hear. This sends a terrible message to students: express or associate with only views that meet our approval, or leave campus.
Etown neglects its own free speech promises
Etown鈥檚 refusal to allow TPUSA to host Basrawi due to his views on critical race theory and the anticipated reaction to his speech flies in the face of the college鈥檚 firm commitments to free expression. The , for instance, guarantees students the 鈥渞ight鈥 to 鈥渆xpress diverse opinions.鈥 FIRE 鈥渆ncouraged to develop and challenge their own values, while seeking to understand and appreciate alternative perspectives.鈥 The college even has a 鈥,鈥 in which students and faculty 鈥減ledge to respect the free exchange of ideas both inside and outside the classroom.鈥
These free speech protections mean Etown can place only reasonable, viewpoint-neutral restrictions on student groups鈥 ability to host guest speakers. The college cannot veto a student group鈥檚 speaker invitation simply because the speaker may express views that some students find offensive or divisive. As we stated in our letter, 鈥淚n matters of politics and social relations, there is scarcely an opinion or position that is not offensive to someone.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
If offensiveness or listener reactions were consistently used as the standard for what speech is acceptable, student groups of all political stripes would struggle to obtain approval for speakers on any contentious political issue, foreclosing the 鈥渇ree exchange of ideas both inside and outside the classroom鈥 endorsed by the college.
To the extent that Etown barred Basrawi from speaking out of fear that members of the college community would become disruptive, the college ratified a heckler鈥檚 veto 鈥 an inimical form of censorship long rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, but that authorities continue to use to suppress or punish unpopular speech. 鈥淲hen authorities capitulate to the heckler鈥檚 veto,鈥 we explained to Etown, 鈥渢hey incentivize future disruptive conduct, and viewpoints across the political spectrum become vulnerable to censorship. Etown may punish those who react to speech with violence or misconduct, but it may not silence the speaker.鈥 Colleges have a responsibility to ensure the safety of expressive events 鈥 anticipated disruption cannot excuse censorship.
While Crowder also mentioned that TPUSA鈥檚 publicizing of the event before it was approved was an 鈥渋ssue,鈥 nothing in the prohibits student groups from advertising an event online prior to official approval. This minor issue did not appear to be the reason for the denial, in any event, as the college solicited information from Russo about the speaker to review the request after it was made aware of the publicity. The administrators鈥 full explanation of their denial of TPUSA鈥檚 speaker request makes clear that their actions were motivated by objections to Basrawi鈥檚 views. And Etown鈥檚 censorship of the language in TPUSA鈥檚 advertisements for the event compounded the violation of the group鈥檚 expressive rights.
Colleges have a responsibility to ensure the safety of expressive events 鈥 anticipated disruption cannot excuse censorship.
Private colleges like Etown are not bound by the First Amendment and have no obligation to promise their students the right to free expression. But many colleges, including Etown, enshrine this principle in their policies because they wish to establish themselves as strongholds of free thought and unfettered inquiry. They recognize that these values are important and cherished by students, faculty, and the general public.
Etown is faltering on its obligations to protect student rights. FIREagain calls on Etown to right the ship and show that its commitments to free expression 鈥 and nondiscrimination 鈥 are more than just lip service.
FIRE defends the rights of students and faculty members 鈥 no matter their views 鈥 at public and private universities and colleges in the United States. If your rights are in jeopardy, get in touch with us: thefire.org/alarm.
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