Coulter Speech Cancelled

Ann Coulter, a prominent and controversial American political commentator, has had her planned speech to a group of students at the University of Ottawa cancelled by the organizers, who cite concerns of violence at the event. Ezra Levant, a respected conservative figure, said that there was a “risk of physical violence”. According to The Globe and Mail, students had pulled fire alarms to cause evacuation of the building where Coulter was scheduled to speak. Coulter, who was warned by the provost of the University of Ottawa to avoid “hate speech”, certainly has an inflammatory style that many in Canadian politics are not used to – but one that she shares with left-wing activists such as (her example) Michael Moore, who, according to her, has never received such a warning.

Naturally, I disagree with any warning given to a speaker on the grounds of the idea of free speech being paramount. It galls me even more that the university appears to be targeting only one side of the political spectrum, a trend which has become all the more apparent in recent years. In spite of the fact that I disagree with some, even many, of Coulter’s views, and that I believe she should state them more civilly, the university still has no right to lecture her on what to say or impede on her right to say it.

Unfortunately, threats of violence have become an acceptable way to remove speakers, especially right-wing and pro-Israel speakers, from campus events. All the students opposed to the speakers need to do are to send some letters, make some Facebook posts, and drop the right hints here and there, and suddenly, the speaker they dislike is gone, and the majority of the student body then only has one opinion to listen to – the opinion which is endorsed by the small, violent group.

That is not freedom of speech. Canada’s universities should be providing security, quelling out-of-order disturbances (there is nothing wrong with protests, but they must be peaceful), and doing whatever is necessary to ensure that diverse opinions can be broadcast on campus. Universities who do not take these steps are not worthy of receiving our money – taxes or tuition. And why should they? No institution which allows only one point of view should ever be allowed to call itself an educational one.

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