University: ‘No Such Thing as Free Speech’

I just told you about Santa Clara University teaching kids to call 911 every time somebody hurts their feelings–but please don’t think such foolishness is confined to California.

Let’s zip across the continent to the opposite coast, to New Jersey–to my own alma mater, Rutgers University.

You know what Rutgers is telling its students? Hey, let’s quote from the student handbook:

“There is no such thing as ‘free’ speech.” Therefore, warns the Office of Student
Affairs, you’d better “think before you speak.” ( http://rare.us/story/rutgers-tells-students-there-is-no-such-thing-as-free-speech/ )

Hello? Hello? Is anybody home? Did they relocate Rutgers to North Korea, or bring North Korea to Rutgers?

The handbook also exhorts students to “Join activities, programs, courses, and practices that promote diversity”–by enforcing uniformity of thought–“and social justice.”

Bias incidents are forbidden, and here’s how Rutgers defines a bias act:

“Bias Acts Are: Verbal, written, physical, psychological acts–” in other words, any action at all, short of dying, which they haven’t yet figured out how to punish–“that threaten or harm a person or group on the  basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression…” Can I stop now? This goes on for quite a bit longer.

When I went to Rutgers, 1967-71, “dissent” was lauded as an end in itself, “dissenters” placed on pedestals, we were all urged to become dissenters, etc. Of course, what they wanted was for students to oppose the Viet Nam War. If you dissented in favor of the war, that was another story.

Wait’ll the next time these yo-yos call me up to ask for money. “Sorry, but I don’t contribute to silly-bugger institutions that promote Stalinism.” And go ahead, I dare you to stay on the line.