Public institutions of higher education across the nation continue to be quizzed on their dual commitments to social justice and freedom of expression. How can a university community allow potentially polarizing, inflammatory (and perhaps inaccurate) speaker events to occur, while at the same time maintain a firm commitment to creating a just and caring community?
Surveys find that college students believe free speech is critical to democracy; yet students still hold expectations that their institution will curtail any speech that is considered offensive or hurtful. It can be hard to strike a balance.
At the most basic level, the university’s leadership has been clear in articulating that freedom of expression is a First Amendment right. Federal and state laws protect this right in all public institutions; higher education is no exception.
Mason, as a public institution, functions as the public square, and in the public square anybody can speak.
“We are bound by a commitment to allowing our community to passionately express their voices in a variety of ways, from protest and counterprotest to civic engagement and voting,” according to Vice President for University Life, Rose Pascarell.
Mason subscribes to the concept of the university serving as public square or home to a multiplicity of ideas and beliefs that are critical to a democratic society. There is no better place for this to occur than at a public university where dialogue, critical thinking, and the exchange of ideas are paramount. The notion that a group’s questionable narrative and language will be scrutinized is of great value in an educational institution.
Pascarell feels that the public square creates a vital learning experience for students, “Our society at its best is not about who yells the loudest; it’s about talking to each other and understanding where others are coming from.”
Historically, the Mason experience has been one where the freedom to gather and speak, regardless of viewpoint, has been central.
- Early meetings around LGBTQ support and activity on campus were met with protest; Pride Alliance-hosted drag shows drew in hecklers at the sidelines, arguing that drag artists were disrespectful and harmful to traditional notions of gender.
- Take Back the Night rallies against sexual assault involved students bravely marching through campus chanting anti-rape messages, while others tried to impede their movement and speech, offended at the notion that women would be openly talking about the details of their rape.
- Students advocating for pro-choice have stood up with their own bullhorns during anti-abortion rallies, both sides having the opportunity to hear one another
- Student gun control advocates have staged counter-protests amid university-wide and community-involved Second Amendment activities.
- Supporters of the Black Lives Matters movement have staged die-ins in response to the murders of innocent people of color.
- And recently, Mason Students for Life and members of the Black, African Heritage, and Caribbean Coalition have been given a forum to voice their deep disagreement on the use of slavery imagery and narrative as a comparison to abortion.
In many of these instances, the voices heard are often dissident voices. Pascarell emphasizes that “a commitment to freedom of expression as a public institution ensures that all of these events can, will and should occur.”
“Our commitment is to all voices being heard.”
But there does come a price to this. Particularly when the national environment and political climate is rife with examples of incivility, and particularly when we are seeing an increase in hate crimes and bias incidents directed at marginalized communities.
Often times, free expression is used to call into question a group’s deeply held beliefs, experiences, and sense of self – all of which can seriously undermine student well-being. Maintaining a visible commitment to social justice, providing messaging, support, engaging in the revolutionary act of listening, and connecting students to available resources are just as important as a commitment to free expression.
“We try to get folks connected in a constructive, facilitated dialogue so at a minimum students understand what the impact is of their views and beliefs on other folks,” Pascarell said.
And Mason takes this commitment to hearing all voices one step further, by responding with care.
Freedom of expression at Mason is accompanied by a strong commitment to care for members of the community who might feel disparaged or even threatened by someone else’s words.
Even what some might consider hate speech or prejudiced expression is constitutionally protected so long as there is not an immediate threat to safety.
“But with that acknowledgment, we can still create dialogue between students so that the impact of hateful words can be fully understood,” Pascarell said.
Dr. Creston Lynch, Assistant Vice President for University Life, is dedicated to supporting the co-existence of students who bring to Mason a broad range of opinions and positions; this work is underscored by a core value: Diversity is Our Strength.
Under Pascarell’s and Lynch’s leadership, and in partnership with colleagues across every area of the institution, University Life has created an inclusive environment that lets students know Mason is a place that values them and the contributions they make to the campus community – even when people may say otherwise.
“The one thing we must do on the front end is create an inclusive environment where our students feel that, despite hearing things that are counterintuitive to their worldview, Mason is still a place that welcomes and affirms them. It’s essential that we have a record of inclusivity,” said Lynch.
This community of care is especially important given the current political environment that sees people talking past each other at even the highest levels of our government. At Mason, the commitment is to all voices truly being heard, and then acting upon what is heard.
“We try to encourage our students to find some common ground,” Lynch said. “How can you make the connection with someone else’s humanity so that you might be able to have dialogue when it’s appropriate?”
Lynch emphasizes that college campuses do not function in a bubble; opposing beliefs don’t just disappear once students step onto campus.
“It’s important for our students to understand that there are going to be opinions and positions in this world that not only challenge their beliefs, but possibly their entire existence,” he said. “Our focus has to include helping them to develop the activism and advocacy skills that will allow them to raise their voices and challenge those ideologies in hopes of creating a better world.”
The answer is working to help students learn to navigate these real-word scenarios by creating opportunities for dialogue, support, and the development of advocacy skills.
A few examples include:
- Meetings between University Life leadership and student groups as an ongoing forum for leaders to dialogue about students’ lived-experiences and concerns.
- Facilitated workshops on topics related to Freedom of Expression, Constructive Dialogue, and Creating Community, with introductions to these topics made during New Student Orientation.
- Collaborative efforts across University Life units aimed at helping students refine their career development and well-being practices.
- Intentional partnerships with faculty members to create experiential learning programs, connecting students to the community in meaningful and supportive ways.
Taken together, the twin values of free speech and a caring community create teachable moments that shape students both now and into the future. When students leave Mason, they will enter the workforce, and are not likely to have the ability to choose their colleagues. Mason provides the preparation and practice students need to learn how to operate alongside those holding deeply oppositional views to their own, ultimately helping them to navigate our complex society in the most constructive ways.