Over eight years ago, when he canceled a planned speech by John Derbyshire, then-President Adam Falk wrote that the college should only cancel speakers “in the most extreme circumstances.” There was a line, he said, and he found it with Mr. Derbyshire:
Many of his expressions clearly constitute hate speech, and we will not promote such speech on this campus or in our community.
Some hold that many of Amahl Bishara’s expressions constitute hate speech. And yet several college programs are sponsoring International Education Week (IEW), a week-long program which includes her talk. This Tufts University Anthropology Professor will be presenting tomorrow, Friday, November 22 in Griffin 3 as noon, “Speaking Across Generations and Geographies of the Ongoing Nakba.”
The talk was originally titled “Gaza Genocide”.Unfortunately, there is no programming as part of IEW providing the opposing point of view, that is no program defending the Jewish State.
In 2016, then-President Falk claimed that he had found the line of acceptable discourse. Several alumni believe that Profesor Bishara crosses that line. One wrote to me, saying that her planned speech on “Gaza Genocide… creates a hostile environment in violation of the Faculty Handbook Code of Conduct.”
I would not invite either Derbyshire or Bishara to speak at Williams College—or any place for that matter. At the same time, neither should be canceled.
The college programs which invited her obviously disagree.
So, I ask: who draws that line of acceptable discourse?
It is a difficult line to draw. What constitutes hate speech to one is advocacy to another.
For the record, I happen to disagree with both speakers. I would not invite either Derbyshire or Bishara to speak at Williams College—or any place for that matter. At the same time, neither should be canceled.
Each was invited, one by a student group, the other by several college programs (those sponsoring the week’s programming). Because Derbyshire’s talk was canceled, he was not given a fair hearing at Williams College. He could not make his case. Neither students nor faculty for that matter could challenge him with tough questions.
Bishara will be speaking tomorrow, albeit with a topic different from the one she was initially scheduled to deliver. She should be given a fair hearing. Students, even if they, no, especially if they disagree with her, should come to hear her speak. They should listen quietly and attentively. And then when she is done speaking, challenge her with tough questions that are both thoughtful and respectful.
Williams students are bright. Many are inquisitive. They should be able to handle uncomfortable learning, as Robert Gaudino might put it, and difficult conversations.
College programs have invited Professor Bishara, a controversial speaker and a critic of the Jewish State. She should be allowed to speak. After she has spoken, those same programs should invite a supporter of the Jewish State to offer a counterpoint to her talk. And Williams College should give that individual as prominent a platform as that it afforded Professor Bishara.
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