To use a phrase coined by Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit, “punch back twice as hard.” Berkeley College Republicans: Shapiro Is Coming Whether Berkeley Likes It Or Not. | Daily Wire
UC Berkeley continues to make futile attempts to police free speech via lies, deceit, and incoherent policy.
News broke Wednesday that Ben Shapiro would not be able to speak at Berkeley because “despite extensive efforts, we have been unable to identify an available campus venue that meets your stated criteria,” a university administrator said. Self-absorbed, academia bureaucrats went on to tell the Berkeley College Republicans, “Although it is not common practice for the Dean of Students office or the LEAD Center to work on securing space reservations on behalf of a Registered Student Organization (RSO), our interest in supporting your ability to host speakers of your choice has led us to make additional efforts on your behalf.”
Laughable, I bet if OJ wanted to speak at Berkeley there would be no problem. The College Republican’s have also had issues with obtaining permission for Ann Coulter, Milo Yiannopoulos and others to speak. But higher ranking royalty hasn’t had problems finding space to speak on their campus, including Justice Sotomayor and Vicente Fox.
Former speakers were all barred from speaking at Berkeley because the administration would place arbitrary hoops the Berkeley College Republicans would have to jump through in order to host an event. Other organizations could host Justice Sotomayor and Vicente Fox (former President of Mexico) at any venue and time they wanted, without the university skipping a beat. But as soon as the Berkeley College Republicans attempted to bring prominent conservatives on campus, the University turned obstructionist. They delayed and increased the costs of hosting an event, caved to the heckler’s veto as a “security risk,” and turned to enforcing unwritten policies such as “high profile speakers cannot speak in the evening” (despite the fact Vicente Fox and Justice Sotomayor spoke in the evening).
The College Republican’s conclude:
In the past, I at least could have a little respect for the administration and faculty’s unabashed willingness to violate my constitutional rights. Now, my rights continue to be violated by shadowy figures inside the administration that enforce half-baked policies and take home six-figure paychecks, insisting they’re my friend.
Why would the administration embrace hypocrisy and shut down conservatives when they should believe sunlight is the best disinfectant for supposedly immoral conservatism? Answer: snowflakes melt, and the Leftist administration is petrified to lose their disciples. They have devoted millions of taxpayer dollars to brainwash adherents, and exposure to a logical, differing viewpoint could create conservative converts. Therefore, the university is willing to pull out all the stops: security concerns and fees, curfews, hate speech. Whatever claim would justify stalling and shutting down the event to avoid jeopardizing UC Berkeley’s influence and power.
I have some bad news for you, Berkeley: We will never waiver in our fight for free speech, and Ben is coming to Berkeley whether you like it or not.
If Chancellor Christ wants tickets, tell her to email me at bradleyp.devlin@gmail.com.
Got that Chancellor Carol Christ? You can get tickets to hear Ben Shapiro speak, on YOUR campus, by emailing Bradley Devlin, your new bff, at bradleyp.devlin@gmail.com.
Let Freedom Ring.
