Iowa State U Uses Neat Trick to Shut Down Milo Yiannopoulos Event

Hat tip Iowa State Daily and Breitbart


A student group at Iowa State University has cancelled an appearance by conservative pundit Milo Yiannopoulos after the school dramatically raised the security fee at the last minute.

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/politics_and_administration/campus/article_7ec13176-bb3d-11e6-97d3-ebc0806d061b.html

"Physical altercations, bomb threats and threats of weapons violence at other universities where Yiannopoulos has appeared or was scheduled to appear have resulted in the need for the Memorial Union to require additional security for this event," the statement said."

So now universities are learning how to shut down speakers they don't want coming to their schools. Simply cite  security concerns then force the organizers to cough up outrageously high security fees. Of course, the concern is not that violence will be carried out by Milo and his supporters. It is the threat of violence by the other side that is sufficient.

This brings to mind what happened after Milo first appeared at UC Irvine several months ago. When the College Republicans announced their intention to bring him back, UCI hit them with a one-year suspension over some minor technicality over security arrangements for the first appearance. When the news went viral and UCI was embarrassed nationally, they tried to ease their way out "pending CR's appeal". CR then said, "What appeal?" The punishment was reduced to a letter of warning, and UCI's administrators looked like a bunch of dopes.

But the Iowa State case sets a dangerous precedent. All one has to do now is lead the school to fear there will be violence, and they can cancel the event altogether.

Or find a slick way to make the organizers cancel it themselves.