The woes continue at San Francisco State University. Following the disruption to Riley Gaines's recent appearance there, Turning Point USA activist Jon Root was scheduled to speak last night at the campus. In the runup to the event, the campus newspaper, Golden Gate Express described the confusion as to whether the school would actually allow the event to go forward. As it was, the school withdrew permission for the event to take place citing too many people being expected to attend. In the end, the event was held at a facility across the street from the campus.
On April 18, SFSU President Lynn Mahoney sent a message to the university community regarding the event. While she acknowledged the right of free speech and urged the community to be peaceful, she basically characterized the group, TPUSA, in a negative light and called the Gaines protest "peaceful". (Gaines was assaulted.)
Here is how TPUSA describes it.
The statement by Lynn Mahoney below is taken verbatim from the university website.
President's Messages
Free Speech and Activism
April 18, 2023
Dear campus community:
The intense political polarization of the last decade and its amplification on social media pose new challenges for universities. In particular, college campuses have become sites for politicized conflicts over free speech. I write today to help all understand better why the University must defend the right of all speakers to speak but, just as importantly, to implore that we, as an academic community, not be drawn into conflicts over speech but rally instead to the causes we embrace.
As a recent article in the Golden Gate Express details, some organizations and speakers encourage this conflict, hoping to elicit negative responses on college campuses and looking to draw more media attention to their message. Let’s not inadvertently amplify the divisive messages of others but instead draw attention to speakers and events that support our individual and collective values.
I have received numerous emails asking why I or the University allow certain speakers on campus. First and foremost, we are legally obligated to support freedom of expression. Denying any speaker the right to speak based on the content of their speech would quickly ensure a period of long and expensive litigation. But, more importantly, I support freedom of expression because far more often opponents of this basic right have used it against causes I hold dear like educational equity and civil rights or to stifle accurate depictions of history in textbooks. I support freedom of expression to protect us all.
But there are speakers who will use this right to share messages of division and exclusion, and some as I note above hope to elicit negative responses on college campuses wanting to draw media attention to themselves. We became one of these campus sites of conflict two weeks ago, and, while the discussion with the speaker was peaceful, her departure from campus was unnecessarily delayed by protestors until University Police and SFPD could escort her off campus. This left many on campus very upset while also providing a platform for the speaker and organization to gain media attention and support. This is not an outcome any here desired.
We face our next test tomorrow, Wednesday, April 19. Turning Point USA is hosting a speaker whose message many here will find abhorrent. There is the potential for a large number of participants, and it is likely that the event will occur spontaneously on the Quad, as we have informed the student organization that we have no available venue large enough to host the number of RSVPs they have received. Please note that there will be heightened University Police presence on campus tomorrow to keep all safe.
I urge us all to defy the expectations of media and others who want to see us react negatively and instead use this moment to amplify values of inclusion and not values or speakers we find objectionable. Just as we are an exemplar for social justice, I urge us to become an exemplar for allowing freedom of expression and avoiding the conflicts that some who politicize free speech would like to see occur here. There is no ultimate gain to shouting down or threatening speakers with whom we disagree. I applaud the many faculty, staff and students who have and are actively designing alternative events, hosting teach-ins, and promoting silent and nonviolent means of protest.
While I encourage those who want to hear the speaker or engage with him constructively to attend, I write today to implore all not to disrupt the event or attempt to shout down the speaker, or engage negatively with other participants. Doing any of these will amplify divisive speech and messages and empower speakers with whom you disagree. Engage in protest that does not amplify the message. Boycott the event, protest peacefully, attend the teach-in being held that day, promote your own values and support one another.
There is great support for activism at SF State, but we cannot support behaviors that disrupt events and threaten speakers or anyone on campus. The safety concerns are obvious, but I want to draw attention to the other costs of behaviors that stifle freedom of expression. First, as said above, conflict creates powerful platforms for divisive speakers and actually amplifies their messages. Second, I urge all to consider the impact threatening behaviors have on the staff who manage these events. These are our colleagues from Student Life, Human Resources, Administration & Finance, and Academic Affairs.
I know that having speakers that disagree with our core values can be frustrating, but it is unjust to then redirect it at our own SF State community members. Third, depriving others of their rights – including the right to free speech – is unlawful and cannot be tolerated on our campus. As set out in the CSU Code of Student Conduct and the laws of our State, such action can have serious consequences.
Again, let’s defy expectations, let’s show that we can support our values and disagree with others without providing platforms for polarization and misinformation. There are so many ways to engage in positive, transformative change and promote social justice at SF State. In that spirit, I urge you to participate in Earth Week events to promote important discussions about climate change—the existential crisis of our time. Attend a hip hop celebration or the teach-in being held for SF State students and employees in Humanities 587 tomorrow from 11-3. Faculty and staff will also be available throughout the day to engage in discussion with you and to offer support.
We have defied expectations for decades, let’s do it again.
Best,
Lynn Mahoney, Ph.D.
President
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What can you expect from SFSU and a president who is obviously a left-wing activist? The campus is hostile to any speech deemed conservative. Of course, they are bound to respect the right of free speech, and they cannot simply ban all conservative speakers (SFSU is a public university). What they can do, however, is put up roadblocks and complications when a conservative student group wants to invite a speaker to campus. In this case, it appears that the school withdrew permission to use any room on camp[us because the number of people expected to attend became so large. Another tactic is to require that a group put up an outrageously high security bond.
I recall when speakers like David Horowitz and Milo Yiannopoulos came to UC Irvine to speak and were assigned rooms that were smaller, or hard to find. In the case of Horowitz, his venue was changed from a major meeting room to a smaller room on a remote corner of the campus. In addition, all the whiteboard markers were bone dry, which brought a humorous element into the event.
As for SFSU, I am sure the hip-hop celebration was a big success.
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