General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So any speech by anyone must be allowed an audience and center stage at a [View all]sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)from two different positions (the school and the ability of school groups to schedule who they want) and unfortunately I've had trouble closing the circle.
Berkeley has the right to decide how it's population invites speakers and they seem to have done a very bad job of getting the message out about what the rules are. They have to either tighten up the rules, or make damn sure everyone including the media knows what they are. Something like saying any accredited group on campus like the young republicans or any other may not advertise a specific date with any speaker until a room has been secured and approved by the University. The school also has to put some teeth in this rule, if the pukes did invite Coulter and put out a date when she was coming to spew idiocy without first getting a date and room the speech is off and the pukes can't offer another speech for 6 months or something. This has to apply to everyone, if the campus hibiscus lovers book someones aunt to speak to the group and don't have the requisite permission, they can't do it again for 6 months.
Where this whole thing gets hairy is when security is involved. The alt-right and their pedophile poster boy are really good at inciting violence and I don't have a good answer on how to minimize the risk. Mandatory tickets to the event and closed streets? Zero tolerance against violence, get arrested you get charged and if found guilty have to make restitution? No masks / face coverings at demonstrations to give the police a better chance of IDing people?
A way has to be found short of what seems to be arbitrary cancellation of speeches. In this case it's looking more like Berkeley is just being outgunned on the perception front. I would have preferred if the school had a boiler plate response to this kind of thing.
Something like. "Unfortunately, the group inviting Ms. Coulter did not secure a room or date prior to the advertising the invitation. We are unable to accommodate a speech at that date and time. If this group would like to work with us to find a suitable date and time we are happy to do so."
Then in a more private way, and probably with more legally correct language contact the campus young republicans with a note saying. "The next time you entitled little shits try to book a speaker without first securing a room and time you will be suspended from meeting on campus or inviting any speakers for the next ## months." Personally if I was an official I'd probably leak the second letter to the press as well.