Should universities allow harassing and intimidating environments for many students and severe disruptions to campus life?
Of course not.
But I would be wary of what a “ harassing and intimidating environment” means in university speak means.
Does it refer to deeds and speech a snowflake or a reasonable ( whatever that means) person or a stoic finds intimidating or harassment ?
I work at an university ( though not a large ine like Columbia) and IMO, Don’s description if “ semantic ambiguity “ is spot on.
Based on the incidents I posted in my response to Jimmy, I would consider the concerns reasonable. Of course not all the protestors are engaging in these kind of actions, but I can see how the encampment can make the students subject to the abuse very uncomfortable by the entire encampment.
My post to you included a quick reference to due process. Do you throw out a student organization because of what some idiot outside of Columbia says when the organization essentially told outsiders they are not welcome? When you suspend students do you not follow due process to have a hearing or follow other procedures by policy?
What you are leaving out is that two students threw chemicals at the protesters. That's more than words. Here is what you don't see from that: a lot of media coverage over and over with messaging though there is some if you look; one does not see those two students have their organizations suspended indefinitely from campus; and thirdly, one does not observe a lack of due process, i.e. procedures were followed to suspend particular individuals who threw chemicals at the pro-Palestinian protesters.
Finally, the unambiguous, concrete incidents you are citing are from
outside protesters, not the organizations in the school, and these have happened because all the attention is now drawn to at a minimum
perceived if not actual, injustice and discrimination.
