To the Editor:
In his recent article on deliberative and activist speech (“How Activist Speech Threatens Educational Values,” October 8, 2024), my colleague Nick Burbules highlights the struggle many universities face in balancing free expression with campus safety. While Burbules distinguishes between deliberative and activist speech to address this challenge, there is a risk in positioning deliberative speech as central to university values and activist speech as peripheral and potentially dangerous.
Deliberative speech has a crucial role in educating college students, but activist speech also holds significance as part of the tradition of civil disobedience. Throughout history, activist speech has contributed to positive social change in movements such as civil rights, anti-Vietnam, and anti-Apartheid, aligning with fundamental human values like equality, free expression, and emancipation that are essential to the university’s mission.
While activism targeting university practices may raise safety concerns, it is crucial to determine the primary source of responsibility in each case. While protests can sometimes escalate, it is inaccurate to solely blame activist speech for creating an unsafe environment, as other factors like unprepared administrations or external pressures can play a role. Viewing activist speech as peripheral to the university risks alienating those who engage in activism and fails to encourage a comprehensive examination of all relevant actors and actions.
Rather than pitting deliberative and activist speech against each other, a more constructive approach is to see them as part of a dialectical process where activist speech is embraced as a legitimate aspect of campus discourse. Acknowledging the value of activist speech can provide a platform for marginalized voices and bring attention to important issues that require further discussion in a deliberative setting.
Universities should support student engagement through both deliberative and activist speech, recognizing the importance of addressing legitimate concerns raised by activists. By incorporating activist speech into the campus dialogue, universities can foster a climate of inquiry and discussion, similar to the historical practice of teach-ins that facilitated informed conversations on pressing issues like the Vietnam War.
It is essential for universities to view passions and protests not as disruptions to be controlled but as catalysts for addressing real problems and promoting critical inquiry. When activist speech is seen as part of a dialectical process alongside deliberative discussion, it enriches the conversation and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues.
The ongoing debates between students supporting Palestinians and those supporting Israel’s government exemplify the potential of activist speech to stimulate meaningful dialogue. Questions surrounding anti-Zionism, anti-Semitism, the concept of genocide, and the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza all demonstrate the value of activist speech in prompting deliberative inquiry and fostering a deeper understanding of contentious issues.
—Walter Feinberg
C.D. Hardie Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois
Author, Educating for Democracy, Cambridge University Press (2024)