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Anyone say something dumb as a college student? It’s certainly expected, given most kids start college at age 18–before they’ve had a chance to fully develop their own ideas and opinions. Lately, it appears there’s no grace for these kids, not to mention their professors, as cancel culture is on the rise on campuses. We’ve seen professors silenced and students who are afraid to talk. It’s an issue that’s sparking debate on both sides of the aisle, but all is not lost. Students are coming up with unique solutions that provide safe space for all opinions.
Isn’t that what college is for? To give voice to your opinions, to hear differing opinions voiced by others, and to allow your perspective on the world to grow accordingly?
So, what’s creating all of this angst?
Just last year, a University of Rochester professor was suspended after quoting a text containing a racial slur, and MIT canceled a lecture by a speaker who’d openly criticized inclusion initiatives. Since 2019, state legislators have introduced nearly 100 bills aimed at protecting free speech on campuses.
And what’s the answer?
Increasingly, independent groups encouraging civil, open dialogue are popping up on campuses nationwide, giving students a relatively safe space to explore the balance between free speech and inclusivity.
Some even make a point of electing group leaders who represent differing political ideologies.
As an example, a dialogue club called WeListen at the University of Michigan meets a few times a semester to discuss issues such as drug legalization and criminal justice reform and send out both nonpartisan and bipartisan talking points to members in advance. They set out ground rules including “Challenge the idea, not the person.”
The conversations can become uncomfortable, of course…but is that a bad thing?
Our nation has become so divided along partisan lines that it can be hard to have even the most fundamentally constructive conversation with someone from the other side.
We’ve developed knee-jerk reactions to differing opinions that border on the hostile.
So it’s heartening to see that the next generation has accurately pinpointed the problem, and is taking concrete, valuable steps to rectify it.
The kids, it seems, might be alright after all.
