Duke Prof OK With Rove's Treatment

The following letter from Michael Munger, Chair and professor in Duke's Political Science Department appears in today's Chronicle. My response, which I left on the comment thread, follows Munger's letter here.

Munger's letter:

To the editor:

Reading the description of the Dec. 3 "Conversation with Karl Rove" event in both The Chronicle's lead editorial and some other letters and posts, I feel we must have attended different events.

This event was as close to flawless as you are going to get with a controversial speaker. I was proud of the protesters: lots of very angry people at Page Auditorium at Duke last night. But no one prevented other people from hearing, or listening, in any serious way.

It was sometimes an unfriendly atmosphere, and maybe even disrespectful. Sure, there were signs and some harsh shouts. But no one is guaranteed a friendly, or respectful atmosphere.

You get a hearing, and nothing more. Mr. Rove got that. And the protesters got to make their point, also.

A number of conservative students said they were "embarrassed" at the protests. Bull puckey.

The audience was restrained, and "respectful" in the formal sense of not exercising the heckler's veto. The protests may upset you, but that's part of academic discourse.

Let's give the administration credit. A major conservative speaker came to campus, gave a lengthy talk and was not shouted down or even seriously interrupted. That would not have happened at most of the schools we consider to be our peers.

Michael Munger
Chair and professor
Department of Political Science

_________________________

My response:

Professor Munger's letter surprised me.

I was always taught you didn't shout slanders about murder and treason at a professor or speaker in a classroom or lecture hall because, among other things, that disturbed the "academic discourse."

But Munger says the protestors didn't prevent "other people from hearing, or listening, in any serious way."

How can students and others shouting slanders in class at a professor or at a speaker while he/she presents and answers questions be anything other then disruptive?

To those of us critical of the protestors in the hall Munger says, "Bull puckey;" and adds: "protests may upset you, but that's part of academic discourse.

Really?

How often are Duke professors treated in classrooms, at conferences and during speaking engagements and their book promotion tours the way Rove was treated Monday night?

How does Munger think most of them would react if they, some of whom like Rove are political and controversial, were treated the same way in classrooms and other venues?

Munger wants to give "the administration credit [because a] major conservative speaker came to campus, gave a lengthy talk and was not shouted down or even seriously interrupted. That would not have happened at most of the schools we consider to be our peers."

Munger is wrong when he says Rove wasn't "seriously interrupted."

The shouted slanders were serious interruptions; no less so because conservative speakers are often even more seriously harassed and threatened on American campuses.

Professor Munger’s wish to commend the administration because Rove wasn’t shouted down and could finish his speech is very revealing. So is his assertion that that “would not have happened at most of the schools we consider to be our peers."

Munger is revealing how he views the level of academic tolerance and the free exchange of ideas on campuses today.

It’s sad and very troubling that Munger believes, not unreasonably, Rove’s ability to finish his speech is something that could not happen on some campuses.

It’s also sad and very troubling that Munger praises those who harassed Rove while dismissing their critics with “Bull puckey.”