Gonzaga University blocks Ben Shapiro speech, citing ‘Jesuit’ values

[Cathoholic]

This could go in “World News” or “Catholic News”.

It is another example of liberals shutting down open discourse.

Nov 30, 2018 Lisa Bourne

Gonzaga University blocks Ben Shapiro speech, citing ‘Jesuit’ values​

SPOKANE, Washington, November 30, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Gonzaga University has blocked a proposed speaking engagement for Ben Shapiro, saying it would be “contrary” to the school’s “Catholic/Jesuit mission and values.”

Gonzaga Vice President of Student Development Judi Biggs Garbuio declined the College Republicans chapter’s request to book Shapiro to speak at the university, Campus Reform reports, citing in addition to the school’s “Catholic/Jesuit mission,” human dignity, solidarity with vulnerable people, and safety concerns, given the sort of protests that might accompany an appearance by the conservative, pro-life Jewish commentator.

“Mr. Shapiro’s appearances routinely draw protests that include extremely divisive and hateful speech and behavior, which is offensive to many people, regardless of their age, politics or beliefs,” Biggs Garbuio said, appearing to accidentally acknowledge the intolerance in response to speakers with whom they disagreed.

. . . . Gonzaga College Republicans President Olivia Johnston had submitted the Shapiro event request, which was obtained by Campus Reform .

“They want Gonzaga to be a left of center university and they have made it clear diversity of thought it not welcome,” Johnston told Campus Reform . “. . . college is a place to expand your thinking and not be indoctrinated in the classroom.”

“I refuse to accept a University that only supports strictly liberal thinking,” she added. “The hypocrisy must end.” . . .

“No one is expecting Shapiro to be teaching on the tenets of the Catholic faith,” added Brown, “so Gonzaga’s objections are flatly absurd, especially when one considers Angela Davis somehow passed muster for Gonzaga administrators.”

In the past Gonzaga has hosted supporters of abortion and same-sex “marriage” as commencement speakers, shown support for a pro-same-sex “marriage” group, been open to instituting policies recognizing gender-fluidity, welcomed the vulgar Vagina Monologues play, and been unsupportive of the pro-life cause on campus. . . .

Gonzaga University blocks Ben Shapiro speech, citing ‘Jesuit’ values - LifeSite

The university acknowledged it is also scared of 'extremely divisive' protests.

www.lifesitenews.com

 

[JonNC]

Just some thoughts about this.

“I refuse to accept a University that only supports strictly liberal thinking,” she added. “The hypocrisy must end.” . . .

Johnston is wrong about this. this is not “liberal thinking”. Liberals, true classic liberals, believe in liberty, defend speech. This, limiting speech, is what progressives in power do. They’ve been doing it for decades. And, incidentally, this is not the first politically conservative Jew to be targeted this way by progressive university administrations.

Gonzaga Vice President of Student Development Judi Biggs Garbuio declined the College Republicans chapter’s request to book Shapiro to speak at the university, Campus Reform reports, citing in addition to the school’s “Catholic/Jesuit mission,” human dignity, solidarity with vulnerable people, and safety concerns, given the sort of protests that might accompany an appearance by the conservative, pro-life Jewish commentator.

Did Biggs Garbuio give any examples of how Shapiro speeches are opposed to “human dignity, solidarity with vulnerable people, and safety concerns”? Specifically, how does Shapiro attack vulnerable people?

“Mr. Shapiro’s appearances routinely draw protests that include extremely divisive and hateful speech and behavior, which is offensive to many people, regardless of their age, politics or beliefs,” Biggs Garbuio said, appearing to accidentally acknowledge the intolerance in response to speakers with whom they disagreed.

So, the mob gets a veto power over speech at Gonzaga. Interesting. Is that part of the “Catholic/Jesuit mission”?

In the past Gonzaga has hosted supporters of abortion and same-sex “marriage” as commencement speakers, shown support for a pro-same-sex “marriage” group, been open to instituting policies recognizing gender-fluidity, welcomed the vulgar Vagina Monologues play, and been unsupportive of the pro-life cause on campus. . . .

So, clearly, these are the “Catholic/Jesuit mission” Biggs Garbuio is speaking of?

I’m not (Roman) Catholic, Cathaholic, but I’ve been around here for more than a decade and I’ve never heard these items described this way. Maybe you can enlighten me on this.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

Another view of Ben Shapiro:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/welcome-ben-shapiro_us_59e8f562e4b032f98fa30c3b

 

[Cathoholic]

JonNC . . .

this is not “liberal thinking”. Liberals, true classic liberals, believe in liberty, defend speech. This, limiting speech, is what progressives in power do . . .

Great point JonNC.

Without talking too much about me, I have also had others remind of the difference between Classic Liberal thinking (which was good) and modern “political liberalism” or “progressivism” which has an antithetical meaning to true liberal thought.

And progressivism IS antithetical to liberal education. Modern progressivism politics have hijacked the word “liberal” in respect to thought.

.

I’m not (Roman) Catholic, Cathaholic, but I’ve been around here for more than a decade and I’ve never heard these items described this way. Maybe you can enlighten me on this.

I am Roman Catholic, and likewise have been around here for more than a decade on CAF and I’ve never heard these items described this way either.

Seems “Jesuit values” have ALSO been hijacked.

 

[exnihilo]

I am not really a fan of Shapiro but that he won’t be allowed to speak is disgusting. If these are Jesuit values then I don’t think much of them. But really any major Catholic university has no right to call itself Catholic anymore.

 

[exnihilo]

Did Biggs Garbuio give any examples of how Shapiro speeches are opposed to “human dignity, solidarity with vulnerable people, and safety concerns”? Specifically, how does Shapiro attack vulnerable people?

This is calumny. Garbuio must think calumny is a Jesuit/Catholic value?

You’ll find these people never offer specifics because specifics would show they have no case. Specifics would allow reasonable discussion. But people like this don’t want discussion. Three are the worst kind of authoritarians.

 

[FirstFiveEighth]

Surprise surprise, Democrat professor Misty Anderson doesn’t like Ben Shapiro and writes about it in the Huffington Post.

There is no substance to that article, she just claims that Shapiro is a snowflake for talking about media bias. Then claims that UT is really on her side. Ok…

That Democrats and liberals don’t like Ben Shapiro has nothing to do with Gonzaga refusing to allow him to talk there. Unless you think we should conclude that Gonzaga has a political persuasion it should be promoting, and that that persuasion should be liberal.

 

[JonNC]

That Democrats and liberals don’t like Ben Shapiro has nothing to do with Gonzaga refusing to allow him to talk there. Unless you think we should conclude that Gonzaga has a political persuasion it should be promoting, and that that persuasion should be liberal.

I actually don’t care if they have a political persuasion. They obviously do and that’s okay. I just think that a university can have a political view and should still encourage the exchange of views.
If Shapiro’s political views are not the reason for banning him, one can only speculate what other nefarious reasons they have.

 

[ProVobis]

Didn’t Justice Kavanaugh attend a Jesuit school? Why wasn’t this a problem during the hearings? And why didn’t he hold back on calling those opposed to him lefties? I’ve been around the traditionalist ranks long enough to realize something doesn’t add up here.

 

[ucfengr]

Didn’t Justice Kavanaugh attend a Jesuit school?

Almost 40 years ago.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

If Shapiro’s political views are not the reason for banning him, one can only speculate what other nefarious reasons they have.

If one is in the habit of speculating on nefarious reasons, he will always find some. Or…one could take them at the word and not assume the Jesuits are doing something nefarious.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Ben Shapiro is the younger version of Rush Limbaugh. They both have found a way, through media, to make a living off of being polemic. I can’t blame any university which would deny those two from speaking on their campus.

 

[exnihilo]

In my state they made a big deal about how they wouldn’t let communists speak on campus in the 60s. Supposedly this was wrong. Today college campuses have communist professors. If we are going to ban people then the communists come long before Ben Shapiro.

 

[KMC]

Hmmm…I do wonder what “Jesuit values” are. In 2011, they allowed the play “The Vagina Monologues”, and allowed Communist Party member Angela Davis to speak.

 

[JonNC]

JonNC:

If Shapiro’s political views are not the reason for banning him, one can only speculate what other nefarious reasons they have.

If one is in the habit of speculating on nefarious reasons, he will always find some. Or…one could take them at the word and not assume the Jesuits are doing something nefarious.

I wasn’t talking about the Jesuits, and I’m not the one who said they opposed his speaking for reasons other than politics. To claim Gonzaga’s administration represents Jesuits isn’t fair to Jesuits. I only mentioned them.
I think they opposed his speaking on purely political grounds. This is what progressives in power do. They’ve done it on college campuses for decades.
If you know of another reason than the political ones they mentioned, let us all know. Otherwise, I take them at their word.

 

[JonNC]

Ben Shapiro is the younger version of Rush Limbaugh. They both have found a way, through media, to make a living off of being polemic. I can’t blame any university which would deny those two from speaking on their campus.

So, you think college campuses should not allow the free exchange of ideas?
If not, do you also think they should not be allowed to speak on the public airways?

 

[1Lord1Faith]

So, you think college campuses should not allow the free exchange of ideas?

Yes, but what does that have to do with Gonzaga denying a media figure a chance to bloviate. Does Ben Shapiro have ideas, or talking points? Is he interested in the free exchange of ideas, or does he make his living in an echo chamber?

 

[LeafByNiggle]

LeafByNiggle:

If one is in the habit of speculating on nefarious reasons, he will always find some. Or…one could take them at the word and not assume the Jesuits are doing something nefarious.

I wasn’t talking about the Jesuits, and I’m not the one who said they opposed his speaking for reasons other than politics. …I think they opposed his speaking on purely political grounds. …If you know of another reason than the political ones they mentioned, let us all know. Otherwise, I take them at their word.

Take them at their word. Here is their word:

• Gonzaga’s event policy requires us to consider whether an event would pose substantial risk to the safety of any member of our campus community. In light of what has occurred on other campuses, our security team has raised questions about whether we can adequately secure a campus venue.
• We are committed to the safety and security of all campus events. We do not feel we can guarantee the level of security necessary for all.
• Gonzaga University must prevent our campus from becoming a hostile environment for employees and students.
• Mr. Shapiro’s appearances routinely draw protests that include extremely divisive and hateful speech and behavior which is offensive to many people, regardless of their age, politics or beliefs.
• Gonzaga University is committed to the human dignity of every individual. This is the core of our mission, based on the teachings of Christ Jesus, and the foundations of the Society of Jesus.
• We stand in solidarity with vulnerable members of our community who may be targeted for discrimination, ridicule, or harassment by others.

Which one of these reasons do you call a political reason?

 

[JonNC]

JonNC:

So, you think college campuses should not allow the free exchange of ideas?

Yes, but what does that have to do with Gonzaga denying a media figure a chance to bloviate. Does Ben Shapiro have ideas, or talking points? Is he interested in the free exchange of ideas, or does he make his living in an echo chamber?

So, yes, you think colleges shouldn’t allow the free exchange of ideas.
Your definition of bloviate might be different than mine. Maybe a specific example of Shapiro bloviating would help.
There are a lot of leftists out there bloviating, but I would never consider limiting their right to speech.
It seems to me that prohibiting Shapiro from speaking on a college campus intentionally creates an echo chamber.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

So, yes, you think colleges shouldn’t allow the free exchange of ideas

I misread your post. I mean to say I am for the free exchange of ideas in college.

I’m speculating that Shapiro is being denied because his chosen profession is based upon his speech being polemic and “entertaining”, therefore lacking in substance and seriousness. I don’t think it has anything to do with him being conservative.