Get Serious About Speech Interruptions

Here is the statement on disruption from the administration — touted as an improvement.

“Going forward, attendees at University events should expect a single warning not to disrupt an event or prevent an invited guest from speaking. Disruptive behavior may result in immediate removal from the event and disciplinary action or other consequences.”

Let me see if I can crack the code. “A single warning” means “one free shot” to disrupt a speaker. “Should expect” translates to “or maybe more, it depends.” And “disruptive behavior may result in ...” signals passivity. 

You are either serious about protecting speech or you are not serious. A serious administration might have communicated something like this: “Those who disrupt a speaker will be immediately removed and may face additional consequences.”