News Summary
Legal scholar Ilya Shapiro’s speech about cancel culture was canceled by NYU law school due to security concerns, raising free speech issues. Shapiro, an advocate for Israel, aimed to discuss his new book, detailing cancel culture incidents he’s faced. While NYU cited security resource constraints, the decision has sparked debates over potential biases in event scheduling and the implications for academic freedom, as another event was allowed to proceed that same week.
New York City – Legal scholar Ilya Shapiro’s scheduled speech on cancel culture at New York University’s law school was canceled due to security concerns, raising questions about the university’s commitment to free speech. The event was meant to take place on October 7, coinciding with the two-year anniversary of a terrorist attack on Israeli citizens. Shapiro, who is Jewish and an advocate for Israel, intended to discuss his new book, “Lawless: The Miseducation of American Elites,” which recounts various cancel culture incidents within American law schools, including his own experiences of being affected by such incidents.
According to university administrators, NYU law school faced significant security challenges on the day of the scheduled event. Associate Dean Megan McDermott mentioned in an email that NYU’s security personnel would be “strained that week,” making it difficult to host the event. The Federalist Society, which organized Shapiro’s talk, attempted to relocate the event to address the security concerns but was unable to do so due to Shapiro’s limited availability.
An earlier agreement for the event was reached by an administrator, Penelope Fernandes, but she later informed students that the speech could not take place at all. Despite the cancellation of Shapiro’s event, another event organized by the Federalist Society was allowed to proceed that same week, prompting scrutiny over potential biases in the university’s event scheduling.
McDermott clarified that the cancellation was based on available security resources already committed to other events and not due to the speaker or the content of the program. This response has not quelled the concerns regarding alleged selective speaker disfavoring and the implications it has for free speech on college campuses.
In response to the cancellation, Shapiro criticized the decision as a demonstration of “weak university officials” succumbing to what is referred to as a “heckler’s veto.” He also offered to send a copy of his book to the university’s dean in hopes of sparking interest in the issues he presents in his work.
While NYU later denied canceling the event altogether, the controversy surrounding the incident has drawn attention to broader trends in academic free speech. Robert Shibley, a free speech expert from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, condemned the university’s choice, noting that it represents a “textbook heckler’s veto.” He stressed that universities should not selectively disfavor specific speakers while permitting other major events on the same day, as doing so undermines the principles of open discourse.
This incident is part of a growing discourse on free speech and cancel culture within the academic environment. Shapiro has experienced similar challenges in the past, having resigned from a projected position at Georgetown University following backlash from a social media post regarding President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee. His controversial remarks included discussions on affirmative action and racial identity in judicial appointments, which attracted significant criticism.
The political landscape surrounding free speech on college campuses has shifted considerably, with many individuals on the conservative side of the spectrum increasingly confronting the same cancel culture dynamics they previously criticized when directed toward the Left. The NYU incident exemplifies ongoing tensions as universities grapple with balancing security concerns with their commitment to open dialogue and academic freedom.
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Additional Resources
- The College Fix: NYU Law School Cancels Speech About Cancel Culture
- Deseret News: RIP Cancel Culture
- New York Post: NYU College Republican President Ousted
- Washington Post: Hamas, Israel, and Cancel Culture
- Wikipedia: Cancel Culture
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