Censorship on college campuses has left some uneasy

In this March 15, 2014 file photo, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gestures while speaking before the California Republican Party 2014 Spring Convention in Burlingame, Calif. Texas Tech University has invited Rice to take her pick and speak at summer, fall or 2015 graduation ceremonies after protests against her planned appearance at Rutgers University.

Ben Margot, Associated Press

The graduating class of 2014 has seen several college commencement speakers cancel due to student opposition, sparking a debate over whether it is right, or necessary, to censor these speakers.

The list of speakers who will no longer be speaking includes former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, and Robert Birgeneau, the former chancellor of the University of California in Berkeley.

While Ayaan Hirsi Ali was still permitted to speak at Brandeis University, her offer of an honorary degree from the school was revoked due to anti-Islamic comments she had made in the past.

She has her very real personal story, she has her views, and shes free to say what shed like to say, said Maya Berry, executive director of the advocacy group Arab American Institute, in the New York Times. But for an institution like Brandeis to choose to honor someone like this is really disappointing.

Ali, who has said that Islam is a cult of death, and the new fascism, according to the Times, has also supported the idea of closing down all Islamic schools in the West.

She is one of the worst of the worst of the Islam haters in America, not only in America but worldwide, Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told the Times. I dont assign any ill will to Brandeis. I think they just kind of got fooled a little bit.

In its official statement on the issue, Brandeis said, She is a compelling public figure and advocate for womens rights, and we respect and appreciate her work to protect and defend the rights of women and girls throughout the world. That said, we cannot overlook certain of her past statements that are inconsistent with Brandeis University's core values. For all concerned, we regret that we were not aware of these statements earlier.

All of the previously listed speakers have been protested for various reasons, including past actions, associations or perceived bigotry. While many students from these respective universities supported the cancellations, other commentators have decried them as needless censorship.

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Censorship on college campuses has left some uneasy