Letter: Andrianova spits in the face of free speech – INFORUM

In a recent letter , associate professor of English at North Dakota State University, Anastassiya Andrianova, complains that conservative pundit Candace Owens will be speaking at NDSU on Oct. 17. She asserts that Owens promotes bigotry but does not provide a single example, likely because none exist.

Leftists have a filthy habit of calling everything under the sun bigotry in an attempt to poison the well and smear their political opponents without having to address the content of their arguments.

Andrianova claims that questioning the validity of an election and looking for fraud is antidemocratic. I disagree; wanting elections to be free, fair, and open is very pro-democracy. Im sure Andrianova doesnt feel the same way about Russia hosting elections in occupied eastern Ukraine on if those territories want to be annexed or not. I doubt shed call questioning those election results antidemocratic.

More importantly, and the purpose of this letter, is that Andrianova criticized North Dakota HB 1503 (passed in 2021) which protects the free speech of faculty and students, including student-sponsored guest speakers.

Specifically, what this bill does is require institutions to enact policy within a certain framework:

Andrianova questions if the intent of the legislature was to protect firebrand speakers. The additional fees that student organizations would face without this law usually take the form of security fees because the institution is concerned that a riot might break out in response to undesirable speech. Or at least thats the excuse institutions give when they want to dissuade that undesirable speech. I can say unequivocally that yes, it was definitely the intent of the legislature to protect firebrand speakers.

Thinking legal protections should only apply to a handful of government-approved viewpoints spits in the face of free speech.

Andrianova calls on readers to protest this campus engagement. She says the community should fight hate speech with more speech, but I have seen no evidence or any example that Owens spreads hate at all. I suggest the community listens to what she has to say first before they grab their pitchforks.

William Smith lives in Fargo.

This letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.

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Letter: Andrianova spits in the face of free speech - INFORUM