Liberals mock UW free speech center as ‘GOP safe space’ – Campus Reform

A Republican-backed proposal to establish a center for freedom of speech at University of Wisconsin, Madison is being mocked by liberals as a GOP safe space.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos introduced his proposal for the creation of a Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership during a Tuesday press conference attended by Republican Governor Scott Walker, saying his goal for the center is to ensure we have diversity of thought on college campuses.

"Having a center on campus that is dedicated to maximizing free speech should not be controversial.

[RELATED: Students, faculty demand OCC get Republicans out of our face]

Far too often, we feel like theres only one legitimate viewpoint on campus. This is just going to ensure we have diversity of thought, Vos explained, according to the Associated Press.

He also preemptively dismissed concerns that the center will become a conservative think tank, though he did express hope that it might offset some of the liberal thinking on the infamously left-leaning campus.

Vos elaborated that the proposed centerwhich is named after a former Republican governor of the statewould have no agenda other than to promote maximum free speech, which was nonetheless enough to prompt fears among some Wisconsin Democrats that it would serve to undermine their policy agenda.

According to The Wisconsin State Journal, Democratic Rep. Gordon Hintz quickly identified that risk, attesting that Gov. Thompson had relied on input on legislation from the schools existing La Follette School of Public Affairs and that the new center would undermine the political messaging currently being pushed from university campuses.

If you dont like the science and you dont like the data and you dont like the truth, you have to create an academic institution that meets their version of the truth, Hintz stated. Its directly aimed at combating whats coming out of our universities right now.

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One Wisconsin Now, a liberal interest group, blasted the proposed center in a tweet as the Institute for GOP Safe Spaces, while the organizations executive director called it an attempt at bullying students, faculty, and administrators through the dissemination of Republican propaganda on campus.

There is no doubt [that] right-wing foundations, corporations, and millionaire Republicans will finance what taxpayers dont get stuck paying, Scot Ross told the AP, referencing the $3 million in state funds that have been requested to kick start the project.

The center still requires approval from the states Republican-controlled legislature, leaving some students concerned that criticism could yet torpedo the proposal.

"Having a center on campus that is dedicated to maximizing free speech should not be controversial, Cahleel Copus, campus coordinator for the UW Students for Liberty chapter, told Campus Reform. Time and time again, we have seen coercive tactics used by the predatory left, including rioting and physical blockades, which to me shows that many students are not interested in engaging in opposing ideas.

[RELATED: Prof: College campuses are not free speech areas]

[The university] and the state legislature are taking great steps towards counteracting this culture by creating avenues for free expression (like the Tommy Thompson Center) as well as proposing a bill that would mandate each school discuss with incoming students the value of free exchange, he added. This center gives myself, along with many of the other right-of-center students, hope that Wisconsin is recognizing the importance of the First Amendment, especially on college campuses."

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @AGockowski

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Liberals mock UW free speech center as 'GOP safe space' - Campus Reform