In the last few weeks, a controversy has developed around the College Republican’s request to bring David Horowitz to speak at SLU. It is not difficult to understand the hesitancy of SLU administrators to allow such a speaker on campus. Many of his positions and comments are rooted in ignorance and bigotry. His assertions about the Islamic faith and the Muslim Student Association are beyond appalling. The first instinct of most people who have heard Horowitz’s beliefs is not to hand him a microphone.

In fact, many of us in the College Democrats shared the response of the administration. It is only after a period of reflection and critical thought that we have come to our current position on the issue. We believe that Horowitz should not only be allowed to speak, but that we have an obligation to stand up for his right to do so. The extremity of Horowitz’s views is not an excuse for the administration to deny the student body access to a free marketplace of ideas. We are not paying for an education of SLU’s caliber so that we may be shielded from malicious beliefs. We should be able to discuss and question opposing views. In preventing Horowitz from speaking, SLU is not simply silencing the intolerant views of one man; it is censuring the entire student body in its opportunity to speak against such views. We are also concerned that censuring a controversial speaker will set a dangerous precedent for bringing speakers from the entire political spectrum to SLU.

SLU administrators have the best intentions for us as students, and we appreciate and respect the work they do for us. We only ask that they reflect more deeply about how their censorship affects us as students. We need them to trust us to speak out in the face of bigotry on campus so that some day we can do so in the real world.

We hope that this issue ignites a discussion about free speech on campus. While we do not support Horowitz’s views, we respect students right to let him speak.

-SLU College Democrats