Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro speaks at the University of Minnesota tonight (7pm) as student activists accuse U-of-M officials of stifling free speech by relegating the event to a relatively small venue on the Saint Paul campus. University President Eric Kaler takes issue: “We’ve spent considerable resources in ensuring that Mr. Shapiro will have a venue… and we intend to assure that the event is safe for all of the attendees,” he says. A national group is threatening to sue the “U” for sending Shapiro’s speech to what they call the “cow campus” in Saint Paul.
There’s a bill at the legislature, dubbed the “Campus Neutrality Act,” that would require state-funded colleges and universities have policies guaranteeing free speech rights. U-of-M President Kaler says about that, “I think our policies accord with the provisions that are in that neutrality bill, so I don’t think it’s necessary.” Kaler says the U-of-M is open to speakers from all parts of the political spectrum.
More of Kaler’s remarks: