Salisbury, Maryland – Colin McEvers, Chair of the College Republicans, hosted an event at Salisbury University featuring guest speaker Jared Taylor. In response, opposition from campus and outside groups led to a counter-protest organized outside the venue.
Many of the students who chose to protest appeared to rely on preconceived notions about the speaker. Rather than attending the event to hear his remarks firsthand, a number remained outside, shouting, heckling, and attempting to intimidate those who chose to participate. While the event itself was intended to promote open dialogue, some critics opted to protest without engaging directly.
That said, some students did attend and asked questions. While a few approached the microphone with visible frustration, the tone of the exchange often shifted once the discussion began. Whether or not anyone agreed with the speaker, the event created an opportunity for open dialogue across differing viewpoints. Credit is due to those who chose to engage respectfully, and to McEvers for organizing the event.
However, concerns were also raised about activity leading up to the event. Some students reported that professors offered extra credit for attending the protest. This raises questions about whether academic incentives were used to encourage participation in a political demonstration.
One faculty member, Joseph Venosa, was observed to be among the protestors (in the picture) and has been accused by critics of influencing student perspectives. Supporters of the protest may view faculty involvement as civic engagement, while others see it as inappropriate involvement in student political activity.
There are also concerns about how the university handled the event itself. Organizers were reportedly required to provide $3,500 for security costs, which some view as excessive and to penalize certain viewpoints (viewpoint discrimination). Despite the obstacles, McEvers was able to raise $1,700 upfront to proceed, but questions remain about whether the level of security required justified the cost or was even necessary.
In light of these issues, some are calling on Salisbury University to review both faculty involvement and event policies, and to provide transparency regarding whether students were incentivized academically to participate in the protest. Additionally, Salisbury University is being urged to equitably waive and refund any fees that are not ordinarily required of others hosting events on campus.
