Office of the Interim Chancellor

The following is Interim Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter’s Dec. 21 response to two faculty members. Three weeks later, on Jan. 11, the letter was posted here, addressing it to all faculty.

1.11.17

Letter in response to UC Davis faculty

Dear Colleague, 

I share your grave concern about the upcoming event. I can assure you that the campus has taken significant steps to ensure the safety of students and all members of the campus community. The Division of Student Affairs is coordinating with those planning the event to create a safety plan. We recognize there is the potential for violence in settings where individuals are especially passionate about differing points of view. We’ve reviewed how Milo Yiannopoulos’ events have played out at other campuses and are prepared to deescalate potential incidents. 

Many members of our community have written to me expressing similar concerns. As I have responded to them, I must also respond to you: Like most places of higher learning and teaching, UC Davis is a community for all ideas. As a public university, we remain true to our obligation to uphold everyone’s First Amendment freedoms. This commitment includes fostering an environment that avoids censorship and allows space for differing points of view. Therefore, we will not ask the Davis College Republicans, a student-run organization, to cancel their event. 

In making this decision, I am mindful of the advice of the ACLU: “Where racist, sexist and homophobic speech is concerned, the ACLU believes that more speech -- not less -- is the best revenge. This is particularly true at universities, whose mission is to facilitate learning through open debate and study, and to enlighten. … When hate is out in the open, people can see the problem. Then they can organize effectively to counter bad attitudes, possibly change them, and forge solidarity against the forces of intolerance.” (ACLU website) 

In addition to my commitment to the First Amendment and my belief that these principles ultimately serve our students well, I observe that canceling Mr. Yiannopoulos’ appearance would benefit his ultimate goal of gaining media attention. Canceling his speech would provide him with exactly the publicity that he seeks, as the action would be reported in news outlets throughout the country. I suggest, for your consideration, that one strategy for disabling his message is simply not to attend. While some students who oppose his message may choose to attend so that they can organize effectively in their opposition, other students may choose not to attend in order to avoid being triggered or exposed to unnecessary threat by his offensive message. 

UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gilman recently published an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times about white supremacist speakers’ coming to university campuses who likewise seem eager to provoke over-reaction on the part of university administrations. (It can be accessed at: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-gillman-campus-white-supremacy-20161220-story.html). I agree with Chancellor Gilman in believing that, as a university committed to research, teaching and public service, we have an opportunity, indeed an obligation, to combat prejudice, whether vile or subtle, via education. As you know, I have been actively engaged for over 40 years, by means of campus organizations as well as by contributing to scholarly discourse, in countering hate, bias and prejudice based on sexual orientation. Many others have done much more, in that and in other areas, all crucially important. New forms of communications and new patterns of sharing viewpoints no doubt require us to be resourceful in communicating better information and more rational argumentation, but if we, as university educators, cannot do this, I fear that no one can.

To conclude, I appreciate your concern about these issues and your commitment to our students’ well-being. I will continue to voice my strong condemnation of messages that promote hate. I will stand proudly with the members of this community who oppose the spread of fear and intolerance. And I would be eager to meet with you and others to discover how we can best counter prejudice with education.

Sincerely,

Ralph J. Hexter
Interim Chancellor

Letter in response to cancellation requests for January 13th event