Under intense criticism and scrutiny, Hamilton College canceled an event where activist Ward Churchill was scheduled to speak. Churchill is famous for insane rants but it was an article where he called 9/11 victims "Little Eichmanns" who deserved it that evoked fury. We wrote about it here. Hamilton canceled the event due to 'security concerns' after the president of the college received thousands of emails some of them apparently threatening. I rather think this was a convenient, face-saving dodge as prospective donors pulled pledges to the college's capital campaign and prospective students were threatening not to matriculate.
Some are lamenting that Churchill was denied his right to free speech. That is patently untrue. Churchill has been free and continues to be free to express his extreme views in writing and in class - he teachs at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A private institution ought to have the right to not permit its facilities to be used for speech that it considers inappropriate. Churchill's right to express himself is not diminished because he won't be speaking at Hamilton. He can walk around the town with a placard and a bullhorn and talk until he's hoarse. Not to mention the fact that Churchill's rants really fall under false speech which should enjoy no protection at all.
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