Free Speech Talk at Hood
In the wake of a week of tension, came conversation. Hood College held a public forum Tuesday night to discuss the College Republicans’ controversial display.
The event was held at the Whittaker Campus Commons, with well over 150 people in attendance. The audience was not limited to the Hood community, but only members of the Hood community were permitted to talk. The college also requested that no photos or videos of the forum be taken.
“Tonight is not about the past week, but about our future,” said Hood President Andrea Chapdelain, Ph.D. “Although difficult, this past week has shown the strength of our community.”
The discussion began with Peter Brehm, an IT worker at Hood, who identified himself as a gay man and presented his opposition to the display.
“Attacking people for who we are is not sparking discussion,” Brehm said.
The meeting focused on making Hood a community that welcomes open discussion and transparency in communication. Chapdelaine was asked many times what changes in policy would be made in response to what has been perceived as hate speech. She relayed that while the policy has been reviewed, there are currently no proposed changes.
Throughout the meeting, a number of students expressed that since the display’s creation and subsequent controversy, they have felt unsafe both on campus and through their affiliation with Hood. Some experienced personal threats towards their wellbeing online, while others have felt the need to be accompanied on campus by safety officers.
Both supporters and those who felt targeted by the display said threats had been made against them. One student had footage of herself at a previous meeting posted to a conservative YouTube channel, where commenters wrote that she deserved to be beaten and sexually abused. [Right, photo of GOP display by Tim Sylvia]
Chapdelaine responded to these statements by expressing her sorrow and saying that it was unacceptable that any student feel unsafe while they were a part of the Hood community.
The meeting accomplished its goal of a civil discussion. Additionally, representatives from both sides were able to speak freely and at no time did the meeting become argumentative. Now the meeting is over and the display’s one week reservation in Whittaker has expired, but the conversation of free speech is alive on campus.
Editor's note: Hood College Republicans held its own forum on the subject Sunday night. Eric Beasley of A Miner Detail gave his take on the discussion here.
