George Will and a Defense of Open Dialogue
Nicolas SonnenburgTHE SANTA CLARAOctober 15, 2015
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]t times, it is hard to believe the veracity of the oft-repeated axiom, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” But last Thursday, our campus witnessed how the power of ink flowing from an intentionally directed nib can ignite people’s passions.
Last week, the university hosted George Will, a syndicated opinion columnist who has written for The Washington Post since 1974. The outspoken writer is known for a dry, witty style, his unapologetic conviction to conservatism and a devout love for baseball.
Will is a controversial figure, but he is worthy of our consideration.
He is used to the ire of liberal and conservative readers, regularly inciting the anger of political actors on both sides of the aisle. However, during the summer of 2014, Will sparked a firestorm with a column he wrote outlining his concern with "progressivism" on college campuses.
Addressing a range of topics from sexual assault to trigger warnings, Will wrote, “[Universities] are learning that when they say campus victimizations are ubiquitous... and that when they make victimhood a coveted status that confers privileges, victims proliferate.”
Will went on to challenge the frightening statistic that one in five female students are sexually assaulted during their college years.
The widespread backlash to his piece exhibited just how mighty and powerful a pen can be. Readers were outraged, condemning him for trivializing campus rape.
Will found no refuge at Santa Clara. Activists, angered by his words, created a petition alleging that "Will demonstrate(d) that he is not interested in the kinds of...discussion that make this series a successful contribution to the mission of the university."
The petition, echoed many of the familiar complaints issued over the past year. Noting that the university provided a speaker’s fee, those behind the petition claimed that Will’s views were inconsistent with Santa Clara’s mission. They also included Will’s other controversial statements regarding Pope Francis and climate change in their complaint.
The document concluded: “We find Will’s flatly dismissive statements about sexual assault, climate change and the Pope not only disrespectful, but contrary to the very spirit of a speaker series dedicated to 'engaging people and ideas that shape our world.'”
Before I endeavor to make my defense of Will’s presence on campus, let me be as emphatic as possible in saying that I disagree with his words about sexual assault. The university provides tools and resources for victims to find some semblance of justice in the world. There is no conceivable way for a university to elevate the unfortunate status of victimhood as a “coveted” one.
But we should not ignore Will altogether because of those misguided words.
The roots of the university begin with Plato’s academy. Students there would gather with the Athenian philosopher to discuss a gamut of topics ranging from the nature of love to the origin of ideas. By the Middle Ages, academic monks transformed cathedral schools into universities dedicated to the pedagogy of liberal arts. And now, thousands of institutions span the globe, granting degrees in every imaginable subject from kinesiology to medieval Spanish literature.
Whether shaded by Mediterranean olive branches or ivy-covered brick towers, students have been driven by a love of diverse ideas. Plato wrote in dialogue form, promoting clear opposition. During the Renaissance, universities were filled with contentious debates. And in the twentieth century, they formalized the concept of tenure to protect professors from political firings as a safeguard to academic freedom.
A strong university education calls on students to be lovers of wisdom, think deeply and question radically. This is an uncomfortable process; for in doing so, we confront controversial ideas. On some occasions the ideas entertained in the classroom tear at the fabric of our simple, confident understanding of the world.
Having Will on our campus enabled us to engage with a difficult perspective. Will is no intellectual lightweight. He makes mincemeat of pseudo-conservative idols like Donald Trump and Rush Limbaugh. Holding advanced degrees from Oxford and Princeton, he possesses a mind with which serious thinkers should contend.
Many Broncos, to their credit, took the opportunity to engage with Will. At a short session before his address, student after student stood up to question Will about his comments concerning rape.
Will’s expertise is not sexual assault issues. He is a political thinker. He is concerned with how systems of governance work and how social institutions respond to problems. His up-front and acerbic style was very apparent during his talk last Thursday. He will not apologize for his opinions and will stand true to his convictions.
But if we aim to be serious intellectuals, we cannot shy away from voices like Will’s. We must challenge and consider philosophies with which we disagree, even those we find revolting.
We have seen that words are indeed powerful. If his opinions are detestable, engage with words as sharp as a sword. Do not shy away from the battle by ignoring his views. Embrace and experience the challenge.
Nicolas Sonnenburg is a senior political science major and news editor of The Santa Clara.