By Ben Goodman ’16, Coeditor-in-Chief

On Thursday, February 25^th, the California State University of Los Angeles (CSULA) planned to host a presentation called “When Diversity Becomes A Problem,” by conservative writer and radio-show host Ben Shapiro. The objectivity pretty much ends there. Immediately upon the announcement of the visit sponsored by Young Americans for Freedom, a student group, widespread protest broke out. CSULA protestors condemned Shapiro’s supposed “hate speech” and demanded he not be welcomed to campus. University President Bill Covino initially moved to reschedule Shapiro’s appearance and add other speakers with “differing viewpoints on diversity,” but then the other side cried foul. YAF claimed Covino’s caving was akin to canceling the event and also a violation of free speech.

The presentation ended up running on time at the University Student Union, but it was marred by loud and violent protest. University police were forced to sneak students who wanted to see Shapiro speak through the USU theater’s backdoor, as protestors blocked the front entrances. Inside the theater, protestors turned off the lights and set off the fire alarm, interrupting Shapiro’s presentation, but the show went on.

What to make of all this? Ben Shapiro, admittedly, has views with which The Minuteman disagrees. He denies, for example, the existence of systemic racism in America. His presentation suggested that diversity of viewpoint is far more important and useful than diversity of background or core values, and while we wholeheartedly agree with the former premise, we believe the latter is crucial as well. But our disagreement on some counts with him does not make his ideas hate speech—he not once in his presentation prejudged people of any racial, cultural or economic background. And more to the point, if it were hate speech, it would still be protected under the First Amendment, so efforts to ban him from CSULA were totally unjustified.

This leads to what The Minuteman recognizes as a ballooning problem on college campuses—environments that the Class of 2016 will soon join. Simply put, college students are turning their backs on discourse. College used to be seen as the ideal setting for exploring foreign ideas; for meeting new friends who don’t always see eye-to-eye with you; for embracing vehement disagreement. Today, campuses are being redefined as places where students can live free of discomfort in their worldview or values. While that sounds nice, it makes for an anti-intellectual environment where hurt feelings take precedence over the sharing of ideas and can allow a majority to “set the agenda”—basically glorifying some perspectives and barring the dissemination of others. As a newspaper, of all things, we cannot condone this growing trend, in which the right to speak hinges upon what exactly you have to say.

In lieu of the echo chamber culture running rampant across American colleges, The Minuteman offers a positive solution to anyone wishing to promote their political beliefs: debate, debate, debate! We learn and mature when we formulate our withheld opinions into words and then step back and listen to counterarguments made by our peers. In fact, if you truly believe you’re right about any issue, you should always seek discourse. The Ben Shapiro protestors, for example, should have relished the opportunity to hear his views and then make their own case about why structural racism is engrained in U.S. culture. We, as intelligent, respectful and engaged Newark Academy students, need to be the change when we go off to college. Let us engage with opinions we do not agree with and uphold the tenets of free speech, no matter who is speaking. When the next Ben Shapiro comes to our campuses, let us walk in the theater ready to argue and learn, rather than blocking the door.