Freedom From Fear

Over the past couple of weeks a number of very disturbing attacks have taken place in New Haven. First, several intruders broke into the room of a Yale sophomore who displayed an upside-down American flag in her window to express her opposition to the ongoing war in Iraq. They left hateful messages directed against the student herself, and more broadly, against Muslims and Iraqis. Several days later, Yalies holding a silent vigil in memory of Iraqi civilian casualties were spit upon and harassed at residential college dining halls. Then came more affronts: an obscene and threatening message was left outside the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale, where many Muslim student groups meet.

Such acts are utterly deplorable, and thankfully the Harvard community hasn’t suffered any attempts to stifle or threaten those who exercise their right to free speech. All universities rely upon an environment that encourages students to debate and disagree on intellectual and political issues. And while the war in Iraq has certainly provoked much impassioned argument—across the country, on this campus, and no doubt, at Yale—intimidation is never acceptable. Indeed, such intimidation runs contrary to the principles of our academic and democratic traditions. Acts of violence towards those who speak out have no place in American political discourse and fear must not permeate our campuses.

The recent events ought to motivate administrators at Yale to develop more acceptable means for debate on their campus. Unfortunately, Yale President Richard Levin, along with Yale College Dean Richard Brodhead, have not taken this view. Their assessment—that the attacks were isolated and anomalous incidents—refuses to acknowledge an obvious trend, and flies in the face of what some students say they feel is a climate of growing intolerance.

The administrative response, which came in the form of an e-mail from Brodhead condemning the attacks, was much too weak. If any students feel intimidated by the political climate on the Yale campus, the administration must do everything within its means to create an environment that is free from fear. As angry Yale students have pointed out, an e-mail signed “Best wishes” from the Dean hardly constitutes a meaningful and concerted response.

Where the administration at Yale has failed, however, students insistent upon practicing political protest may prevail. In response to the initial break-in, anti-war activists around campus confirmed their right to speak out by displaying upside-down flags in a remarkable show of solidarity. Whether or not one approves of the military action in Iraq, one has to applaud the courage and fortitude these Yalies have shown by refusing to be silenced.