University of Wisconsin System Announces Expulsion Policy for Event Disrupters

The University of Wisconsin System announced a policy on Friday that will expel students who repeatedly disrupt guest lecture events on campus.

According to the new policy, students found to have twice engaged in violence or disorderly conduct that disrupts others’ free speech will be suspended. Students who have participated in such behavior three times will be expelled.

“Perhaps the most important thing we can do as a university is to teach students how to engage and listen to those with whom they differ,” University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross said. “If we don’t show students how to do this, who will? Without civil discourse and a willingness to listen and engage with different voices, all we are doing is reinforcing our existing values.”

The policy comes in responses to incidents around the country in which speakers have been shut down by student disrupters. Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison shouted down events featuring two conservative speakers.

Some, however, are not happy with the decision. State public schools Superintendent Tony Evers argued the policy, which only will discipline students who actively disrupt others as they express themselves, will curb the speech rights of protesting students. “This policy will chill and suppress free speech on this campus and all campuses,” Evers argued.

A senior at the University of Wisconsin, Savion Castro, argued that the decision amounts to “capitulating to a band of right-wing extremists.”

“The First Amendment is supposed to be messy and contentious and allow contentious debate,” Castro added. “The whole point of protest is to disrupt the status quo and make people uncomfortable.”

University of Wisconsin Regent Regina Millner fired back at Castro, arguing that drowning out the speech of someone does not amount freedom of speech. “I don’t consider drowning out another speaker as freedom of speech,” Millner explained. “That doesn’t qualify.”