We're all talking about the problem of a lack of civility on college campuses. Yesterday, I posted a sample policy here. Also yesterday, there was an article about the civility policy proposed at Bergen Community College in New Jersey. A number of their professors are upset about the policy draft stating that:
"it would make it a punishable offense for a conservative student not to 'embrace and celebrate' the ideas of Michael Moore or for a liberal student not to do the same with Ann Coulter."
This Dean has a better approach to writing a policy:
My proposed code of civil conduct for higher ed, or speech code, if you prefer:
I will separate the speaker from the speech.
As he notes, this acknowledges the student's right to disagree with someone else's speech or writing without making it a personal attack.
He goes on to say,
"If you think they’re wrong, explain why, and be prepared to have to explain back. Just don’t move from “you’re wrong” to “you’re bad.” The former is the risk of any new idea; the latter simply ends discussion."
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