Michael Knowles does not count as free speech, students argue
Boston University's student government passed a resolution condemning the Daily Wire host's recent speech at the school.
In response to Knowles' speech, the SGA deemed it necessary that the university 'address and actively change their past behavior of ignorance around LGBTQ+ matter.'
Boston University’s Student Government Association (SGA) recently demanded the school adopt new “LGBTQ+” measures after Michael Knowles spoke on campus, which the body did not consider an exercise of free speech.
The April 25 resolution passed four days after the university’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter hosted the Daily Wire host.
The SGA condemned the event and expressed that it was “disappointed and frustrated” by the allowance of a “speaker who is openly transphobic and actively seeks to erode and endanger the LGBTQ+ community.”
[RELATED: Students protesters call Michael Jowles a ‘grown a** man acting so immaturely’]
Furthermore, the resolution asserted that the Knowles event should not have been considered a free speech event because of the “danger” it posed to campus safety.
According to the resolution, the event was ”directly incompatible with the safety of the community or the functioning of the University.”
”We fully believe in freedom of speech and expression, however there is a line between free speech and hate speech that must be drawn,” the resolution stated.
In response to Knowles’ speech, the SGA deemed it necessary that the university “address and actively change their past behavior of ignorance around LGBTQ+ matters.”
The resolution’s demands included “accessible and inclusive housing for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGNI) students at BU” and a partnership between the university and the LGBTQIA+ BU Student Task Force.
The partnership would work together “to measure LGBTQ+ inclusivity” and fulfill the “forthcoming recommendations.”
The resolution also clarified that the Student Government “is open to working with the administration on a policy regarding the protection of marginalized communities on campus against hate speech in the interest of both student freedom and student safety.”
The students have formed a new Intersection of Marginalized Peoples and Community Task Force (IMPACT) Committee “serve as an agent in matters concerning marginalized communities.”
Campus Reform contacted Boston University and YAF for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.
Follow @jhughes1776 on Twitter
