Testing the bounds of free speech

Rowan University is committed wholeheartedly to diversity, equity and inclusion and to upholding individuals’ rights as protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment. Today, however, our values are being tested with a group of outside protesters who have come to campus to spew what only can be characterized as hate speech. The language they are using is intentionally raw and meant to be provocative and divisive. This is not their first visit to Rowan. They visit institutions across the state and region with the sole purpose of antagonizing anyone who will stop and listen.

As a public institution, Rowan is obligated to allow freedom of expression. While the language they are using is reprehensible, it is still constitutionally protected. Even as we honor this freedom as a precious right, it presents a challenge. As a community, let’s avoid provocative language and unbridled confrontation. Let’s not get goaded into a conflict with the individuals, but rather let’s continue to display our unity in the face of hate.

I applaud those members in our community who daily make clear our dedication to a welcoming and diverse Rowan community. Regardless of how opposed we may be to what these individuals are espousing, demonstrating our convictions with kindness may be the best work we do. 

Yours truly,

Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D.
President