Social 119 is a sociology class at Penn State University led by Dr. Sam Richards
Hey, I have a question about when speakers come to Penn State. Last year, there was someone affiliated with the Proud Boys, and this year, there was a speaker who promoted anti-transgender rhetoric. I’m curious about your thoughts on the extent to which freedom of speech allows organizations to invite speakers who reflect their views, and how Penn State should balance this with ensuring that all students feel safe on campus. Should the university only allow speakers who contribute to a safe community atmosphere?
Penn State adheres to the First Amendment, meaning that student groups can bring in speakers aligned with their ideologies, provided they follow the proper procedures. If people object, the worst thing to do is give the event more publicity. For instance, in my class, initially, very few students knew or cared about a controversial speaker. However, after the issue became more public, interest surged not because of the content but because people were drawn to the spectacle.
First off, let’s not equate “safety” with physical danger, as there has never been an incident where a speaker posed a threat to someone’s life on campus. For example, during the Proud Boys event, nothing unsafe occurred—there was minimal attendance and no significant reactions.
In summary, Penn State is required by law to permit these events. Every group has the right to bring in speakers, and as a community, we should focus on constructive responses rather than unnecessarily amplifying controversies.
Sam Richards is a professor at Penn State with an “out-of-the-box” method of teaching. The students do most of the talking, and all SOC-119 classes are livestreamed on their YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@SOC119
