Students trying to get a controversial professor fired because of her criticism of rape victims and transgender people are slammed by their own university professor for stifling free speech
- Professor at University of the Arts Camille Paglia faced strong calls to be fired
- University president David Yager said the demands would suppress free speech
- Ms Paglia is known for her criticism of rape victims and transgender people
Students in Philadelphia have had their calls to ban a controversial feminist rejected by their university.
Professor at the University of the Arts Camille Paglia had faced strong demands to be fired following her criticism of rape victims and her comments about transgender people.
However president of the university David Yager rebuked the calls, stating that the move would 'suppress' free speech and that 'limiting the range of voices in society' would erode democracy.
Ms Paglia, who is known for her critiques of modern feminism, was met with a student-led petition signed by more than 1,000 people earlier this month for her critical comments on rape victims and transgender individuals.
Students at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia have had their calls to ban the controversial feminist Camille Paglia rejected by the university president
President of University of the Arts David Yager rejected the demands and stated the move would
The petition stated that the social critic had 'blatantly mocked survivors of sexual assault' and the #MeToo movement' during classes and interviews.
Organizers of the petition also drew to previous interviews Ms Paglia had given in which she stated that universities should not consider claims made by victims of sexual assault more than six months after the incident had taken place.
However in an open letter to students and faculty staff on April 10, University of the Arts President David Yager denied the petition and declared his commitment to free speech, arguing that for centuries artists had suffered censorship and that 'simply cannot be allowed to happen.'
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He wrote: 'Across our nation it is all too common that opinions expressed that differ from another's—especially those that are controversial—can spark passion and even outrage, often resulting in calls to suppress that speech.
'That simply cannot be allowed to happen. I firmly believe that limiting the range of voices in society erodes our democracy.
'Universities, moreover, are at the heart of the revolutionary notion of free expression: promoting the free exchange of ideas is part of the core reason for their existence.
Earlier this month president of George Mason University Ángel Cabrera rebuked calls to fire Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Justice Kavanaugh sparked outrage among students due to allegations of sexual misconduct
'That open interchange of opinions and beliefs includes all members of the UArts community: faculty, students and staff, in and out of the classroom.
'We are dedicated to fostering a climate conducive to respectful intellectual debate that empowers and equips our students to meet the challenges they will face in their futures.
'I believe this resolve holds even greater importance at an art school. Artists over the centuries have suffered censorship, and even persecution, for the expression of their beliefs through their work. My answer is simple: not now, not at UArts.'
Ms Paglia had become a controversial figure on campus and a growing target among students due to her critical assessment of modern culture.
In a YouTube interview posted earlier this year the controversial academic claimed academic institutions should not listen to a complaint made by victims of sexual assault more than six months after the incident had happened.
During the interview she said: 'To me it's ridiculous that any university ever tolerated a complaint of a girl coming in six months or a year after an event.
'If a real rape was committed go freaking report it to the police.'
She added: 'To me this is not feminism to me this is a bo bourgeois culture of excuses and a projection of a prima donna thing. Like exposing the wound. The wounds make you special, the wounds give you privilege.'
The rebuke by Mr Yager comes after the president of George Mason University, Angel Cabrera, slammed calls to fire the Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Justice Kavanaugh had sparked controversy due to allegations about his sexual conduct in high school, however Mr Cabrera stated the judge was 'uniquely valuable for our students'.
