News Summary
The speech by legal scholar Ilya Shapiro at NYU Law School was canceled due to security concerns linked to its timing, coinciding with the anniversary of a terrorist attack. This decision has sparked debate over free speech and selective treatment of speakers on campus. Despite initially being approved, the event faced cancellation, raising questions regarding the university’s commitment to academic discourse amid security concerns.
New York, NY – The planned speech by legal scholar Ilya Shapiro discussing cancel culture was canceled by New York University’s (NYU) law school due to security concerns. Scheduled for October 7, the event was intended to focus on Shapiro’s book, Lawless: The Miseducation of American Elites, which examines various incidents of cancel culture at American law schools, including Shapiro’s own experiences.
NYU law school officials cited security issues linked to the event’s date, which coincides with the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israeli citizens. These concerns led to the cancellation despite the initial approval from an administrator, Penelope Fernandes. Students were later informed that the event could not take place at all on that day.
Associate Dean Megan McDermott confirmed that the security considerations played a major role in the decision, noting that NYU’s security personnel would be “strained that week”. However, it was noteworthy that the Federalist Society, which organized the event, was still allowed to host a different event during that week. This raised questions regarding the perceived selective treatment of speakers at the university.
McDermott clarified that the cancellation was based on the security resources already committed to other scheduled events and was not a reflection of the speaker or the topic of Shapiro’s speech. The organizers sought to change the event’s location for security reasons but ultimately could not alter the date due to Shapiro’s availability.
Shapiro, expressing disappointment over the cancellation, framed it as an illustration of “weak university officials” succumbing to what he termed a “heckler’s veto.” He even offered to send a copy of his book to NYU’s dean as a gesture of goodwill. However, after further inquiries, NYU later asserted that the event was not canceled altogether.
The decision to cancel Shapiro’s speech has raised broader concerns about free speech and academic discourse in universities. Robert Shibley, a free speech expert with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, criticized the university’s handling of the situation, labeling it a “textbook heckler’s veto” and arguing that universities should not selectively disfavor speakers while allowing other events to proceed.
Shapiro is known for his commentary on cancel culture within academic institutions, previously resigning from a prospective role at Georgetown University after facing backlash for a social media post regarding President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee. His controversial tweet, which addressed affirmative action and racial identity in judicial nominations, sparked significant criticism at the time.
The landscape of free speech on university campuses has evolved, with conservatives increasingly facing similar cancel culture dynamics that they once denounced when directed at liberal individuals. This ongoing trend underscores the complex challenges both students and institutions must navigate regarding the balance between security, free speech, and academic inquiry.
As the discourse surrounding cancel culture and academic freedom continues to intensify, the cancellation of Ilya Shapiro’s speech at NYU law school serves as a striking reminder of the contentious atmosphere surrounding free expression in institutions of higher learning. The incident exemplifies the tensions between safety concerns and the fundamental principles of academic discourse.
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Additional Resources
- The College Fix: NYU Law School Cancels Speech About Cancel Culture
- Deseret News: RIP Cancel Culture
- New York Post: NYU College Republican President Ousted
- Washington Post: Hamas, Israel, and Cancel Culture
- Wikipedia: Cancel Culture
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