I am writing this letter to the editor to comment on the recent situation regarding alleged racist remarks against Hmong made by UW Law Professor Leonard Kaplan in a law course dealing with culture and the law. As a visiting professor at the University of Iowa and a doctoral graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison political science department, I am greatly concerned and disappointed at the reactions of many students on this issue. I do not know specifically what was said as I was not in the class. The same is true, however, of a number of the complainants. I am reacting, however, to the way
the issue has been presented and discussed by many students and faculty at UW-Madison. Many of these people have discussed how professors must take every measure to be sure not to offend students in class.
In my First Amendment class here at Iowa, I frequently need to give examples of what is and is not protected speech with respect to hate speech, fighting words, obscenity, etc. If I have to sanitize my lectures to the point where there is no potential that anyone in the
class will be offended, I will fail to teach them what the law is and what the reasons behind the law are. If I do not challenge my students regarding what the boundaries are or should be, I have not done my job.
I am certain this makes them uncomfortable or even offended at times. But, neither students nor the public have a right not to be offended or made uncomfortable. Indeed, rigorous, tough, challenging education will always offend and bring discomfort. It is the only way to learn, to explore, and to better understand society and the human condition.
No one has ever expressed the attitude we ought hold about this issue better than Justice Douglas did in Terminiello v. Chicago 337 U.S. 1(1949):
"A function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger."
Professor John C. Evans
Department of Political Science
University of Iowa.
