Response to University of Pittsburgh free speech event

Statement in response to Milo Yiannopoulos’ Speech on 2/29/16 by the Pitt Student Diversity Council: The foundation of the Student Diversity Council, a coalition of more than twenty campus organizations, is to provide a safe space for all voices to be heard. Especially historically underrepresented groups who never were given the opportunity to speak. We aim to promote understanding and openness, which free speech is inherently a part of and essential to, especially when it pertains to creating an inclusive environment. This means we foster respectful, intellectual and thought provoking conversations from all different points of views. In fact, we encourage it in order to understand the society we live in better.

However, the Diversity Council does NOT stand for hate speech on campus.

As Pitt students, we all gave the Pitt promise, which includes: “[Supporting] a culture of diversity by respecting the rights of those who differ from myself; [and contributing] to the development of a caring community where compassion for others and freedom of thought and expression are valued” The Milo event held by a student organization on campus, while was advertised as an examination of free speech in our society today, was found to primarily be an opportunity taken to promote hate speech and incite anger. Having a speaker who challenged ideas in a respectful manner could easily have been achieved and accepted. However, the event instead degraded minority groups and their social movements, verbally harassed said groups, created a triggering environment for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors, as well as created a charged environment against the “other” group in attendance and on campus.

While Milo is free to express his sentiments, the main concern came not from him, but from the responses of the audience, who jeered at protesters, and yanked mics from questioners. The memes of students from the Pitt News article were created by Milo supporters, who also wrote threatening comments, all qualifying as online harassment. They acted upon the hate that was being presented by Milo. The dangers of hate speech is that not only are they socially unproductive--they are unsafe, easily leading to violent threats and actions. They only aim to stir illogical anger instead of promoting respectful conversations that create understanding and civility, despite differing opinions.

The Diversity Council encourages challenging viewpoints and promotes free speech, but condemns events that intentionally disrespect other groups and work against the creation of a compassionate or caring community and culture. We ask for future events approved by the University administration and SGB Allocations, while maintaining their neutral state, be liable to provide safe environment for all students in response. While everyone has a right to free speech, they don’t have a right to preach hate on our University campus. Only through awareness and respect can our students graduate and lead our country with inclusiveness and Pitt values.

Our Council members stand together in solidarity against hate rhetoric and unsafe environments, in the hopes of making Pitt an inclusive community for all.

Council Organizations: ASO, USAID, ASA, BAS, CWO, CLASA, COYA, Hillel, HSC, Interfaith Alliance, MSA, PSA, the Melting Pot, Rainbow Alliance, SASA, SJP, NSBE, Panthers for Israel, POMS, SGB, SHPE, GRAC, and Pitt Project Potter Below are individual Council organization statements:

African Students Organization (ASO) takes a stance against all forms of hate speech, actions and/or rhetoric that negates the experiences and disregards the psychological, physical, emotional or spiritual safety of any student.

The Asian Students Alliance (ASA) stands in solidarity with the organizations of the Diversity Council in condemning the use of hate speech and actions that endanger the mental and emotional needs of others. We will work together to protect and maintain safe spaces for all students on the University of Pittsburgh's campus The members of the University of Pittsburgh Campus Women’s Organization would like to express our shock, anger, and pain at the contents of Monday’s speaker and the events that ensued at the Student Government Board public meeting. We hope to provide a healing space for those that have suffered in so many ways because of these events. Our door is always open.

Hillel and the Jewish Student Union strongly condemn the incitement and hate speech that was propagated by Monday night's speaker. While we strongly value free speech, we are ashamed and offended by the misconduct, disrespect, and discriminatory attitude that the speaker exhibited on our campus. We stand by our classmates and our peers and want to offer a safe space to all who need it both within and outside the Jewish community.

Project Potter believes in the importance of healthy discourse but deplores the use of hate and discrimination to achieve this. The health and safety of our fellow Pitt students are of utmost importance and we stand with the Diversity Council and its statements. Stay strong, use your voice and continue educating your peers for the greater good. Remember: “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

It is the view of the University of Pittsburgh Rainbow Alliance that, while we respect the Student Government Association and University administration’s commitment to political neutrality, we must hold all parties accountable for systemic failures that precipitated in a lack of support for students before, during and following the event. We do not feel that people like Yiannopoulos should be prevented from speaking in the future; however, we stress that the Student Government Allocations Committee must, upon approving any motion for a controversial speaker, ensure that the safety of students who might be affected remains a priority at all times. Furthermore, in accordance with the message extolled in University student wellness campaigns such as It’s On Us and Talk About It, we would ask University administration to publicly affirm distance from any speaker whose message appears to be in misalignment with the aforementioned.

While the South Asian Student Association believes in the freedom of speech, we condemn the use of that freedom to incite anger, fear, and hatred towards others. No student should ever attend an event where they feel unsafe or have their experiences and identities disregarded.

The United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) were outraged by the College Republicans' event on Monday. Milo Younnipoulus preached hate speech under the guise of the free exchange of ideas- his words put the mental health and wellbeing of students in jeopardy, as he directly targeted marginalized groups and stirred up the prejudices that could lead to violence on campus.

We left the room that night feeling not only hurt but unsafe. Speakers like this cannot be allowed on campus - we have to do better. Though Milo would have us believe that our worth is only correlated to the money we earn, we know better than that. We will continue to fight for equality for everyone in the Pitt community and we will not settle for anything less.