We have seen conservative and pro-life groups attacked on campuses across the country, including by faculty members (here and here). The latest such example is at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where a young man tosses a pro-life display while declaring, “I f**king hate you.”
Students for Life of America has reportedly identified the student as Adrian Miguelez.
To its credit, the school is pledging action:
“UNC Asheville is investigating the recent incident at Highsmith Student Union. Student safety is a top priority. UNC Asheville takes all allegations of student conduct violations seriously and addresses them in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Student Code of Responsibility.”
I hope so because we have seen case after case where universities fail to take action or order meaningless measures. This is not just an effort to stop the exercise of free speech, it is a form of political violence.
Conservative sites report that “a photo of Miguelez on the student government webpage appears to match the image of the young man in the video.” The profile with the photo declared opposition to “assaults on diversity and cultural programs” and says that Miguelez is “passionate about true justice.”
In the short video, posted by Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins on X, the student is shown saying “I f—ing hate you, I f—ing hate you.”
Universities must act in such cases with clarity and consistency. This warrants, at a minimum, a suspension of the student for engaging in political violence on campus. This is not speech, it is conduct.
I will be speaking at the University of North Carolina next week on the Chapel Hill campus. I will also be meeting with student groups on campus on Tuesday to discuss free speech before the event on Wednesday.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”