Republicans, Democrats and every Duke student in between should be thoroughly embarrassed and disgusted by Professor Diane Nelson and her follwers' behavior at David Horowitz's March 7 lecture.
It's one thing to disagree with Horowitz; I certainly do as do many others. It's another thing altogether to attend a University as esteemed as Duke and not be able to get to hear every side of every issue. The immature behavior of Nelson and her comrades was absolutely astounding to me and many of my friends. Interrupting while Horowitz was speaking, not allowing his voice to be heard and making a mockery of the concept of free speech-I truly am astounded these are professors at the school that I love and attend. While Professor Nelson may indeed disagree with the points Horowitz made, she certainly should understand the right of everyone to be heard. She further should not have interfered with Duke students' ability to hear every angle and judge for themselves. Horowitz is controversial but holds beliefs many subscribe to, and he should be given the oppurtunity to be heard. Protesting his presence is a protest of the fundamental right of free speech.
I would have been happy to listen to Professor Nelson counter his arguments on her own night, during her own lecture, in an appropriate manner not involving immature T-shirts and obnoxious behavior. I only wish she could have composed herself and made an academic debate as Horowitz did.
I speak for myself and many of my friends when I say that it was truly embarassing to Duke as a collective body of mature, free-thinking adults to witness a professor act in such a juvenile, unprofessional manner.
Ben Grant
Pratt '09
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