Letter to the Editor

We, students and members of Duke Young Americans for Liberty, are concerned with the petition to remove Jonathan Zhao as opinion page editor due to his writings. We believe that such a response could have a negative impact on the ability of students to engage in open dialogue on a campus full of students ranging from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

We acknowledge that Zhao’s article was inflammatory, and as Libertarians, many of us are opposed to many of his beliefs on homosexuality and race, but punishing or silencing him is a dangerous approach. As a platform to represent the voices of Duke students, The Chronicle should allow all voices to be heard, including those that may be offensive, provided that they don’t promote violence. This is especially the case on a campus like Duke’s, where some voices are suppressed by the social climate itself. Removing Zhao as editor on the basis of his writings would not only deter him from sharing his own voice, but it could also set a precedent for removing other students from positions on the grounds of their unpopular views.

That’s not to say we shouldn’t oppose Zhao’s articles, but opposition should come in the form of critiquing the merits of his argument. Silencing him or punishing him weakens any actual arguments against his positions, of which there are many. These include a lack of citations in claiming black crimes arise from idolizing “thug culture”, assumptions that seem to stem from prejudice rather than fact, and his ignorance of the failed War on Drugs.

Voltaire believed that “I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. Other well known historical figures such as John Stuart Mill and George Orwell have echoed similar sentiments. Let us adhere to these principles, and have an open discussion about controversial topics, rather than shutting out what offends us.

Students of Duke Young Americans for Liberty