The following email was sent to all students:
Dear Students:
From time to time, various groups or individuals visit our campus in order to advocate their positions or views on wide-ranging issues. As you are likely aware by now, Kyle Rittenhouse has been invited to speak on our campus. This is an activity, like many across our campus, organized by an outside entity. To be clear, this event is not organized or sponsored by WKU.
As a public institution, WKU cannot restrict the content of those activities or demonstrations, even when the message or visuals are controversial or disturbing. It’s important to remember that because an individual or group visits our public campus, it does not mean that the university supports, endorses or agrees with the views of those individuals. It’s also important to remember that the right to free speech does not include speech or actions that are threatening or constitute harassment toward an individual or group. Any victim of harassment or violence should immediately contact the WKU Police Department at 270.745.2548.
As a place of higher learning, we embrace the marketplace of ideas and defend individuals’ right to free speech. We believe that through these discussions, our collective understanding of the complexity of many issues increases, and we are better prepared to navigate a world of competing viewpoints and opinions. However, our positions are only advanced when we civilly engage in ways that move the discussion forward and respect the right of everyone to participate, even when those with opposing viewpoints do not afford the same courtesy.
I encourage all WKU students to safely and respectfully engage in advocacy for those issues about which you are passionate. If you are looking for additional ways to get involved with organizations at WKU, visit wku.edu/studentorgs to view a list of existing organizations. If you would like to create a new organization, contact the WKU Office of Student Activities. Additionally, if you are seeking more information about student activism and free speech at public institutions, please visit the Dean of Students website.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me or my office if we can be of any assistance.
Martha J. Sales, Ed.D. | Dean of Students | Interim Vice President of Student Experience
DSU 2122 | Tel: (270) 745-2683
Skip past news feed