Barrett Honors College: Free Speech or Libel?
T. W. Lewis explains withdrawing funding
As I have reported in other posts, the T.W. Lewis Center at ASU shut down on June 30. ASU says this is because Mr. Lewis withdrew his funding. But Ann Atkinson, the center's director, gave proof that they had alternative funding sources to stay open. So why did Mr. Lewis withdraw his funding? He supports many universities and provided generously to ASU’s honors college. He explains his reason:
“After seeing this level of left-wing hostility and activism, I no longer had any confidence in Barrett to adhere to the terms of our gift, and made the decision to terminate our agreement, effective June 30, 2023,” stated Lewis in a press release. “I regret that this decision was necessary, and hope that Barrett and ASU will take strong action to ensure that free speech will always be protected and that all voices can be heard.”
The honors professors who published a letter against Mr. Lewis called him many insulting names. And they called Dennis Prager a white nationalist bigot. They defended themselves by saying this was merely their right to free speech. And yet, free speech does not permit libel and slander. Would they be willing to apologize for their insults and instead issue an argument about why Dennis Prager is wrong in saying God made man male and female and marriage is between one man and one woman? I am still open to holding a public debate about this topic with any of them.
What kind of example does this set for their students? Remember, these are honors professors teaching the honors students of ASU. And when they disagree with someone, they resort to all manner of insults rather than discussion and dialogue. What does this tell students about how to behave? Is this the example you, as a parent or potential student, want to see from your professors?
These honors professors appealed to Robert George and Cornel West as examples of how to disagree with civility. But what you won’t find George and West doing is calling each other names the way these honors professors did. Why didn’t they follow the good example of George and West? It is a case of “do as I say, not as I do.”
Mr. Lewis raises a great point: are conservatives still welcomed at ASU? His money did not fund partisan politics. Even the event with Prager and Kirk was just about how to be happy. No administrators at ASU spoke up to call these honors professors to a higher standard of dialogue. None of them defended Mr. Lewis and his good work for ASU students. Why not?
Potential donors, does this make you rethink giving to ASU? State representatives of Arizona, will you join State Representative Austin Smith in asking for ASU to be investigated? Anti-discrimination laws prohibit singling out conservatives for differential treatment.
https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2023/07/asu-benefactor-t-w-lewis-explains-decision-to-pull-funding-left-wing-hostility-and-activism/