Alt-right leader Richard Spencer's expected speaking engagement on Texas A&M's campus next month has prompted university officials to clarify Wednesday that he was not invited by anyone affiliated with the university.
Amy Smith, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at Texas A&M, told The Eagle on Wednesday morning that administrators "were not previously made aware" of the event featuring Spencer, who has ties to white nationalist groups.
"There has been deep concern expressed by our Aggie community about an individual planning to speak at our campus," Smith said in a statement. "To be clear, Texas A&M University -- including faculty, staff, students and/or student groups -- did not invite this speaker to our campus, nor do we endorse his rhetoric in any way.
"In fact, our leadership finds his views as expressed to date in direct conflict with our core values," she said.
Smith said the event is being hosted by a local resident and that the space being rented will be paid for by a private group.
Preston Wiginton said he invited Spencer to the campus to discuss the international trend of nationalism -- citing Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as two well-known nationalist political figures -- and give him the opportunity to explain his point of view.
"My point of bringing Mr. Spencer is, wouldn't they rather hear controversial ideas from the horse's mouth rather than reading about it?" Wiginton said. "I invite them to come and question Mr. Spencer. Let's have discourse. Let's have conversation."
Wiginton said he believes the rise of nationalism is "at the crest of the wave" of its popularity and that it is "a reaction to open borders."
"The left always thinks that colonization was bad when the white man went out and conquered most of the world, [but] now that white homelands -- Europe, America, Australia, Canada -- are being invaded by immigration, they consider it a good thing," Wiginton said.
"No people want to be displaced. The American Indians didn't want to be displaced, and they almost fought to their extinction. I respect that. What are white people supposed to do? Are we just supposed to get a shovel and dig our own graves?"
Twenty-seven of the university's student leaders -- including student body president Hannah Wimberly, Memorial Student Center president Brian O'Hara and student senate speaker Joseph Hood -- denounced the event in an open letter shared on social media Wednesday afternoon.
"The sentiment that Richard Spencer and his affiliates express are wholly unacceptable and have no place in civil discourse," the letter reads. "There is no place at Texas A&M for anti-Semitic, racist, or oppressive actions and speech. These divisive sentiments threaten the campus climate and cannot go unaddressed."
The student leaders also said that while Spencer's freedom of speech is protected, students have the right to respond.
They encourage students and administrators to engage in "constructive dialogues" and to "create meaningful change through civil discourse and elevating student voices, holding one another accountable to demonstrate progress."
Wiginton -- who said he enjoys bringing controversial speakers to the campus -- said he has been surprised by the university's reaction to the event.
"Isn't a university supposed to be about the diversity of ideas?" Wiginton said. "It seems as though they are intolerant of all ideas other than their own. ... What are these people scared of? That's what gets me.
"Why are these people so scared of Mr. Spencer being on campus? I think it's really just a threat to their ideas."
While Spencer is the only speaker scheduled for the event, Wiginton said he likely will address those in attendance at the beginning, asking "that Aggies will have manners during the event."
A silent protest outside Rudder Tower currently is planned to coincide with the speaking event. In a Facebook post for the protest, it is being described as a response to "white supremacist Richard Spencer's speaking engagement at Texas A&M."
"We strongly encourage all concerned Aggies, regardless of background or belief, to join us in sending a clear message that Richard Spencer and his ideology have no place at Texas A&M University, an institution that proudly proclaims respect as a core value."
It was not immediately clear who is organizing the protest.
(23) comments
Robert Spencer has written many books on Islam. As a result, it is unfair and dishonest market him as a advocate of violence.
Interesting quote: "We strongly encourage all concerned Aggies, regardless of background or belief, to join us in sending a clear message that Richard Spencer and his ideology have no place at Texas A&M University, an institution that proudly proclaims respect as a core value."
Core value- respect. If indeed that is a core value, then, the protesters ought to welcome Robert Spencer as a sign of respect. Or is respect a code work for
we don't like his ideas and thus we hide behind words?
I recall Patrick Henry's, who may be a name familiar to the protesters, who observed rightly, "I may disagree with uou but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Can the protesters accept the Henry challenge?
No, because Spencer is contrary to political correctness.
I wholeheartedly disagree with Mr. Spencer. I equally wholeheartedly disagree with A&M's response. Whose speech gets disavowed next time?
Boys, boys, boys, you're both pretty.
Robert Spencer is not the one being invited to TAMU. _Richard_ Spencer is. Robert Spencer is an author. Richard Spencer is a slobbering hate monger with a stylish haircut and a suit jacket hiding his Reichstag tattoos.
Robert Spencer can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL7v4RCp0KU
Richard Spencer can be seen here: http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/21/politics/alt-right-gathering-donald-trump/
I hope this clears up confusion.
The point still stands. Replace "Robert" with "Richard" and THEN respond.
Then get your snobby nose lowered. With the coming rain you might just drown.
LongdryCreek - The president of A&M has a duty to keep the campus safe from hate speech. RS espouses hate, discrimination and intolerance for those who don't look, act and feel as he does...I am glad there will be large scale protests against his ideas and the dishonor he brings to Rudder Tower by his appearance.
Who decides what "hate speech" is? Yours is as chilling an assertion as I've heard. Where is it written that ANYONE should be "protected" from "hate speech"? There are things said by professors in classes every day that someone may consider "hate speech".
While I do not agree with Mr. Spencer, I'm saddened by A&M's response. Academic freedom means exploring ideas, There was not a similar University response when they INVITED Angela Davis to campus.
The best way to deal with the likes of Mr. Spencer is to ignore him. Nothing silences public speech faster than a lack of audience.
Fact check....since you attend all of A&Ms classes every day, please list the specific classes, statements, dates to back up your assertions. Type Sabio nonsense designed to get personal attention and distract from the central issues. Most of us know what hate speech is, and most of us know that it has nothing to do with political correctness....Like Spencer, you are spewing nonsense designed to do nothing more than play with your audience. I expect to see you at Spencer's talk while we are photographing the participants. Have a great day...of course you can, as always have the last biased word....you always manage to spew some kind of nonsense as if you really know what is going on....have at it....enjoy....
So, you agree that speech should be regulated according to someone's view of acceptable speech. Worse, you are going to try to intimidate anyone who wishes to hear his protected speech.
YOU are what is wrong with America, and you would be at the top of my list of radical leftists.
As I said, I disagree with Spencer. But I fear you.
Well, Reichsmarshal Sabio, the difference is that Angela Davis had a long and distinguished career as a scholar and an academic at UC Santa Cruz and Rutgers. Now, I know they aren't Texas A&M, and so might not rate anything more than a confused shrug from you, but as someone who actually works in academia rather than throw rocks at it from the outside, I can tell you that those are top notch universities. While she was arrested for her alleged role in the Marin County courthouse incident, she was acquitted of all charges. She has spoken out forcefully against racism and segregation her entire career.
In contrast, Richard Spencer has worked his entire career as a white nationalist. He has advocated for a white separatist homeland. He is a supporter of ethnic nationalism. He is on the record as questioning whether Jews are people. I don't know what kind of lessons can be learned from that, Sabio. Perhaps you can find something in your distorted perspective of what you think a university is and should condone to lecture us on why expressing dismay that Texas A&M is letting such a monster onto its campus is an oppression of free speech.
Maybe this can help: https://xkcd.com/1357/
How ironic that trying to stop free speech is NOT oppression of free speech, but allowing it is. What in the world do you think free speech is?
As for Angela Davis, she was the head of the Communist Party USA, an associate of the Black Panther Party which, at the time, called for a violent overthrow of the US government and the establishment of an independent black state. You fail to mention that she was fired from UCLA.
You proved my point by noting that she has her union card, the PhD., through which her equally racist views are protected by academic freedom.
Here's the difference:
Angela Davis had a long and successful career as an academic and scholar on race and segregation issues long before being invited to Texas A&M. She taught at UC Santa Cruz and Rutgers, and actually faced racism as a child in Alabama. Her perspective, while at times militant, is one of inclusion.
In contrast, Richard Spencer has been a white nationalist his entire career, and is on record as wondering whether Jews are people. What can be learned from any speech that he gives, other than in a cautionary sense? This is an _educational_ institution, Sabio, despite your long noted general distain for academics.
If you're concerned about free speech issues, perhaps this is something that can help: https://xkcd.com/1357/
So I was right. Angela Davis can hold equally racist views, but because she has a PhD. her views are considered "academic freedom" and are safe from criticism.
Your link about the definition of free speech is incorrect. It's not JUST that government can't arrest you for what you say, it's also that they can't stop you from saying it.
That you would try to stifle free speech scares me FAR more than anything Robert Spencer may say. Whose speech will you try to stifle next?
You are a MUCH bigger threat to the United States and what we stand for than is Robert Spencer.
The radical left has claimed the high moral ground for far too long on issues of race and gender, while shaming all dissenting viewpoints into silence. Now that they have gone back to their roots (burning and trampling on the U.S. flag), they will be able to claim the moral high ground and shame dissenters no more. These will be interesting times ahead.
So, are you calling the head of the Corp of Cadets, the president of the A&M student body, and over 20 other student leaders at A&M part of the radical left? Please clarify?
I said no such thing. Are they disrespecting the American Flag? We know the radical left does it. It's in their genes. And many who don't do it, approve of it secretly.
Please sir...name names....who do you include in the radical left....?
Are you suggesting the head of the corps of cadets, the SBP and 20 other so called student leaders who you can't name, burn the American flag and are part of the left wing?
I don't understand the comment of AgProf88: Are you comparing "trampling on the US
flag" (as questionable as this may be) with the demand of Mr.Spencer to deport all non white citizen? What has one to do with the other?
All Mr. Spencer wants is attention for his fringe views, and he's getting it. There are fringe views on the radical left too, and these must be fought too (but aren't nearly enough).
Richard Spencer's far right view does not represent my view of the world TE2 and neither does your far left view. You stated below that you will be among the group outside Rudder protesting Spencer's talk. I respect and applaud your conviction to support your beliefs. However, you also stated that you would be outside photographing all who decided to attend Spencer's talk. For the record sir, you and your compatriots who would photograph and record identities of those who go to listen to Spencer are way more frightening and a much bigger threat to our country and to TAMUs core values than anything nut job Spencer could ever say!
It sounds like TX Eagle 2 is just as bad as the anti abortion protesters who hit up planned parenthood and photograph women coming in. He really should get a life in his retirement.
TX Eagle 2: Think twice about photographing attendees. What do you plan to do with these photos anyways, please tell us.
Fair warning, you could be physically harmed if you attempt such a weasel tactic. I know if you aimed a camera at me without my permission you wouldn't be aiming anything at anyone for a while.
People like Master of Disaster and Texas Eagle 2 scare me more than a Richard Spencer. MOD openly forgives racists on the left because they have a PhD, case in point, his support for Angela Davis.
TXEagle two has said he will photograph anyone that attends the Richard Spencer event. Tx Eagle, do you mean you will photograph minority attendees too? I didn't think so. You are a coward. Just try taking anyones pictures without their permission.
You both scare me more than Angela or Richard.
*sigh*
Getting the vapors over some @sshole with 50 followers
Why don't you ever talk about the extensive CPUSA support for Obama and Hitlery over the years?
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