Brandeis president responds to free-speech uproar

In the wake of press coverage surrounding a free-speech controversy at Brandeis University, Brandeis President Frederick M. Lawrence, sent the following message to members of the Brandeis community.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: In a commentary published on page one of last week’s Jewish Star, author Abraham H. Miller stated that Lawrence “has conspicuously retreated into silence.” While Lawrence’s public reaction may not have been immediate and Miller’s column was prepared before Lawrence’s statement was made available, the statement was in fact distributed prior to the column’s publication. The Jewish Star apologizes for this oversight.]

As many in our community are aware, subsequent to the murder of two NYPD officers a Brandeis student posted comments to Twitter that expressed a lack of sympathy with the slain officers. Those comments were then re-posted by another Brandeis student on a third party blog.  I write to address the nature of the discourse of the past days. Then I want to share my own response to the murders, explaining why I condemn any lack of sympathy with the murdered officers. 

Let me begin with one key matter – safety of our students. We have no greater concern than the safety of our students at Brandeis. We have taken and will continue to take all efforts to safeguard our students. 

The discussion of the past week continues a national conversation on race and law enforcement that is bound to be heated and controversial. We will defend the free expression rights of all students in this debate. Arguments, even heated arguments, are one thing; threats are another.  Within our community, we must address each other in ways that do not threaten each other.  Any student who feels unsafe should notify public safety immediately.