Once again, Fort Lewis College has earned an F for its handling of campus speech and academic dialogue. Last spring, the administration denied local expert Jackson Clark II the opportunity to deliver a lecture on Navajo weaving, textiles and trading posts – citing vague “security” concerns. More recently, a student chapter of Turning Point USA was denied recognition, only for that decision to be reversed for unstated reasons in an emergency session.
What message does this send to the broader Durango community? FLC seems uncertain of its own principles, particularly when it comes to matters of intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity. The public deserves clarity. The administration should clearly articulate its standards and apply them consistently – whether the speaker is a local expert like Clark or a controversial student organization.
If FLC cannot define where it stands, one has to wonder what will happen when the newly recognized Turning Point chapter invites Nick Fuentes as its first high-profile guest. A university that vacillates on principle inevitably undermines both trust and academic freedom.
Miles Davies, FLC Class of 1988
Durango
