If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a UF student, it’s that college students are not as tolerant as they claim to be. Are you surprised? I’m not. The hypocrisy of those who claim to be tolerant is stunning, and it was on full display last week after Victoria Fortier wrote a column for the Alligator titled “It’s time to stop kneeling during the national anthem.”
Fortier was subsequently mocked and attacked on social media simply for expressing her views. Readers and students accused her of being a “privileged white sorority girl” and of publishing propaganda. Other students chose to attack the Alligator for even publishing Fortier’s column, even though the Alligator published two additional columns that challenged Fortier’s views.
Although I do agree with Fortier’s central argument, I want to be clear that this column is not a defense of Fortier, what she wrote or how she wrote it. I do not know her or what her general political views are, but I am writing to defend her right to those views because there are some on this campus (and campuses across the country) who believe opposing viewpoints should not be published, discussed or promoted. Even worse, there are those who believe that purveyors of opposing views should be personally attacked. I would know, as I myself have been attacked and smeared for sharing my views.
I’ve written several columns for the Alligator this semester, none of which have come without controversy. I believe in writing about difficult and contentious subjects. I want my writing to spur thought, inspire debates and challenge my peers. I understand what I write may not be easy to read or accept, but that’s the point. I don’t believe in writing fluff pieces or columns that generate 100 percent agreement. What would be the point in reading a column like that?
The response to Fortier’s column made me think about tolerance for opposing views at UF in ways I had not thought before. In addition to the attacks on those who would dare publish an unpopular viewpoint in the Alligator, I realized that there were several instances of intolerance by the very same students who likely demand tolerance for their own views. For an example, look at last semester’s speech by Ben Shapiro. Leading up to the event, liberal students vandalized posters and erased chalking that advertised Shapiro’s speech. I’ve also spoken to students who have expressed fear at the thought of sharing their views in the classroom for fear of retribution from their professor or classmates.
The odd thing is, according to the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, most American college students consider themselves tolerant of opposing views. Surprisingly, left-of-center students scored higher than centrists and right-of-center students. 86.6 percent of left-of-center students consider themselves tolerant of opposing views.
However, another study by the Brookings Institution shows a greater divide. More than half of college students (62 percent of whom identify as Democrats) believe it is acceptable to “loudly and repeatedly shout” to shut down a speaker on campus. The institution also found 20 percent of all college students believe it is acceptable to use violence to shut down a speaker. Aside from being highly alarming, these statistics clearly do not represent tolerance.
So, why the divide? Well, the data seems to suggest one of two things. Either the students who identify as tolerant liberals aren’t actually liberals, or they aren’t actually tolerant. It is more likely the latter reason explains the divide, but I’ll leave that for you to decide.
While I can acknowledge that left-wing intolerance is worse on other campuses, I hope students at UF reflect on how they have received and responded to opposing points of view. One day, it might be you who is facing backlash for expressing your views and beliefs.
Eduardo Neret is a UF finance senior. His column appears on Wednesdays.
