Clark University just disinvited Norm Finkelstein from a speaking engagement later this month. Michigan State University was under pressure from the ADL to rescind its invitation to Israel-critic Desmond Tutu to give its commencement address. MSU is sticking to its guns. Here's a letter from the president's office to Jeff Blankfort, who wrote to tell MSU not to fold. Notice that the school will be providing plenty-um context to make Tutu acceptable for American ears:
Dear Mr. Blankfort:
On behalf of President Simon, we would like to thank you for expressing your support of her decision to keep Archbishop Tutu as the speaker for Spring Convocation 2009.
While MSU rejects an intellectual and academic boycott of Israel, as previously stated in 2007, for the very same reasons we welcome Archbishop Tutu’s acceptance of the invitation to speak on our campus. Some have expressed concerns that by inviting Archbishop Tutu to speak, MSU is violating its long-standing tradition and commitment to academic freedom; however, we feel that to rescind our invitation to the Archbishop, unless he publically repudiates a position he has taken, would be the actual violation of our support of free speech, which is at the heart of academic freedom.
MSU believes a university may best bring about positive change in the world not by building walls and holding itself apart but by engaging. As we teach our students to tolerate and appreciate a diversity of intellectual approaches and viewpoints, even those with which they disagree, we reaffirm our commitment to being a place in which difficult conversations lead to growth and greater understanding.
As has been our practice with any controversial speaker, we will provide opportunities for our campus community to hear alternative points of view. In this case, we will work with our Jewish Studies Program, MSU Hillel, and the broader Michigan Jewish community to develop these opportunities.
Again, thank you for your support of MSU’s persistent goal to be a university where advancing knowledge and transforming lives is rooted in a firm commitment to intellectual and academic freedom, and thank you for the additional information you have provided regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Brianne Walsh
Office of the President
Michigan State University
