By Jared Pinder
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
College campuses aren’t doing enough to stop hate speeches, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin told a crowd at Towson University Wednesday.
Cardin, D-Md., joined a panel that included Cynthia Cooper, acting associate dean for the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and Sanaullah Kirmani, faculty advisor for the Muslim Student Association. The focus was hate speech, which is making threatening comments, addresses and speeches directed at a certain group of people for the purpose of demonizing that group.
“This has become a big issue and people need to know about how hate speeches are affecting our college students,” said Cardin, who pushed for the public discussion.
A lack of communication is one reason for the growth in hateful behavior and speeches, Cardin said.
“We need to drill down on what the basis on the hate is about,” Cardin told a crowd of about 50 people. “We need to have an honest conversation on hate on campuses, so they don’t give oxygen to the people who are looking for trouble.”
The panel was sponsored by TU Hillel, a group that strides to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish students. A multitude of questions were addressed, including “Why hate keeps rising?” “Has social media impacted the rise of hate speech?” “How can a university control hate speech?”
Cardin said that a lack of communication is one reason why hate keeps rising.
However, Cooper said that incidents of hate speeches are decreasing at Towson and that the way the university had handled hate speech incidents in the past was promising.
“I have hope because of how the community combated the hate speech by the actions taken at Towson University and it gives me hope for the future,” said Cooper.
Last spring, Towson University was a victim of hate speech. However, students fought back in a non – violent way.
Kirmani agreed that there is a fine line between hate and freedom of speech but stressed that the line comes when people are being affected emotionally by the hate.
“We have to pay attention to the emotional injuries that hate speech causes,” Kirmani said. “That emotional injury is worse than a student getting a bad grade.”
Cardin said that a university can control hate speech through leadership.
“Leadership means speaking, and you can’t let hate go untouched,” Cardin said. “We have to listen to people who are responsible and have a different view then you.”
And, Cardin commented on how social media have impacted the rise of hate by allowing people to hide their identities. Also, there is little control of Internet websites, he said.
“The hidden identities have allowed for more hate because it gives people an opportunity to say things without consequence,” Cardin said. “We need to have control on what the Internet allows on the websites.”
Lisa Bodziner, executive director TU Hillel, gave two reasons for the panel: “We wanted some diverse perspectives on an issue that is affecting campuses across America.”
Bodziner added, “This panel was all possible because Sen. Cardin wanted to come out and talk about this issue.”