Samuel Bostaph, Ph.D
David A. Caputo, President
Pace University
New York City, NY
president@pace.edu
Dear President Caputo,
I have the distinction of being a former member of the Pace faculty, and
write to express my hope that the discipline meted out to students Brian
Kelly and Laura Giaccone will be commensurate with the nature of their
offense.
Universities necessarily shelter diverse viewpoints and some expressions of
those viewpoints may be inappropriate to a community of mutually respectful
opposing views. Displays of rudeness and lack of respect should be
penalized because of their lack of consideration for the circumstances under
which they are expressed.
I recognize that as a private university, Pace is not bound by the same free
speech requirements as those that bind public universities. Brian Kelly and
Laura Giaccone expressed a view of former President Bill Clinton with which
I happen to agree, but their expression of it on Pace’s property subjects
them to disciplinary action. It is my understanding that they are being
considered for expulsion from the university for their offense. I urge you
to reconsider. It was the forum of their protest rather than the substance
of it that seems counter to a university’s responsibility to consider all
arguments. Surely, it would not be inappropriate for Pace to host a public
consideration of the question of whether certain public figures are war
criminals.
It is also my understanding that both students were peaceful in their
protest, rather than exhibiting any violence or threat of it. Please take
that into consideration in reaching a decision as to the appropriate penalty
to be applied for their offense.
Sincerely yours,
Samuel Bostaph, Ph.D
Professor and
Chairman
Department of Economics
University of Dallas