As a recent addition to the team here at Mountain States Legal Foundation, I remember one of the first things I ever read about MSLF was the Letter to Dean of Stanford Law. Now, I thought a letter to the Dean of Stanford Law was amazing in and of itself, but the content of the letter advocating for the protection of free speech was the part that compelled me the most. The statement that stuck with me so vividly, even until now, is:
Stanford students will one day be Stanford attorneys, and they will have to interact with colleagues, opposing counsel, and judges with whom they disagree. They may even disagree with their clients’ personal beliefs. Nevertheless, as attorneys, they will be expected to maintain professionalism and courtesy. Indeed, as attorneys, they will have a responsibility to the legal system and to the judiciary as a whole.
In a day and age where free speech is assaulted more and more every day, where an unpopular opinion may now be met with violence instead of civil discourse, I found MSLF’s statement to be ever so true. Our young people are learning in an environment that accommodates and, in some cases, even encourages these uncivil displays of disagreement. As a recent college graduate, I can attest it is the university’s job to prepare their students for the reality of the real work environment, and sadly, many colleges are failing in this regard.
Look at the example of NCAA Champion swimmer Riley Gaines who was held hostage by protestors at San Francisco State simply because they disliked her sharing about her own lived experience competing against a male swimmer. Later, San Francisco State would applaud its students and praise their character for “peacefully protesting” and demonstrating “tremendous bravery.” Kidnapping someone because you disagree with what they are saying has never been peaceful and violating someone else’s free speech is not an act of bravery. While some universities may find this behavior acceptable, college students are in for a rude awakening when they enter the workplace where such violent or unprofessional behavior will not be tolerated.
So often, we talk about the next generation, the leaders of tomorrow, and how they are either the hope or downfall of the future of our nation; and I am the first to acknowledge that the next generation holds much responsibility for their own actions. Each person is responsible for their decisions, and they should be held accountable for those decisions by society and their workplace. But I also suggest that the current generation and institutions have a responsibility to train up the next generation. The decisions we make now determine what the future will look like. Young people need guidance to learn how to make the right decisions. Young or old, we all recognize there is much at stake. Freedom of speech is at stake. Arguably America’s most valuable freedom is on the line. Young people, in any profession, not just law, must know that their actions taken during their college career have consequences. They should take this time to embrace learning and experiencing the responsibility and accountability that comes with freedom of speech and expression, so they are prepared to encounter people with whom they disagree in a civil manner.