Student behavior was ‘distorted, amplified and endlessly repeated,’ claims Bridges
Following weeks of unrest, fear and sometimes violent behavior on campus, the president of Evergreen State College is blaming social media for the “misinformation” that brought so much trouble to campus.
“Evergreen has always been a place that takes on difficult issues in sometimes raucous fashion,” writes college president George Bridges in the Seattle Times. “The activism this year was different, though. As campus groups debated racism and free speech, there was a level of fear, emotion and invective we’ve never seen here.”
That “fear, emotion and invective,” Bridges argues, sprang in so small part due to the “misinformation” that was allegedly promulgated on social media. “Although activism on campus was only part of the story,” he claims, “it was distorted, amplified and endlessly repeated via social media and cable news.
“This small liberal arts college was then hit with a tsunami of hateful harassment targeted at staff, students and faculty. Anxiety rose, and there were confrontations on campus. Threats to Evergreen from outside the college compelled us to suspend classes twice on advice from law enforcement.”
The college was even forced to hold commencement exercises off-campus this year, Bridges notes.
Some steps we must take are clear. To preserve freedom from discrimination and of expression for all at Evergreen, we must have greater accountability and consequences for those who would deny those rights to others.
Freedom of speech belongs to all. Freedom to threaten does not. I am talking with Evergreen faculty and students, alumni, legislators and others about how we can strengthen and clarify the rules for conduct.
Since the disruptions, which took place on campus in late May, students are being investigated for violations of the student-conduct code, and their cases are currently under review. If they are found to have violated the code, sanctions range from a written reprimand to expulsion…
Finally, we must ourselves change. We must all listen to each other to understand, not just to reject. We also need a diversity of people, attitudes, orientations, politics and views on campus. Problems of racism and inequity are real and must be discussed in a campus environment that offers security for all.
Several weeks ago, in the midst of the controversy on Evergreen’s campus, Bridges caved to numerous student demands, even going so far as to excuse the students from homework so that they could more fully participate in campus protests and agitations.
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