On the same night roughly 200 students protested white supremacy following the university’s response to a possible ‘alt-right’ group on campus, Chancellor Rebecca Blank spoke at an open panel, addressing student concerns regarding felony records and free speech.
Much of the discussion between Blank and students centered around UW-Madison applicants with a felony record. Blank brought up the recent controversy surrounding UW-Madison student Daniel Dropik, creator of the Madison American Freedom Party who committed orison in some black churches and is encouraging other students to join the group.
UW-Madison cannot ask about nor use applicant’s criminal records. Blank said she wanted to hold a conversation about the policy at the Associated Students of Madison’s Shared Governance panel and Blank clearly stated that she does not think people with criminal backgrounds or felonies should be barred from any university.
Blank added, “Having said that, I think it’s untenable for us not to know if we have someone with a felony background here on campus.”
Blank cited a convicted rapist as an example: “We may want to admit that person for a variety of reasons, but I would very much want to make sure they were not in the dorms. You would want to hold that conversation with that individual,” Blank said.
Blank also gave brief updates on the new chief of police, campus climate progress report, black cultural center, biennial budget and Trump’s executive orders regarding immigration. Attendants brought up other issues such as university housing affordability, shared governance groups, and inclusiveness and diversity.
The meeting concluded following discussion on the line between free and hate speech. Blank said that unless a student issues individual threats or threats of violence to the community, UW-Madison will not take action. According to Blank, Dropik has only expressed opinions and has made no threats.
“The expression of political opinions, however offensive they may be, are not a reason for discipline for students, staff or faculty,” Blank said. “I’m not going to discipline a political opinion.”
The Student Coalition for Progress group disrupted the end of the meeting when they entered shortly before 7 p.m. and yelled phrases targeted at Blank.
The group chanted, “Hey, Becky, what do you say? Make the fascists go away!”
