NC State, you are suppressing the speech of your students and faculty. On the NC State website, you claim that you cannot “censor, prohibit, ‘chill’ or punish protected speech (even if it’s biased, rude, mean, hateful, offensive, bigoted, wrong, immoral or deeply distressing).” However, over the past few months, several students, faculty and organizations have expressed their fear of speaking freely with The Nubian Message, fearing losing their jobs, opportunities or place on campus.
In a time when ICE is arresting college students across the nation for exercising their First Amendment rights and the government is revoking the visas of international students in the Triangle, you should be protecting your community’s voices.
Of course, Black and marginalized voices, the most vulnerable in society, are the voices you protect the least, and ironically, the voices you are most afraid of.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened universities that continue funding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-related programs. His administration called DEI “radical and wasteful,” releasing executive orders opposing DEI-related federal programs.
As a result, many universities are rapidly changing their policies and wiping any verbiage related to Black and marginalized people to avoid funding cuts. Unsurprisingly, you are not just following suit but overcomplying. Even though, per your website, you “cannot enact or enforce policies that censor speech,” you have been more than willing to ignore this principle to protect yourself.
You responded to these new executive orders by cutting pre-college programs for minority high school students and dismantling “DEI-related” living and learning villages. Then, you advised housing not to disclose further information, as discussed in a student government session on March 20.
You failed to make a formal statement about the dismantling of these pre-college programs and learning villages, instead opting to let the news trickle down to students and the broader community through emails or word of mouth to those most directly involved, when in reality, the decisions to dismantle these spaces affect the entire NC State community.
This is a massive slap in the face for Black and marginalized students; you failed to acknowledge the impact your decisions would have and offered little to no support to the communities affected. The Nubian Message understands the possible consequences surrounding the continued support of these programs, but the least you could do is provide Black and marginalized communities — and NC State as a whole — with transparency regarding your actions.
Furthermore, organizations and clubs have shifted how they promote their events. They can no longer advocate for events to celebrate the excellence of their community due to your clandestine censorship. They are afraid of losing their place on campus.
On multiple occasions, The Nubian Message has encountered faculty and staff members who are apprehensive to comment on certain issues due to the potential for retaliation or even termination. Staff, faculty and students are declining interviews or are asking to review interview transcripts before publishing on an increasing basis.
Recently, The Nubian Message has been backed into a corner — asked by allies on campus to remove or censor articles that include brief mentions of DEI-related language to protect people’s safety.
We noticed that our first Black chancellor is only referred to as the third NC State alumnus to serve in the role. In your news articles, the word “Black” is not mentioned once.
You put up no resistance in the face of these challenges and continue the cycle of complacency in your selective action. You’ve failed to protect your students and faculty. You put them in an impossible situation and threatened their First Amendment rights.
The Nubian Message could not even receive faculty statements on minority mental health. Your faculty should not be afraid to speak about the student body’s mental health — the very people they work to help. Face the fact that you are silencing your own community and be aware that we will not be silent — we will continue to fight.
You have no right to be considered the guardian of free speech when you codify the Trump administration’s policies by censoring, prohibiting and chilling your own faculty’s and students’ speech.
NC State, you are not the white knight.