The Director of Stanford University’s Old Union told students with Students Confronting Apartheid by Israel that the Old Union was “no place for free political speech” and that "controversial political exhibits" have no place in the building. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what should be encouraged in student meeting places on campus—whether the quad, student union, or any number of other venues.
In fact, the university's "constitution"
stipulates that the objectives of the university are: "to qualify students for personal
success and direct usefulness in life; and to promote the public welfare by
exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization, teaching the
blessings of liberty regulated by law, and inculcating love and reverence for
the great principles of government as derived from the inalienable rights of
man to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Certainly, with that as its mission, the
students should at least be able to
engage in political speech and acts in the student union.