Letter: Another Take on Foreign Students

Dear editor:

Bruce Ticker is entitled to his opinions (and he has made it perfectly clear that he is not a Trump supporter). Yet, this article is subtly wishing for Trump to fail in his efforts to protect the rights of Jewish students (and educators) on college campuses and I find that very sad. (Column: How Law Enforcement Might Mar Trump’s Order to Deport Foreign Students Boulder Jewish News February 6, 2024)

All students, whether American or foreign, have freedom of speech in America. But occupying public areas on campus and preventing Jewish students from getting to their classes or using campus facilities is not a matter of free speech — it is defiance of college rules and should be punished by suspension or expulsion. And, should a holder of a Student Visa get him- or herself expelled from school, he or she should be deported.

When there are elections for Student Government, any student has the right to decide not to vote for candidates who are pro-Israel. But students do not have the right to demand that all pro-Israel students be barred from standing for election.

Anti-Israel students definitely have a right to express opinions differing from those of a pro-Israel speaker. The questions should be asked during the post-talk exchange of ideas. But students do not have the right to disrupt the speaker’s address, or to attempt to prevent the talk from being given. Again, people who break the rules should be disciplined and repeat violations of school rules should result in expulsion.

And, college administrators should not have to be reminded that destruction of property and acts of violence should not be tolerated.

Toby F. Block
Atlanta, GA