Francisco Gamez | Guest Writer
I am writing to offer my perspective as a student who has benefited from the Adam Smith Center’s diverse program offerings.
I do my best to take advantage of the amazing opportunities our university provides by attending as many presentations, meetings and conferences as time allows. Although I may not fully align with every idea, personal history or viewpoint expressed by every speaker I’ve encountered, I consistently feel satisfied after attending their presentations knowing that I made an effort to attentively consider a new perspective.
Only at FIU are these epic opportunities available for students.
In the same semester in which I took an entrepreneurship elective course, at the elite Chaplin School of Hospitality, with guest lecturers which included Drake, Victoria Beckham, and DJ Khaled; I also had the chance to join a study group with the former President of Colombia Iván Duque at the Adam Smith Center. These distinct program offerings undoubtedly deepened my student experience.
At the study group with President Duque, we met weekly to discuss a topic I had never heard of before: VUCA, volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. During the “Leadership in Times of VUCA” sessions we had open, non-political and independent conversations about lessons learned, mistakes made and perseverance.
Did I agree with every single anecdote presented? Of course not.
But this experience introduced me to a new concept, which I later researched extensively to explore the elements of a new way of thinking.
Universities should welcome all speakers, even those considered to be controversial, as a means of promoting free speech and open debate. Universities are places of learning, and learning requires the free exchange of ideas. Even if we disagree with a speaker’s views or background, we should still be willing to listen and engage with them in a respectful way.
This is the only way to challenge our own assumptions and learn from others.
In the real world, students will encounter individuals with a wide range of diverse perspectives, some of which we may find unpleasant or disagreeable. Universities play an important role in helping students develop the skills they need to engage with these people in a productive way.
Including the ability to listen to opposing viewpoints, to respectfully disagree and to defend their own positions.
By exposing students to a variety of viewpoints, universities can help them become more tolerant and understanding of others – an essential skill in a diverse and globalized world.
Of course, there are some limits to free speech on campus. Speakers who promote violence or hate speech are not welcome.
However, universities should be very careful about censoring speakers simply because their views are unpopular or controversial. Doing so would only serve to stifle debate and create an echo chamber where students are not exposed to different perspectives.
I challenge my fellow students to explore the boundaries of their comfort zone and to make an attempt to listen and understand different points of view. When universities welcome speakers, even those considered to be controversial, they help to promote free speech, open debate and tolerance on campus.
The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
About Post Author
