NWI's Calumet College of St. Joseph Demands Censorship of Conservatives and Political Critics, and support of Democrats in NWI

Calumet College of St. Joseph's Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Daniel Lowery, presented the following policy in Monday's NWI Post-Tribune Newspaper.  Calumet College of St. Joseph is a small private Catholic mostly bachelor's awarding institution of higher education in Hammond, Indiana.  Lowery, as the number two management authority at the School, would seem to be developing a new policy position for Calumet College the essence of which is to have conservative columnists, i.e. Ann Coulter, and local critical columnists be censored and therefore implicitly provide full support for the Democratic Party in NWI.

There was no disclaimer with the column that this does not reflect the views of the School.  It specifically identified the author as its Vice-President and that he was writing in this position. 

The following is the column arguing for a policy of censorship that the Vice-President of  Calumet College wrote:

I’m often given the chance to comment on local affairs. Turns in the bully pulpit can be rewarding. Indeed, too few ever get a chance to share their two cents worth at a podium or in an op-ed piece.

At the same time, anyone who expresses opinions in public ought to feel a bit of trepidation. Words matter. They can contribute to the public good. Conversely, they can damage individuals and institutions.

Those of us with access to the public square need to ask a number of questions. Do we have our facts in order? Do we understand the context of the situation on which we’re commenting? Is our analysis complete? Are we being fair to everyone involved? Are we being attentive to the perspectives of those who often go unrepresented in decision-making? Are we being swayed by our own interests?

These are tough questions. Answering them requires broad knowledge, a commitment to introspection, a dose of humility and a willingness to eat crow from time to time.

Nationally, these questions don't seem to count for much.  If you watch cable-news programs, you know that rapid-fire interruptions, misrepresenting the views of others and demonization are the order of the day.  Personal attacks and shrill commentary evidently sell commercials.

Locally, the Post-Tribune serves the same gatekeeping function that television networks serve nationally. It selects stories to cover and advances an influential editorial perspective.  By and large, the Post-Tribune serves this role well.  It also provides column space to others, including me, national columnist Ann Coulter, and local gadfly Maurice Eisenstein.

I’ve carefully studied Coulter’s work. In my view, she has established herself as a right-wing ideologue who will say almost anything to book a speaking engagement. Her shameless attacks on the widows of 9/11 victims rightly invited criticism. It’s time to ask whether her contributions advance our deliberations. I believe she has forfeited her claim on the bully pulpit.

Eisenstein is another case. I admire his courage in taking on powerful interests. I am less impressed by the depth of his knowledge.  And he certainly displays a tin ear with respect to the sensitivities of particular communities.

His recent attack on former Attorney General Karen Freeman-Wilson was poorly researched. And his recurring use of the word “tribes” to describe urban politics reflects — at best — a remarkable insensitivity to the history of race relations in this country.

Moreover, Eisenstein plays a one-note song with three alternating beats.

1. All decision-makers in Northwest Indiana are idiots.

2. No one knows what should be done but him.

3. If you disagree with him, you’ve obviously sold out. Moreover, you’re probably a part of a larger conspiracy to deprive him of his livelihood.

Please!

In fact, Eisenstein’s views — like those of Coulter — have grown tiresome. We know where they stand; they’ve had their time in the sun.

It’s time to move on.

Indeed, it might be time for a new set of voices to emerge. And the Post-Tribune can play an important role in this regard.

It is hoped these new voices will attend to the questions posed above. After all, it’s not just a matter of being critical; anybody can do that. It’s also about acting responsibly and speaking civilly in meeting the demands of the public square.

The specifics of this column will be answered in a later commentary here.  It is surprising to have a whole school attempt to censor columnists, national conservative or local ones, and a whole school of higher education support one party, the Democrats.  I do believe that the Republican Party deserves some explanation from the School not to mention anyone who believes in the Bill of Rights.

It is a real shame that an American school of higher education, even a private one, would continue to have someone as narrow minded as Prof. Dan Lowery as its Vice-President.