University cancels talk by Jewish-conservative speaker planned for Oct 7

NYU Cancels Conservative Speaker’s Event Amid Safety Concerns

New York University (NYU) is facing criticism after its Law School canceled an on-campus event featuring conservative Jewish legal analyst Ilya Shapiro. The discussion was to coincide with the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack.

The Federalist Association at NYU had organized this noon event but received word from university officials that it couldn’t proceed as scheduled. An email shared with media outlets indicated that NYU administrators expressed worries about security, particularly given the possibility of protests related to that date, leading to the cancellation of events during that week.

A message from Megan McDermott, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, stated that decisions were based on general safety concerns and security measures already in place rather than on the specific nature of the program or speaker. She noted that there was no concrete information suggesting that the event would incite protests, especially remembering the events of October 7.

Shapiro, who intended to talk about his upcoming books, posits that elite law schools are increasingly influenced by a political agenda that stifles open dialogue and research. He warned that this trend could damage the principles of free speech on campuses.

In response to the cancellation, Shapiro commented that the university’s actions reflect a troubling trend of limiting speech due to potential backlash. “It’s disappointing that the dean can’t learn from my work about effective leadership,” he remarked.

NYU’s law school spokesperson clarified that the event wasn’t outright canceled but rather postponed; the law school was willing to reschedule at a later date. Shapiro has appeared at NYU before, and the administration aims to collaborate with students to ensure he can speak in the future.

Shapiro expressed his gratitude to the students who invited him to discuss his book and issues in higher education, lamenting the school’s decision as a concession to concerns over protests, especially regarding conservative viewpoints on such a sensitive date.