However, the president continued, due to the university’s “commitment to free expression,” the student group will be permitted to continue with its ceremony.
Really. Suppose some college club decided to invite somebody, say, Condoleeza Rice or Anne Coulter or Michelle Malkin to talk, or decided to have a presentation on the evils of abortion and promiscuous sexuality, or to hold a presentation on the benfits of the Second Amendment, would their definition of “freedom of expression” prevail?
Those students who oppose this should picket it as well as the office of this sophomoric loon.
Harvard has active, university-supported conservative student groups that receive free space and use of university resources (things denied to this night school student "cultural studies" group), and that hold activities on campus, invite speakers, etc. These include Harvard Pro-Life, the Anscombe Society (traditional marriage and sexual morality), and the college Republicans.
They don't usually do things that are flamboyant, but that's not always the case. A few years back, Harvard Pro-Life had a poster campaign featuring cartoon drawings and photos of a developing fetus representing an unborn girl, “Elena,” with pro-life quotes, which disturbed the tender sensibilities of many liberal students on campus, who consider the pro-life cause to be a “hate crime.”
I don't think that Harvard would permit the desecration of a Koran, but they'd probably hold their noses and permit the desecration of an effigy thereof. Just as they drew the line at the desecration of a consecrated host, in this case.
Harvard is far from perfect and has many flaws. It is a place swimming in its own liberalism (among its flaws). Nonetheless, my conservative son and his conservative friends have usually found welcome in Harvard's embrace, and failing that, at least tolerance.
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