What’s an institution to do?

Protesters and supporters alike gathered at the Toxic Matriarchy Event in early April, sponsored by the Collegiate Reformed Fellowship (CRF) in partnership with Christ Church. C.R. Wiley, a Pastor at the Presbyterian Church of Manchester in Connecticut, was joined by Christ Church Pastor, Douglas Wilson, who refers to himself as “the Proprietor.”  

“I understand that this talk’s subject matter may be upsetting to some,” former University of Idaho President Chuck Staben said in an email regarding the event. “A commitment to equity and diversity runs very deep at this institution and is central to our work and our identity. I am confident this event, and others that challenge us in the future, will help us affirm who we are and what we value.”

The University of Idaho campus is not new to the controversy surrounding Christ Church and the CRF student group. In the early 2000s, students protested their use of the second floor of the Student Union Building, now the Bruce Pitman Center, for the group’s history conference.

Amir Rezamand | Courtesy

According to the Christ Church website, the mission of members can be summed up in the phrase “all of Christ for all of life.” Christ Church operated on the desire to make Moscow a Christian town “through faithful and robust covenant renewal worship on the Lord’s day,” according to their website.

Wilson did not respond to requests for comment. 

Josiah Anderson, CRF president said the group believes it is important to have a presence on campus.

“We believe, like our fellow Christian groups on campus, that God rules the world and therefore his gospel should be preached everywhere,” Anderson said. “The amazing work of Jesus Christ on the cross, saving us from our sins is too much good news to not share with our university.”

The Toxic Matriarchy talk is not the first controversial event to happen on college campuses in the area.

Washington State University

On April 16, the WSU College Republicans held an event called “WSU College Republicans – Build the Wall — Bill of Rights Bash.”

Amir Rezamand, WSU College Republican president, told KREM 2 the event was not about the wall and, instead, was about first and second amendment rights in Washington state.

Both the WSU College Republicans and Rezamand did not respond to requests for comment.

Hannah Martian, Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU) senator and WSU Young Dem president, said she first heard of the College Republican’s event from social media.

“The Young Dems will not be staging a counter-protest, as we believe that it would only give the College Republicans the attention that they so desperately want. Instead we are wearing orange clothing and ribbons today to stand with undocumented students,” Martian said.

C.R. Wiley | Courtesy

ASWSU has put out resolutions disavowing hate speech on campus over the past several years, Martian said.

Another student group at WSU, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA), did stage a counter protest of the event. They wore orange, the color of the undocumented immigrant movement, according the Daily Evergreen student newspaper. 

Phil Weiler, WSU vice president for marketing and communications, said, “Regardless of who the speaker is, Washington State University’s goal is to always protect the individual’s right to free speech while ensuring the safety and smooth operation of our campus.”

Weiler said the Washington State Police Department prepares public safety plans for all large gatherings.

“It doesn’t matter if the gathering is for a public speaker, sporting event, concert, all-campus picnic, etc. This is standard procedure to help ensure the safety and smooth operation of the campus,” Weiler said.

Weiler said the university released a statement to all students on the Pullman campus, stating “We are writing to express our unwavering support and commitment to our WSU community members who may be adversely affected by such a symbolic action. One of our institutional core values is freedom of expression; however, we view this possible action with concern as it deviates from what it means to be a member of the Coug community.”

The email included suggestions for students on ways they could take actions to promote unity, which included finding an alternate way through campus if students wanted to avoid the event and to check out their list of other events and educational programs.

The president of WSU, Kirk H. Schulz tweeted a photo of an orange tie with the caption, “Wearing some orange today to show support for our undocumented students at WSU.”

Whitworth University 

On March 14, the Associated Students of Whitworth voted 10-to-nine in opposition of inviting conservative speaker Ben Shapiro to campus. 

Beck Taylor | Courtesy

“These issues are not simple and there was a clear majority. I think this is reflective of today’s political climate,” said Jason Chapman, director of student activities. “At the end of the day, I think AWSU stuck to the platform they ran on last spring of transparency and unity.”

Whitworth spokeswoman Nancy Hines said the student government makes the final decision on speakers invited to campus by student clubs.  

Former ASWU President Melinda Hedquist said she was saddened to see that students were not given the opportunity to welcome a speaker, such as Shapiro, to campus. 

“Seeing the divide in the student body should have tipped off leaders there is desire to hear Shapiro,” Hedquist said. “The opportunity to bring a speaker of a different world view in order to encourage more courageous conversation is always within their power.” 

Student group Whitworth Young Americans for Freedom started a Change.org petition April 1, calling on Whitworth University to reverse the decision and allow Ben Shapiro to speak on campus. There are currently 3,500 signatures on the petition. 

President of Whitworth University Beck Taylor released an email informing the community of AWSU’s decision. 

“For many in our community, ASWU’s decision will be seen as another sign of the decline of civil discourse and freedom of expression on college campuses,” Taylor wrote in the email. “Others will see this as a courageous choice to protect the community from divisive and potentially harmful speech. That the country and our community are so divided on such issues points to a third conclusion, which is that this was a very difficult decision that attempted to weigh two competing goods at Whitworth – the value of intellectual openness and the value of creating safe and inclusive spaces for learning and discovery.”

Ellamae Burmell and Kali Nelson can be reached at [email protected]