Open Letter: A Turning Point for American Discourse
Honoring Charlie Kirk’s legacy will restore civility to our nation.
Dear Spectator readers,
Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk, a steadfast champion of conservatism and a guiding voice for college students everywhere. It is hard to gauge the full impression he left on Washington and Lee University, where he spoke in both 2019 and 2024.
Not everyone on campus agreed with him. Despite this, Kirk openly sought opposition to his views and reinforced an often-neglected principle of American discourse: personal opinion is subject to critique, and no ideology is free from debate.
W&L’s Free Speech Ranking Slips
The recently published report shows a renewed dip in the university’s openness and freedom of expression.
Students, Stop Protesting and Start Caring
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations won’t achieve half as much as informed discussions…
Becoming a Conservative, an American, and a General
My journey to the W&L faculty taught me valuable lessons about excellence and open dialogue…
The Continued Necessity of Intellectual Freedom
As Congress scrutinizes top colleges, freedom of speech and thought remain vital pillars of higher education…
FIRE Recognizes WLU Advancing Free Speech
In 2022, FIRE ranked W&L 70th for free speech among colleges, an “average” ranking leaving significant room for improvement…
The Bureaucratic Quashing of Free Speech
The University can deter events through vague rules, despite pro-speech statements.
1st Amendment: "Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride"
Woke disruptors should be mindful of what they may agree to when attending events.
On What is a Woman? and campus speech
A measured response to “The conservative ‘war’ against trans people”