EUGENE VOLOKH: UC Santa Barbara Vice Chancellor issues statement supporting free speech.

Note the dismissive language about, for instance, how “outsiders” and “evangelical types” come to “create discord” and “promote personal causes and agendas.” (What exactly does the word “personal” mean there, by the way?)

Would such a letter come out about outside activists coming to, for instance, argue for race-based affirmative action? For legalization of illegal immigrants? For greater protection for abortion rights? Would the university condemn the “discord” and “conflict” these “outsiders” bring with their “personal causes and agendas”? . . .

I’m pleased that the University is defending free speech, but I’m disappointed that it sees anti-abortion speech as worthy of this sort of argument-by-pejorative.