5 Things to Know About Middlebury Liberals' Bogeyman Charles Murray

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Wednesday, March 08, 2017

4. Murray Has Supporters Among his Critics

Vehicles drive past the New York Times headquarters in New York March 1, 2010. Shares of the U.S. media company rose to an intraday high of .16 on Monday, up more than 11 percent, propelled by a rumor that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim was seeking to buy the New York Times, where he became a minority stakeholder in 2008. Slim's spokesman has, however, said there is no change in the stake holding. | (Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

As news of the violent protests at Middlebury spread, many took the side of Murray, believing that even if his views were wrong he had a right to express them and be intellectually critiqued.

The New York Times editorial board defended Murray's right to speak, noting that the principle of free speech "does not distinguish between great minds and mediocrities."

"Middlebury students had no chance to challenge him on any of his views. Thought and persuasion, questions and answers, were eclipsed by intimidation," argued the editors.

"Free speech is a sacred right, and it needs protecting, now more than ever. Middlebury's president, Laurie Patton, did this admirably, in defending Mr. Murray's invitation and delivering a public apology to him that Middlebury's thoughtless agitators should have delivered themselves."

Middlebury Professor Allison Stanger, the academic who was going to moderate the discussion with Murray, who largely disagrees with his worldview and who was hospitalized after the attack, described the protest-laden event as "the saddest day of my life."

"I want you to know what it feels like to look out at a sea of students yelling obscenities at other members of my beloved community," wrote Stanger on Facebook.

"There were students and faculty who wanted to hear the exchange but were unable to do so, either because of the screaming and chanting and chair pounding in the room, or because their seats were occupied by those who refused to listen and they were stranded outside the doors."