I think it is truly disheartening that President Ensign was obligated to write an email disavowing the article over threats from donors to the college. The most important part of education is hearing perspectives and thoughts different from one’s own. 

Some of the greatest insights come from where you least expect, and the free flow of ideas is crucial to the learning process, however it is important, once again, to notice the stupidity with which the referenced article was written. The Dickinsonian was right to publish Leda’s article because it delivers a clear message to the readers, after almost four years of hard, intellectual and challenging work, one comes to these sorts of absurd conclusions. 

An education to be thrown away. The proper reaction from those who disagree, of course, is not censorship but a thoughtful response that contributes to productive discourse. Everyone should be entitled to free speech, even those who wish to take it away from others. Let’s not forget, that victimizing, self-victimizing, and shutting up those who disagree with you is not going to lead to any desired outcome—unless chaos is what the author intended, highly debatable. 

Let’s note that beneath Leda’s amateurish rhetoric, there is some important message. It is unquestionably true that there are times in which privileged students (such an American perverted concept) have not experienced institutional hardships and do not ignore, but rather are not engaged with certain concepts therefore, when people like Leda “take away” that engagement it certainly does not make this social problem any better, au contraire, it enlarges the gap. Leda’s strategy is so poorly thought, intellectually absent, and it does not invite the society to cooperate but rather to clash and oppose those core values Dickinsonians, Americans, and world-wide citizens promote. There is nothing to applaud behind those who labelled her actions as courageous, and as a foreigner, as a first generation immigrant, as a Dickinsonian, and finally as someone who’s experiencing first-hand fascism back in Europe, I can surely say this event is disheartening and shameful. The referenced article promotes hate, division of color and race, and it promotes violence. Shame.

Let’s take a moment to address the disconcerting accusations toward President Ensign who’s dedicated her entire career in uniting, protecting and delivering educational opportunities. An internationally recognized pioneer of exceptional academic work. It’s embarrassing reading comments from fellow friends, alumni or current students regarding her “inability to address [these] issues.” We surely have a problem, we’re too privileged to realize our leaders, to keep track of our progress and too blind and ill-advised to continue such progress. 

Fellow friends, Dickinsonians, people of opposite view, wait until you step out of your bubble. Out here, the world is much different, out here we value unity, we value hard work and creative ways to stand together. You should’ve learned that by now, you’re about to graduate.