Last month, the President’s Office announced that the upcoming commencement speaker is Mike Smerconish, who will also receive an honorary doctorate of public affairs. 

Smerconish is a prolific political commentator, with media spanning across his eponymous radio show, a daily newsletter, his own program on CNN, a live performance, and seven books. Few political commentators have had such a successful career. So why does Dickinson deserve better?

In 2004, Smerconish released the book Flying Blind: How Political Correctness Continues to Compromise Airline Safety Post 9/11, in which he argues that in order to keep America safe, the TSA should deliberately target Arabs and Muslims for searches because they look like the perpetrators of past terrorist attacks.

The following are a few excerpts from his book:

“We’re fighting a war against young Arab male extremists, and yet our government continues to enforce political correct “random screening” of airline passengers instead of targeting those who look like terrorists. Why? Because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Essentially, they are putting more emphasis on protecting diversity than protecting our safety. In fact, when our government believes that our airlines are focusing attention on passengers who resemble the known terrorists, they fine them millions of dollars.” (Flying Blind, 12). According to Smerconish, ethnic discrimination is a requirement for American safety. However, profiling doesn’t just hurt someone’s feelings; it is a reminder that no matter how much Arabs and Muslims integrate into American culture, we are viewed as a foreign threat. To suffer racial profiling is to be dehumanized. 

When interviewing Americans on airport security, Smerconish endorses the following statement:

“I am a 64-year-old strawberry blond, Irish/Italian woman boarding at Phila International …After surrendering my sneakers, I was pulled out of line (off to the side) to submit to hand search by another security guard. The second person in front of me, a male wearing a turban on his head went through with no problem.” (Flying Blind, 50). Notice that Smerconish frames a visibly Muslim man going through security peacefully as threatening. There is no real evidence that this man should be considered suspect, unless being a racial or religious “other” is inherently suspect. If his racism wasn’t obvious enough, this excerpt makes it clear:

“The TSA should at least be paying extra attention to those who share characteristics – either racial or circumstantial – with those who have been known to commit terror acts in the past. Makes sense to me.” (Flying Blind, 163). This is as blatant as it could possibly be. In no uncertain terms, Smerconish advocates for racial profiling.

Smerconish defends his positions in an op-ed for Myrtle Beach Sun News titled “Some profiling just makes sense.” In this article, he holds equalthe left-sided backlash to his position with backlash from conservative media surrounding a report from the Department of Homeland security highlighting concerns over domestic right-wing terrorism. How Smerconish can compare wearing a hijab or having brown skin to skinheads is absolutely beyond me. This trend continues in a 2015 tweet where Smerconish states “Muslims who call Islamic State un-Islamic are typically ‘embarrassed and PC with cotton-candy view of own religion.” 

Doesn’t the class of 2024 deserve someone better?

I’m outraged, frustrated, and disappointed. As a Muslim Arab American first-year, I have been welcomed with open arms by my upperclassmen. They have encouraged me to grow as an academic, as a friend, as an advocate, and as a member of the Dickinson community. 

I find them in Denim, being patient with shy students struggling with their orders. I find them in classrooms and the Multilingual Writing Center giving students the means to better express themselves. I find them in cultural clubs empowering us to be in touch with each other and with ourselves. I find them leading marches in the night, giving space for righteous anger. I find them pushing the envelope in research, exploring new ideas and solutions. This class is one that nurtures, that empowers, that values justice and community. Does someone like Mike Smerconish in any way represent the achievements and ambitions of its students? 

If Dickinson truly loves and values its students, shouldn’t it honor them with someone who reflects that love?