In a controversial speech, David Horowitz, nationally known author and civil rights activist, spoke against political indoctrination in the classroom to a tense crowd of about 250 people Wednesday night in Brown auditorium.
Before the speech began, protestors could be found standing in the rain outside the building, holding up signs that stated such things as, “Dangerous: Liberal Professors Thought the World was Round.”
“I think it’s good that he’s here and it’s good that we are here to expose who he is and the other side,” said Joanne Boyd, executive aide in the social work department.
Chris Strode, president of the Society for Intellectual Diversity, or SID, introduced Horowitz. The general purpose of SID is: the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn,” Strode said.
Horowitz began his speech defending criticism of his most recent book, “The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America.” he especially referred to an attack in a recent editorial entitled “101 minus one” in the Oct. 9 issue of the East Tennessean. He said, “For me the truth is about hearing more than one side to an issue and making up your own minds.”
The crowd of students, faculty, and community members could be heard muttering, applauding, booing, and even yelling throughout his speech. Horowitz claimed his goal was to “not have students subjected to political indoctrination, which, I promise you, goes on at this University.”
He said that every student in the room know that professors hold power over them as students, and that power is grades. He said he believed some students were coerced into agreeing with a professor’s viewpoint in order to make a good grade in the class. He also said teachers should not introduce controversial matter, such as the war in Iraq, in a classroom if it isn’t relevant to the subject matter.
“You can’t get a good education if they’re only telling you half the story, and you’re only getting half the story much of the time,” Horowitz said.
Some audience members said Horowitz did a poor job of making his argument and staying on point.
“I guess my biggest beef is that he didn’t present any argument for his own beliefs,” said Andrew Scruggs, former ETSU student.
“I had expected it to be a lot more organized than it was, but I didn’t see any organization whatsoever,” said Dr. William Burgess, professor in the history department.
In fact, at one point an audience member even asked if Horowitz could stay on point. Horowitz replied, “You know, I thought the South was supposed to be famous for its manners and politeness.”
Horowitz also noted bullying students in the classroom should not occur. He used as an example a student who was graded unfairly for having an opposing view from his teacher. The student was supposed to answer the question, “Why was the war in Iraq wrong?” Instead, the student, an Iraqi war veteran, answered why he thought the war in Iraq was right. The student received a ‘D’ in the class,” he said.
Senior Jonathan Hatcher, a philosophy major, said, “I think that he made a valid point but the way he presented his arguments were all the same.”
Horowitz ended his speech with a challenge to open up ETSU to a diversity of opinions.
He said, “I look forward to the day when ETSU is not afraid to hear the truth when it comes from the mouth of David Horowitz. “
SGA provided the funds for Horowitz’s appearance, and a question and answer session followed his speech.
Horowitz left abruptly after a student attempted to approach him, but was intercepted by security.
After the event public safety was contacted by the East Tennessean about the incident. “As far as I know, no arrests have been made,” said Sgt. Rodney Williams with ETSU public safety. Correction:
The headshot that appeared on the front page of the Oct. 9 issue of the East Tennessean, should have ran with the photo cutline: David Horowitz.
We apologize for any confusion.

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