Cancel Culture: This Needs to Stop

Cancel culture is one of the biggest threats to true DEI. It silences diverse voices and stifles the dialogue and understanding that true DEI seeks to promote. Often, people assume the worst intentions of their opponents, viewing them as evil rather than as simply disagreeing.

A well-known incident occurred at Yale when Erika Christakis was pressured to resign after her email concerning Halloween costumes. She suggested that students should be allowed to wear any costume they chose, advocating for personal expression and responsibility. The resulting uproar led to protests demanding her dismissal. Another example is Tabia Lee, a faculty director whose questioning of anti-racist orthodoxy led to her removal from teaching duties. Their ideas were labeled as harmful and even dangerous.

It's crucial to push back against anything that stifles true diversity of differing viewpoints, even at the risk of facing cancellation ourselves. An approach that includes free speech, neutrality, viewpoint diversity, and non-violence can help get us back on track.