Cornell University hosted the Milstein Symposium: A Dynamic Conversation with Professors Jameel Jaffer and Eugene Volokh as a part of its theme year for free expression.

I am going to say the quiet part out loud here. The scare quotes, which is the symbol for the Freedom of Expression Theme Year, should be taken to mean just what scare quotes always mean. Up until now, all the events have been safe enough to do no harm, and free expression meant policed speech not free speech. But this event was different.

Professor Jameel Jaffer kept the space safe. When he was answered a question about the relationship between free speech and equality, he

• did not rely on objective, rational, linear thinking,
• skirted the cause and effect relationships,
• did not bring up the scientific method,
• and did not follow a rigid time schedule–in fact he filibustered.

On the other hand, when Eugene Volokh answered the question, he:

• used objective, rational, linear thinking,
• cause and effect relationships,
• the scientific method,
• and he followed a rigid time schedule.

which created an unsafe space that could have caused harm. Clearly, the organizers should have given us a trigger warning for this event.

I hope the video of this event gets posted as a way to educate Cornellians on the difference between the safe speech demonstrated by Professor Jaffer and the harmful speech demonstrated by Professor Volokh.

It did: https://vod.video.cornell.edu/media/20230926_Freedom+of+Expression+Signature+Speaker+Event/1_j9qpodbe/309967602