'Free speech run amok': Former Canisius President Hurley on chaos, turmoil on college campuses

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "The issue of campus protests is remarkably complex because it involves the law, policy, and campus culture. I think that's why we're seeing different responses in different places," said former Canisius University President John Hurley on Wednesday with WBEN.

Mostly elite colleges and universities have been upended by a wave of anti-Israel protests over the past two weeks.

Hurley says the concept of free speech is enshrined in American law. However, the first amendment only applies in public institutions, not private institutions. Still, he noted that most campuses have policies about speech and academic freedom.

Hurley said universities seem to be having trouble drawing a line when speech begins to threaten, harass, intimidate or incite violence.

"Being offended by free speech is one thing," he said. "But being threatened because, for example, they are Jewish is another thing."

At Columbia University where students stormed Hamilton Hall, breaking windows and barricading themselves inside, Hurley said the situation escalated quickly into lawlessness.

"This was not an exercise in free speech. This was occupying a space and interfering with the operation of the university and the students should have been moved out of the building."

He said officials with Columbia had to decide at what point to call in the New York City Police Department with riot gear and risk escalating a situation where there could be serious injury or loss of life.

"Encampments are clearly against campus policy. The question is, are you going to go in and forcibly remove students, or are you going to let it go because you don't want it to escalate, and you hope it will die out. That's what college presidents are dealing with." In his opinion, "to sit back and let it escalate, or to let it fester, is a problem here."

Citing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Hurley said he taught us that civil disobedience comes with consequences. "When you break the law, you have to acknowledge the fact that you're going to be placed in prison, but you're doing it as a matter of principle."

He said that's not what is happening on college campuses.

"They're just breaking the law in the hopes of gaining a bargaining position to advance a particular cause." Adding, "That's where free speech has gone amok."