The conflict was intense. Throughout my decade of teaching at the collegiate level, I had never witnessed such a fierce verbal clash between two students. Sure, my public speaking class in 2011 had its debates over whether New York City benefited from Giuliani’s crime policies, and my debate students in 2014 argued passionately about same-sex marriage. A few harsh words were exchanged, but generally, my classroom maintained a level of civility. Until this semester.
This incident underscored the importance of character, both in everyday life and at the highest levels of government.
What Happened
Here’s what transpired. My university implemented a flexible learning plan this semester, allowing students to choose between online learning or in-person classes. Most opted for the former, but those attending in person were required to wear masks throughout the session.
One student, who rarely attended in person, expressed skepticism about the severity of COVID-19. “Do we really have to wear masks?” he would ask. I reminded him it was mandatory, but he insisted, “It’s just like the flu; it’s not a big deal.” As a media publishing student, he often shared his views online, which reflected a strong affinity for Trumpism. He frequently blogged about the liberal media’s supposed bias against Trump. As a digital media professor, I never aimed to silence students, provided they found an audience for their perspectives.
However, things escalated when he announced he had COVID and coughed loudly while sharing this information. His nonchalant attitude visibly disturbed two other students, and I found myself apologizing for his behavior. Even so, I believed he deserved an education.
I encouraged him to express his conservative views while emphasizing the importance of fact-checking and credible sourcing in modern journalism. Then one day, tensions reached a breaking point.
The Confrontation
For the sake of this narrative, let’s refer to the conservative student as Alex and the other involved student as Maria.
Alex leaned in toward a female student nearby, lowering his mask. “What’s the professor’s email address?” he asked. Maria instinctively began to move away.
“Why are you being so rude?” Alex continued.
“I’m not rude. You’re rude. Stop getting so close,” Maria responded.
“You’re f****** rude. Why don’t you go back where you came from?” Alex shot back.
“No, no, no. That’s inappropriate. You can’t say that in this classroom,” I interjected.
“What? You’re f****** racist. Just because I’m Latina, doesn’t mean I don’t belong here!” Maria exclaimed.
“I’m not a racist. I just meant for you to go somewhere else,” Alex retorted.
They continued throwing insults at each other, and while I tried to maintain my composure and finish my lecture, I was seething inside. I hated that I couldn’t stand up for Maria more vigorously. As someone from an immigrant family—my mother hailing from Jamaica and my father from the Bahamas—I felt the sting of Alex’s comment.
Nonetheless, I believed in providing impartial instruction. So, I played the role of referee rather than a racial justice advocate. Eventually, Maria became so upset that she left the classroom in tears to report the incident to the Dean of Students.
Reflections on Civil Discourse
My concern is straightforward. I refuse to silence students with unorthodox views in my classroom, regardless of their political leanings. However, the ability to engage in civil discourse—respectfully disagreeing with one another while maintaining dignity—seems to be fading. Where did Alex learn to attack someone’s ethnicity so ruthlessly? And why did Maria feel so threatened that she couldn’t respond with kindness? This kind of ad hominem attack was never a norm in my classroom, where we expect a higher level of decency.
In contrast, such disgraceful rhetoric runs rampant not only in political debates but also in the White House and press conferences. Why should it permeate our college classrooms?
What we witnessed were disgraceful attempts at debate, with uncouth language echoing the vitriol seen at rallies aimed at further polarizing our nation.
A Call for Decency
This is my stance: if there was ever a time to restore decency, compassion, and fairness in our leadership, it is now. Considerable damage has already occurred, but it’s time to heal, rebuild, and refresh our perspectives. We owe this to our future leaders, whether they are public officials or students in the classroom next semester.
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Summary
The article discusses a troubling incident that occurred in a college classroom, where two students engaged in a heated verbal altercation that highlighted the decline of civil discourse. The professor, Tiffani Knowles, reflects on the importance of fostering an environment of respect and understanding, despite differing political views. She emphasizes the need for decency and compassion in both educational settings and broader society.
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