/ Modified aug 25, 2017 4:12 p.m.

New UA President Robbins Considers Safety in Free-Speech Issues

Says he would reject extremist request if it put students at risk

Robbins New University of Arizona president Robert Robbins
Photo: University of Arizona

New University of Arizona president Robert Robbins says the safety of students is a factor in evaluating free speech on campus.

He talked about the issue amid questions on whether extreme groups would be allowed to hold rallies on campus, given the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia this month.

“My sense is that these kinds of events potentially cause an environment where we would be concerned about the safety of everyone involved," said Robbins. "So I would say the better part of valor would be to deny the request.”

Robbins became the 22nd president of the UA in June. He cited incidents at campuses where controversial figures were allowed to speak, including the violence at a white nationalist rally near the University of Virginia two weeks ago.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona