The Facts: Tucker Max and his new film are coming to the University on Aug.24. Despite his subversive writing and misogynistic content, he has not been convicted of any felony offenses. The Women’s Center plans on leading a student protest before and during the event.
Our Opinion: Tucker Max and those who intend to protest the screening are entitled to their thoughts and opinions, they should be allowed to voice them freely.
A screening of Tucker Max’s new film, “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” is coming to Witherspoon Student Center Aug. 24.
The movie and Tucker Max’s other works have been characterized as misogynistic and offensive in every sense of the words. Despite his notable academic degrees — Duke Law School and the University of Chicago for his undergraduate work — he lives a life without any sort of moral code and truly redefines the term sociopath.
Despite the negative publicity surrounding Max and the ghastly nature of his fame, he is still entitled to free speech.
The screening was not paid for with student fees and is actually a revenue source for the University — the University Activities Board is being paid $400 by the promoters to host the film.
Max has been accused of many things, including: rape, violence against women, libel and invasion of privacy. But he has never been convicted of any crime and is entitled as an American citizen to speak as subversively as he pleases.
The Women’s Center is leading a student effort to protest the screening and currently plans on holding a silent protest and candlelight vigil on Harris Field before and during the screening.
As a voice of dissent, those students must be allowed to have their opinions heard — furthermore, the integrity of their protest must be maintained by the campus administration and police.
The protesters and their source of disdain are not the only ones who have rights though.
443 people, at least 263 of them N.C. State students, paid $10 to see the event. They are consenting adults who have paid for a product — their right to freely see it must not be impeded by the protesters.
The sold-out event is highly polarizing, but must attempt to maintain the sort of fair exchange of ideas that should characterize an educational environment.
Minority views, even outlandish ones, are protected in the US. It is what sets us apart from places like China, where Tucker Max and those protesting him would be thrown in jail.
The conventional view is that offensive language and actions toward women should be demonized. In an educational environment, like NCSU, students must attempt to understand why other students believe the things they do by listening and inhibiting their ability to speak. This is imperative to learning and mutual understanding.