Minnesota's Charlie Hedbo poster and free-speech vs. hostile environment

A University of Minnesota panel on the French Charlie Hedbo event was challenged by the Muslim Student Association for its impact on their religious identity. The complaint indicated that depiction of the Prophet Mohammed was "blasphemous and insulting." The findings of the investigation communicated to the dean whose faculty were involved in the panel indicated that the poster advertising the event had "significant negative repercussions" and that "the organizers knew or should have known" that the decision to print the image "would offend, insult, and alienate some non-significant proportion of the university's Muslim community."

The report of the incident portrays the complexity of negotiating the typical American university commitment to free speech versus creating hostile environments for some students. If institutions want to enroll increasing numbers of students from diverse backgrounds, they need to consider what is required to create a positive and supportive atmosphere. Measures needn't place limits on expression of diverse ideas but perhaps should at least strive for approaches that demonstrate compassionate accommodation.