University of St. Thomas President Father Dennis Dease has heard from several readers regarding his characterization of Ann Coulter's April 18 talk as "hateful speech," and several have also forwarded Father Dease's reply. Here is the substance of his reply:

I want to reiterate that I do not have any objections to inviting conservative speakers to our campus. In fact, we welcomed David Brooks to St. Thomas earlier this year. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and others representing conservative perspectives have been speakers on our campus.

My primary concern is Ms. Coulter's treatment of members of the audience who asked her questions that challenged her point of view. Many individuals whose opinions I respect - students, faculty, and staff alike - reported to me that she treated in a sarcastic, disrespectful and mean-spirited manner any audience members who challenged her statements.

Ms. Coulter clearly violated our controversial issues policy, which says, among other things, that "in discussion and debate, members and guests of the university community are expected to treat one another with respect and dignity."

We will continue to examine all requests to bring speakers from any point of view to our campus in order to assure that their behavior will comply with our controversial issues policy.

Sincerely,
Reverend Dennis Dease
President
University of St. Thomas

Father Dease appears to be engaged in an unusually early attempt to rewrite history. Contrary to the statement in his email message, Father Dease's statement on Coulter's speech equally condemned Coulter's "vitriolic criticism of 'liberals'" and the allegedly "disrespectful and mean-spirited manner" with which she responded to "audience members who challenged her viewpoints." Incidentally, I guess that would include the audience member who eloquently took the microphone to tell Coulter "Fuck you" and salute her with the middle finger of both hands (see Katie Kieffer's report here). Father Dease's generality serves him well; the details only muddy the waters.

Note also the following in Father Dease's statment:

One caller who found both Ms. Coulter’s remarks and attitude to be appalling had an interesting question. He understands the value of hearing “controversial” speakers and debating issues, “but where do you draw the line?” he asked. “When do you say, ‘We’re not going to invite this person to campus,’ especially if she isn’t going to respect others’ points of view?”

His question is thought-provoking...

Whether a "controversial" speaker like Ann Coulter should be allowed to speak on the St. Thomas campus at all is in part the occasion for Father Dease's deep thoughts.

Father Dease's reference to Justice Scalia's appearance on campus is telling. Justice Scalia appeared on campus in October 2001 -- not exactly the easiest time in history to travel -- to commemorate the opening of the University of St. Thomas Law School. After his talk -- one which Father Dease did, unlike Coulter's, attend -- a university professor challenged Justice Scalia so vociferously that the U.S. Marshall protecting Justice Scalia had to intervene. The incident passed without any public handwringing by Father Dease about the professor's conduct.

UPDATE: On a related note, see the important essay by New Criterion editor Roger Kimball from the just-published May issue: "Retaking the university: A battle plan."