SU postpones Jared Taylor event that ignited campus outrage

Image courtesy of Kate Donaldson, Photo Editor.

An on-campus event featuring self-proclaimed “white advocate” Jared Taylor that sparked outrage on social media has been postponed, with SU citing “public safety considerations.”

Organized by the Maryland Federation of College Republicans, a third-party organization not affiliated with SU, the event was supposed to take place on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Devilbiss 123.

Heated reactions erupted after a flyer was posted Wednesday evening on both the Maryland Federation of College Republicans and the SU College Republicans Instagram accounts promoting the event. Since then, the SU College Democrats had planned a Monday protest starting at 5:30 by the Sammy the Sea Gull Statue, and other campus groups have been speaking out and organizing opportunities for dialogue.

A statement released on Thursday by Colin McEvers, chairmen of the Maryland Federation of College Republicans and president of SU College Republicans, refers to Taylor as “one of the most censored men in America,” and said the event is intended to “bolster open dialogue on campus and break through cancel culture.”

Many members of the campus community have expressed their opposition, with some students The Flyer spoke to using words like, “horrified,” “appalled,” and “deeply saddened.”

In a statement McEvers sent to The Flyer on Friday, he said the event will be rescheduled in early April and he “will not be deterred by any politicians, leftist students, members of the community or anyone who wishes to suppress free speech and open dialogue, especially on a topic as important as white advocacy in Maryland.”

Who is Jared Taylor

Jared Taylor identifies himself as a “white advocate”. He is the author of “White Identity” and spoke a year prior at Colorado Mesa University, where he delivered a speech expressing his beliefs on racial segregation.

According to KJCT News, in Taylor’s speech he stated, “All I’m saying is that multiracialism eventually will lead to mixing that obliterates all of the beautiful diversity that I believe,” Taylor said. “You can appreciate everything that’s wonderful about Japan without having a nation full of Japanese. We can have opera companies in this country without having large groups of Italians in every city. We can appreciate and respect differences. All I’m talking about is a way to ensure that those differences survive and prosper.”

The speech created lots of controversy as some Colorado Mesa University students felt they weren’t allowed to exercise their free speech.

Within the article, one student shared his feelings on the speech.

“If it’s all about free speech, how come I was threatened with force to be kicked out of that room as soon as I opened my mouth? Seemingly, the speech is only free for the white supremacist,” Dean Withers said.

The student body president at the institution, Leilani Domingo, had differing opinions but said at the end of the day, she must advocate for all students.

“If we deny one person, then we have to deny all,” Domingo said. “And so as much as it might be hurtful and as much as I disagree 100% with Jared Taylor’s views, he is allowed on this campus because it’s a public campus.”

During an interview in 2017 for an ABC News segment “Uncomfortable,” which hosts political voices with strong views on American society, Taylor made multiple claims regarding race and immigration in the United States.

“We built a wonderful country that your ancestors could not have [built]. That is why people like you come here,” Taylor told ABC News. “And the more of you [who] come in larger numbers, you will change the country my ancestors built into something else. And it is completely normal for me to wish to oppose that.”

Throughout the conversation, ABC News states Taylor argued Muslims add nothing to American society and said immigrants are responsible for what he described as the “dispossession” of white Americans.

Taylor was scheduled to come to SU to deliver another speech. This time titled, “Can the American Race Problem Be Solved?”

According to the Instagram post made by the Maryland Federation of College Republicans and SU College Republicans, the speech would focus on Taylor “sharing his views on race relations in American …”

SU postpones event

Vice President of Inclusion, Access and Belonging and Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Zebadiah Hall released a statement Friday on behalf of the University postponing the event.

“Since the event was announced three days ago, the level of anticipated attendance, counter-demonstrations and related security needs has increased significantly, particularly in the past 24 hours,” Hall said.

He noted the decision to postpone the event was “based on public safety considerations, in alignment with SU’s time, place, and manner policies.”

He states SU remains committed to allowing free speech and does not discriminate against activities that are hosted by third-party organizations. Since the Maryland Federation of College Republicans was able to meet the financial and legal requirements for reserving, McEvers followed all necessary steps.

However, Hall emphasized, “Salisbury University does not endorse, sponsor or support the views of Mr. Taylor or the event being organized. Mr. Taylor is widely known for extremist rhetoric that is fundamentally inconsistent with the University’s core values of respect, equity and inclusion.”

Hall ended his statement by making it clear that, “SU remains committed to fostering an environment where open dialogue and the free exchange of ideas can occur, and we respect the rights of individuals to share their opinions. However, the safety of our campus community must take precedence at all times.”

McEvers said in his statement to The Flyer, "I am disappointed that the event was canceled last minute, although I understand that safety comes first, and I stand with our incredible police officers … I am coordinating with the University and will have an update on the details of the event within the next few days. I am looking forward to this event being incredibly successful."

Students' reactions

When the SU student body first heard of the event on Wednesday evening, their reactions circulated across social media platforms like YikYak, Fizz, Instagram and Facebook.

While some chose to upload their thoughts on anonymous sites, others have boldly voiced their opinions with their names attached.

SU Student Kevin Ladd was one of those contributors. He reposted the event flyer on Facebook hoping to inform the student body and community of what was happening.

Ladd said he finds the entire situation “very frustrating,” considering he already felt uncomfortable with McEvers past statements.

McEvers is known for voicing his beliefs on campus. On Sunday, he posted a video to social media of him at a protest just outside campus holding signs and chanting, “No more illegals. Get them out of the country. We love ICE. No more illegal immigration.”

“Some of the actions Colin and his people have done on campus have made people really uncomfortable,” Ladd said. “I haven’t heard a single person that’s been like ‘yeah this is cool.’

“I think we are directing our energy in a lot of the wrong places. There’s so many things happening in the world right now and in our country and, you know, if these young men wanted to use their time wisely and try to benefit people.”

Ladd said while he agrees with the University in the sense of no legal ramifications can be brought forth, he would like to see changes made in SU’s policies.

SU Student Mason Breeze also voiced his concerns, commenting on the Instagram post, “Is this truly the kind of idea that you look to uphold on campus? Jared Taylor is intellectually bankrupt and hateful, and to be honest simply factually wrong on many things. His core beliefs hold no ground in any real science or research.”

Breeze told The Flyer, “It’s pretty nonsensical to be hosting an event like this in a campus and in a city that’s largely black,” he said. “To be hosting someone who holds the views such as him [Taylor], it just doesn’t exactly make sense.

“All it does is, you know, breed further hate for division.”

Some students have anonymously voiced their concerns through apps like YikYak and Fizz.

· “This cannot be real …”

· “So, I guess we can have a white supremacist event on campus … when you say you’re not racist.”

· “For anyone who believes Jared Taylor isn’t a racist, a quick google search will show that he is a bitter old man who believes in nineteenth century race science, but in a modern form. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences, and I hope that SU students will demonstrate that white supremacy has no place here on campus.”

· “There are two views to this, we do nothing and not feed into the crazy and then they will think it’s okay to bring more people like this to campus, or we protest and they out that the protestors are monstrous liberals.”

· “I’m a conservative, but this is crazy. We do have free speech though no matter how heinous someone’s views may be.”

· “It’s free speech.”

In his Thursday statement issued prior to the event’s postponement, McEvers who organized the event wrote the following:

“Allow me to clarify one thing from the get-go: I was the one who pushed hard to get this on the books. No one but myself shares responsibility for organizing this, and the idea that any of my friends, colleagues, connections or even family members should be chastised for this is absolutely ridiculous … Although I don't personally agree with every single view Mr. Taylor holds, he certainly has some insightful things to say. He is one of the most censored men in America and has been targeted primarily by left-wing organizations for decades - so, at Salisbury University, we'll be exercising our free speech rights and love for open dialogue by allowing him to speak and then answer student questions in a Q&A segment.”

SU College Democrats President Caroline Dagnes said when she first saw the post she was deeply saddened and confused.

Dagnes said she first chose to come to Salisbury because she wanted a school that aligned with her values.

“I represent Salisbury, but Salisbury also represents who I am.”

She said after hearing the news of Taylor coming to SU, she was “extremely disappointed.”

Yet Dagnes is choosing to channel her emotions and keep her priorities focused on protecting the student body and making sure everyone of all races and minorities feel supported and safe.

“My heart really goes out to any person of color on campus,” Dagnes said. “Any person who reads that poster and feels that their voices are being silenced, or that their culture is being attacked.”

Dagnes and her executive team has made it a goal to let students’ voices be heard in every way they can.

The group had already contacted people from administration prior to the event being postponed about seeking policy changes regarding third parties renting a space at SU, stating they understand the First Amendment policies but hope SU will close any gaps.

“I am the biggest fan of the First Amendment, and freedom of speech is necessary and we can’t diminish that,” Dagnes said. “I think there was a loophole that was found in order to make this event happen, so I think SU’s system should be corrected.”

She said as a student, she feels it is incredibly confusing how the SU College Republicans were able to promote the event on social media even though it is not SU-affiliated.

“I think its hurtful to the campus and the SU College Republicans as well,” Dagnes said. “I know there’s a spectrum to politics and once we have the conversation about values, that’s when we find a connection.

“When we shout, when we yell, there’s not going to be any connections there, and so I know that are some SU College Republicans are deeply upset with the speaker coming to campus and we have been able to agree on that.”

In response to the event happening Monday, the SU College Democrats planned to hold a protest starting at 5:30 by the Sammy the Sea Gull Statue. Other clubs also planned events in response to Taylor coming. SU’s Political Science Club with The Fulton School of Liberal Arts planned a discussion with Political Science Professor Taehyun Nam from 6-7 p.m. in Perdue 156.

“We want to spread the message that everyone should feel safe on campus, and everyone should feel that their identity, their culture, their beliefs do matter,” Dagnes said. “Your campus should be your home.”

Editor’s note

One of our main goals as the SU student-led newspaper is to provide transparency to our student body. Colin McEvers previously served on The Flyer’s editorial board but has not published work in the publication since spring 2024.

This is a developing story that will be updated as The Flyer receives new information.

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By TESSAH GOOD Editor-in-Chief