April Fools: I Love the ‘Engage, Respect and Listen’ Campaign!

It’s hard to ignore the perfect timing of the “Engage, Respect and Listen” posters showing up around campus just after the election and inauguration. What a coincidence, right? Clearly, there could be no better moment for this campaign to make its debut, right when the political climate has reached new heights of division and conflict. What better time to start encouraging us to engage with people who voted for politicians intent on stripping away the rights of entire communities? Black students, Hispanic students, international students, transgender students, women — who could possibly care about their experiences or the policies that harm them? What’s important here is to sit down with people whose votes and views directly oppose your right to exist as you are. Surely, this will bring us closer together as we engage in dialogue with those who might think our very existence is up for debate. 

Then, of course, there’s the brilliance of holding every opinion up as equally valid. Who wouldn’t want to treat every viewpoint—no matter how harmful or baseless—as deserving of the same level of respect? Whether it’s a thoughtful perspective on civil rights or a reckless belief in the inferiority of entire groups, we should embrace them all. Because, after all, opinions are just opinions, and who are we to say one is more harmful than another? The true measure of academic freedom is ensuring that every opinion, even the most ignorant and dangerous ones, are given an equal seat at the table. What better way to show we’ve matured as a society than to elevate every voice, no matter how it seeks to harm or divide? 

Thanks to this campaign, we’ve also created an environment where groups of men can shout slurs from their cars and assault others without facing any consequences. It’s truly a triumph for free speech. Why should there be consequences for hate? After all, it’s not the hate itself that’s the problem — those who suggest that such behavior should have repercussions. If we start punishing people for spreading hate, we might as well be stifling free expression. The school is obviously doing the right thing by turning a blind eye because nothing encourages growth like leaving hate speech unchallenged and letting people act on their most destructive impulses. 

Of course, the campaign is not about suppressing anyone who rejects traditionalist viewpoints or discouraging any kind of real questioning. No, no — this campaign ensures that every opinion, whether rooted in compassion or bigotry, has its place. Who needs critical thinking, progress or inclusivity when we can just make sure the most regressive ideas are heard and respected? Why challenge views that actively reject human rights and equality when we can focus on ensuring they’re given the same credibility as those that promote fairness and justice? 

And perhaps the most brilliant part of this entire campaign is how it seamlessly normalizes hate speech as a legitimate form of discourse. We’ve all heard the cries about “hate speech” in recent years. However, this initiative teaches us something more important: all opinions deserve a platform. It’s not enough to merely tolerate harmful speech; we should engage with it, respect it and listen to it. In fact, the best way to understand hatred is to give it a voice because nothing says progress like giving more space to the most toxic of ideas out there. Why limit anyone’s right to express hatred when that’s what fuels such rich, engaging discourse? 

So, join me in supporting this wonderful “Engage, Respect and Listen” campaign. It’s clearly harmless, well-meaning and in no way connected to any attempts to suppress dissent or encourage the normalization of hate. This campaign is undoubtedly the future of higher education by encouraging us to engage with those who actively seek to harm us, giving equal value to every opinion regardless of its merit, and promoting hate speech as part of legitimate academic discussion. What could possibly be wrong with such an enlightened, inclusive initiative? Surely, it’s the right step forward for us all.