“So what upsets me about all the protesting, right? Leave aside my political views. It's making it really hard for people to learn,” says Georgetown professor Jacques Berlinerblau in this week’s episode of The Syllabus. “People that don't even know what's going on are being told, ‘Pick a side, man,’ and if they don't pick a side, their social life, like cascading dominoes, starts to veer off into another direction.”

Berlinerblau worries that the prevalence of protests might impede the educational experience by pressuring students to take sides, potentially stifling learning opportunities. But Berlinerblau says the answer is not shutting down protests altogether, saying “It’d probably be a really bad idea for us to try and shut the lid on their anger and their rage categorically as a rule of entrance to the university,” and calls for a reevaluation of how protests impact the learning atmosphere and the need for universities to balance free speech with their institutional missions.

Guest Bio: Jacques Berlinerblau is a professor of Jewish civilization at Georgetown University.

Stay informed about this podcast and all of AJU's latest programs and offerings by subscribing to our mailing list HERE

If you'd like to support AJU and this podcast, please consider donating to us at aju.edu/donate