MY LOCAL ALT-WEEKLY has a guest column on the UT Issues Committee scandal, contrasting the University’s behavior in this case with its rather more vigorous response when some frat guys wore blackface last year. The columnist believes that the University should have responded as harshly this time as it did before. I’m not sure I agree with that. Its action (as it eventually admitted) was wrong in the blackface affair, and it certainly shouldn’t behave wrongly again. On the other hand, the disparity in treatment is certainly undeniable.

Perhaps the University should stand up more boldly for free speech, and a diversity of ideas, as a general matter, and put its money where its mouth is in supporting the latter. That would put to rest any questions of bias.

Come to think of it, that’s what all universities should do, isn’t it?

UPDATE: UT blogger Adam Groves has some thoughts.