DePaul Bans Conservative Ben Shapiro From Campus

CHICAGO, IL - DePaul University has banned conservative commentator Ben Shapiro from speaking on its campus, according to multiple reports that surfaced on Monday.

According to one report from a Townhall blog, the ban came after Shapiro “after triggering students and administrators on campus.”

Shapiro criticized DePaul’s move in a statement made on Facebook.

“It's both pathetic and predictable that the University is happy to grant a veto on speakers to snowflake leftists so long as the leftists threaten violence,” he wrote. “This is how free speech dies: when people in power cave to the bullies rather than standing up for basic rights.”

While DePaul has not issued an official statement on the supposed ban, the call could have been made while looking at a nearly violent incident involving conservative talk show host Milo Yiannopoulos, who visited the campus earlier this year.

Then, Yiannopoulos’ talk was cut short when protesters rushed the stage, one taking a swing at the speaker. Just days later, a noose was found on campus.

The DePaul College Republicans added their harsh criticism in wake of the decision to ban Shapiro, the editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, a conservative website.

“It’s amazing to see that DePaul University will allow convicted terrorists such as Rasmea Odeh come to our campus and speak, but when it comes to a speaker who simply has basic conservative values, it is “too much” for the student body to handle,” the group wrote in a statement. “Ben Shapiro is an accomplished political commentator, columnist, author, radio talk show host, and attorney.”

“As college students, it is important to have our thoughts challenged and to express our freedom of speech. It is how we learn. This is an embarrassment to the University.”

Reaction on Facebook was mixed, with some adding in their criticism of “the intolerance of the academic liberal champions of tolerance,” and others pointing out that the matter has nothing to do with freedom of speech since DePaul is a private institution.