A self-proclaimed conservative provocateur is coming to Florida State University’s campus Friday evening. Brietbart editor Milo Yiannopolous is bringing his tour to Tallahassee.
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Yianopopolous is the technology editor for Brietbart news. He gained notoriety earlier this year after getting kicked off twitter following a harassment campaign against actress Leslie Jones. Yianoppolous is known for pushing against so-called free speech zones and political correctness. He recently expressed that sentiment with Salon reporter Amanda Marcotte during a photoshoot for Salon and Out! Magazine.
“My critique is directed at third wave feminists who I think are driving the sexes apart sending women unhelpful messages about body positivity, for instance, which just makes girls miserable," Yiannopolous said.
Marcotte asked, "What do you mean unhealthy messages about body positivity?"
"That you can be fat and happy. That’s a lie," replied Yiannopolous.
Saying something—even if it’s unpopular, is part of the reason James Fletcher Dilmore invited Yianopolos to Florida State University. Dilmore is Chairman of Florida State University’s College Republican’s club. He says he doesn’t agree with everything Yianopolous does and says, but argues other groups on college campuses are intolerant of views that don’t mesh with a more liberal viewpoint.
“College campuses across the nation are far more receptive of liberal ideology and tries to push away and shun any conservative viewpoints or ideas. Which is unfortunate because the point of college is to broaden your spectrum.," Dilmore said.
Dilmore says he’s gotten pushback from other campus organizations for inviting Yianopoplous. The FSU Pride Student union recently denounced the visit on its facebook page.
"College Republicans as a whole are against the idea of Free speech zones. Really, every group should against free speech zones. Milo is definitely against it. The irony is that the groups that are protesting us are being put in a free speech zone for their protest—their protest is confined to a small zone, which is a magnificent irony," said Dilmore.
Still, he praises FSU for not cancelling the event, as schools such as the University of Miami, have done.
In a statement, FSU’s Student Affairs Vice President Mary Coburn says the school recognizes that universities are "marketplaces of ideas where students can decide for themselves whether they wish to listen and/or they passionately agree or disagree."
