“Did you hear about what [insert name here] said about [insert controversial topic here]?” is a phrase today’s society knows all too well. When voicing opinions or accidentally saying something insensitive, one can be canceled faster than the streetcars on St. Charles Avenue. One moment, you are part of a spirited classroom discussion or reposting a half-thought-out thread online — the next, you’re labeled and turned into a campus pariah.
Students seek higher education to learn, to have ideas challenged, to hear new perspectives and to grow into more thoughtful people. But with the increase of cancel culture in the last 10 years, the opposite is happening. Cancel culture is the practice of withdrawing support, and at times friendship, from someone after they have done or said something considered offensive.
Cancel culture creates unspoken tension between people and their ideas. It makes us smaller. Many students can think back to a time when they were afraid to speak up in class, afraid to say the wrong thing and become ostracized or judged. Cancel culture creates fear and resentment. The repercussions can extend past the parameters of academic discourse and can disrupt relationships in one’s life. The common sentiment in learning environments is to say something widely agreeable or not to say anything at all.
Cancel culture is a paradoxical idea, a two-sided coin. It remains true to its intended purposes, often by providing justice for victimized individuals or communities. While this can be valuable, it can give a platform for exclusion and banishment. Real harm like discrimination and prejudice deserves accountability, but not every awkward comment, bad take or imperfect opinion is a sign of deep moral failure. As a result, fewer people speak, fewer ideas are explored and fewer conversations happen. Treating every misstep like a scandal doesn’t make our community stronger; it makes it more fragile.
The broader objectives of higher education include future economic contribution and encouraging innovation. But the main objective that applies to every college student is personal development. Higher education supports and fosters the holistic development of students. This encourages cultural understanding, ethical reasoning and lifelong learning. The concept of cancel culture inhibits this.
Some may associate cancel culture with one specific political affiliation, but every student should realize the implications it has on developing individuals. Unless a person is repeatedly inflicting harm or offense on others, their comments and actions should be met with conversation instead of isolation.
While it’s crucial to address harmful behavior, the current approach of cancel culture often lacks nuance and due process. Tulane, along with other universities, should create environments where ideas can be freely exchanged and disagreements can be met with dialogue. By fostering an environment that encourages dialogue and critical thinking, universities can uphold their commitment to education and prepare students to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. The world that awaits students beyond their university is one filled with diverse opinions; this is a reality that students might not be ready for because of cancel culture. We must draw a line for this cultural phenomenon, as embracing education that values open discourse over cancellation will prepare students for the complexities that lie beyond collegiate discussions.