Wesleyan President: Students Would ‘Maybe Not’ Welcome Maher

According to Breitbart News, Michael Roth, who serves as President of Wesleyan University, made the revealing concession during an appearance on Maher’s HBO program Real Time on Friday evening.

When Maher directly asked whether he could deliver a speech on the Connecticut campus and be welcomed, Roth offered a telling response that exposed the hostile climate facing speakers who deviate from progressive orthodoxy.

The university president said Maher would be given a hearing, but stopped short of saying he would be welcomed by the student body and faculty.

Maher, clearly taken aback by the admission, pointed out that he has donated one million dollars to Democratic candidates on two separate occasions. He questioned whether such credentials were insufficient to earn a welcoming reception at an academic institution that presumably shares his political alignment.

Roth deflected with humor, suggesting he would welcome Maher if the comedian brought a million-dollar donation to the university itself.

Conservative Justices Face Similar Treatment

The Wesleyan president attempted to frame the issue as part of healthy academic debate, citing the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia as an example. Roth noted that Scalia’s campus visit generated significant opposition, with many questioning the decision to host him.

However, Roth claimed the conservative justice delivered an impressive talk and engaged productively with students throughout the day, despite the initial resistance. He emphasized that fostering such debate represents the institution’s goal, a sentiment with which Maher expressed agreement.

The exchange highlights the growing intolerance on American campuses toward speakers who challenge prevailing progressive narratives, even when those speakers have impeccable liberal credentials like Maher’s substantial Democratic Party donations.

With information from Breitbart News