MSU Billings Chancellor Dan Edelman says freedom of speech - and safety - are his concerns as the campus deals with unauthorized posters appearing on campus put up by a white nationalist group.
The posters carry the name Identity Evropa, which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a campus-based, racist “alt right” group that focuses raising white racial consciousness.
Edelman said while he feels strongly about freedom of speech, “what I don’t condone is hate in any form.”
“This is a warm, loving community. It's a great place to be,” he said. “It's a great place to educate our students. We’re a welcoming environment.”
He said in education, “we appreciate spirited dialogue and conversation, in the right format.” And added these posters did not follow Montana University System policies and procedures and therefore were removed.
Campus officials aren’t sure who keeps putting up these unauthorized posters and when asked if there’s a safety threat to students, faculty and staff, Edelman said, “I believe that we are safe on our campus. We have an excellent police department. We have contingency plans in place.”
He said if anyone sees a problem on campus, they should report it and it will get addressed promptly.
"We live in a dangerous time right now, so safety is always forefront for me" Edelman said.
