Don Feder was recently forced to give up attempts to speak in a forum at the University of Massachusetts — what he calls a “collegiate zoo” where administrators refuse “to keep the animals leashed.” Here is a sample of his justifiably acerbic account of the appalling mob scene that confronted him:

Not more than 20 seconds into my address, the catcalls and heckling began. A group of young scholars turned their backs on me . . .
The honorary citizens of Crete unfurled banners, waved signs, chanted slogans, shouted insults and taunts, jeered, laughed derisively and generally demonstrated the self-control of toddlers with Tourette syndrome.
Their signs read, “Hate Speech Leads to Hate Crimes” (this from people who insist there’s no connection between pornography and sex crimes) . . . and — my favorite — “Abolish Hate.” Bravo! After that, we can abolish lust, greed, sloth and unhygienic habits (though the protestors might consider that a personal attack). My terrier has taken to toting around a sign that says “Abolish Cats!” . . .
Among other antics, a barefoot girl tried to bring a rat into the lecture. Rumor had it that Rat Girl planned to let the rodent loose to raise the level of discourse.

By way of conclusion, Feder suggests that the inhabitants of the zoo have triumphed:

Suppose a man visiting a zoo stops at the monkey cage whose denizens begin throwing feces at him. If the man decides to take himself out of range, have the monkeys won?