According to Stony Brook’s website, Jelani Cobb, a writer for The New Yorker and a Professor at Columbia, delivered the Presidential Lecture on “Microaggressions and The Pursuit of Equity”. Interim President Michael Bernstein said “Being on a campus as diverse as ours and understanding the psychological and physical effects of microaggressions is important.” In the words of the article, “Cobb delved into the issues raised by commonplace daily exchanges that — intentionally or unintentionally — communicate hostile, derogatory or negative prejudicial attitudes toward marginalized groups.” He made the argument that “microaggressions” leave a psychological and emotional toll on people. The question is where’s the evidence for that.

Microaggressions, according to the Miriam Webster dictionary “are a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority).” In other words they are unconscious and unintentional yet it has become common place to be lectured by the left on the dangers of these unconscious comments. Prof. Sue also of Columbia argues even asking where someone is from is a “microagression.” Clearly this is a very subjective topic.

Having said that even Professor Sue, who first popularized this term, now admits some have taken this too far. Professor Sue has aknowledged that “People who engage in microaggressions are oftentimes well-intentioned, decent individuals who aren’t aware that they are engaging in an offensive way toward someone else.” Colleges seem to have taken this term further then anyone even expected. Judging by the SJW hysterics, it is a big issue to them.



The speaker at Stony Brook, Dr.Cobb is a journalist who has covered race, politics, history and culture. He covered current events in the lecture, comparing microaggressions on campus to “The Unite The Right” rally in Charlottesville. Dr Cobb argued that “In the aftermath [of the rally] we were forced to question the relationship between freedom of expression and signs of oppression.” Is Freedom of Speech really worth eliminating so nobody’s feelings are hurt?

Among other things, Dr.Cobb has argued in the past that “American White Supremacy” lead to the El Paso shootings. The El Paso shootings were committed by a very evil individual, but Dr Cobb seems to be implying all of America embraces White supremacy. Either that or that it’s a uniquely American phenomenon (obviously not the case).

In his speech, Dr.Cobb drew a distinction between diversity and inclusion arguing “there is a big difference between them.” In other words, like many college professors he is preaching to the choir. Rather then discuss actual issues facing our country, Stony Brook choose to host someone discussing unconcious racisism. Isn’t conscious and real racism more worthy of stopping?

Stony Brook’s Media Relations Team was reached out to. Ms. Lauren Sheprow is a University Media Relations Officer there. She responded with a series of questions, the first was that she wanted to know if I had heard Dr.Cobb speak before. Ms.Sheprow stated in an email:

“At Stony Brook University, we embrace the Constitutional Freedom of Speech and thought, whether we fundamentally agree or disagree with a particular view. We have a unified and diverse campus community, and as such, it is critical that the free exchange of ideas be safeguarded in a way that respects our differences and basic notions of civility. The Jelanie Cobb lecture, like all presidential, provostial and other public lectures, was free and open to the campus community and to the public.”



Stony Brook’s chapter of the College Republicans were contacted to see what they thought of this lecture on Microaggressions and whether they felt it was needed. Stony Brook College Republicans President Desi Kirin responded “I wouldn’t be able to speak much on it. I’ll reach out to our members and see if anyone did and can comment. I think it might have been primarily for faculty and student leaders on campus, however It was most likely open to everyone.“

The Stony Brook chapter of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) was contacted. They did not return our request for comment. Professor Cobb, who is a Professor at Columbia University, was also contacted regarding his lecture at Stony Brook. Dr.Cobb according to The Stony Brook website “was most recently an Associate Professor of History and Director of the African Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut, where he specialized in post-Civil War African American history, 20th century American politics and the history of the Cold War.” He also declined to answer the email in time for publishing.