In his eagerness to “school” Maine Millennial columnist Victoria Hugo-Vidal about the reality and dangers of “cancel culture,” letter writer John Voyer (April 11) claims that Smith College disinviting Christine Lagarde as commencement speaker “was a violation of freedom of speech.” This is itself a distortion of the reading of the First Amendment, which states in full: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The First Amendment is about the government silencing speech, not about private colleges deciding who they do or do not want to provide guidance and inspiration to graduating students. Furthermore, it has long been the conservative position that any business or nonprofit organization should be able to establish its own norms without government interference: Witness the baker in Colorado refusing to serve LGBTQ customers, a “freedom of speech” that was supported by the Supreme Court.

Lastly, a commencement speech is not a debate, so even Voyer’s suggestion that somehow the “other” side should be represented is absurd. Liberty University is free to invite only speakers who oppose abortion and support Donald Trump, and to disinvite those to whom they had extended an invitation without first considering the views of the faculty and students. Is this also a violation of freedom of speech?

Myrna Koonce
Brunswick

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