An article in the March 5 Kennebec Journal reports that two Bowdoin College students may be impeached in their student government roles because they somehow offended other students by attending a Mexican-themed party where tequila was served and students wore sombreros (“2 students face impeachment for party”).

If the partygoers are penalized for such conduct, then Bowdoin College will be sending this message: “Bowdoin students are free to express ideas of which the college approves.”

The article also said that Bowdoin President Clayton Rose made comments that, to me, implied that the affair may have involved conduct other than the tequila and sombrero-wearing, but that he (Rose) couldn’t talk about it for “privacy reasons.”

In fairness to the students involved, Rose’s comment should have been, “No comment.”

Last, Rose and a Bowdoin student presented the issue as though Bowdoin would have to choose between having a campus that is welcoming to minorities or one that tolerates unpopular viewpoints. Why can’t Bowdoin have both?

So, Bowdoin, deplore, condemn, or abhor as you wish. But don’t punish the expression of ideas.

Powers McGuire

Augusta