FREE SPEECH? NOT ON MY CAMPUS!

GROWING HYPOCRISY ON CANADIAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES?

There are very few issues that are as polarizing as abortion. Both pro-life and pro-choice supporters are incredibly passionate about their views on the highly controversial matter. Frankly, there’s very little hope of ever reconciling either groups’ differing views.

In my personal experience, abortion is one of those topics I avoid bringing up at all costs unless my goal is to stir up a rousing debate. Regardless of what your particular opinion may be, you’re guaranteed to get an incredible reaction if you bring up the topic in any social setting. Try it; you’ll see what I mean.

The point of this article isn’t to debate pro-life or pro-choice positions. In my opinion, it’s a moral issue I feel I am unqualified to address.

It should be made clear right now, that I will not advocate pro-life views, nor will I advocate pro-choice positions in this article. My personal opinion on the issue is irrelevant as it pertains to my main issue relating to free speech on university campuses.

I ran across an article in the National Post which I found disturbing. According to the online article, the Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) recently decertified a student group named the Carleton Lifeline due to its anti-abortion views. The CUSA told the club that being anti-abortion violated the association’s anti-discrimination policy. The CUSA did however state that if Carleton Lifeline embraced pro-choice views, the club could be reinstated.

In an interview with the National Post, Ruth Lobo, the president of Carleton Lifeline said that the CUSA was assuming a hypocritical position. “It’s very ironic that they have a discrimination policy that allows them to discriminate against pro-life groups,” she said. 

Carleton Lifeline is now preparing to take the CUSA to court over its decision. In an article appearing on the National Post’s website on November 19, Carlton Lifeline’s lawyer Albertos Polizogopoulos, said the decision to ban the pro-life group was ludicrous. “Their own constitution states they will not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation or belief,” Mr. Polizogopoulos said. “They’ve enacted a policy that is clearly in violation of their own constitution.”

I am just as appalled by the CUSA’s decision to ban Carleton Lifeline as the group’s lawyer. What the CUSA did is blatantly discriminate a student club. It is absolutely hypocritical. It’s a complete violation of the concept of free speech.

I suspect the CUSA will likely reverse its position. Lawsuits generally aren’t pleasant – not speaking from experience of course.

Universities are supposed to be institutions wherein the free and open exchange of ideas occur, and where differing views should be debated. However, it seems to be a growing trend in Canadian institutions of higher learning to curb conservative viewpoints. Universities are liberal institutions, but there are some glaring examples of students opposing groups, and people with socially-conservative viewpoints.

The most notable example that instantly jumps to my mind was right-wing pundit Ann Coulter’s cancelled visit to the University of Ottawa in March. She’s brash and controversial, but in the spirit of free speech she should’ve been allowed to speak on campus without the threat of intimidation. She ended up cancelling her scheduled stop at the U of O.  

Picture of Ann Coulter

More recently in Winnipeg, University of Winnipeg valedictorian Erin Larson blasted MP Vic Toews because she believes the minister’s views are at odds with those of the U of W. Whatever his views, Toews has as much right to air them as the valedictorian does.

Photo from actionplan.gc.ca

The hypocrisy that exists on university campuses when it comes to free speech demeans all institutions of higher learning. Free speech is for all, not just self-righteous students and student associations.