Hall to remain out of classroom

PROFESSOR WON’T INTERACT WITH STUDENTS UNTIL INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE

A reinstated University of Lethbridge professor who has been accused of espousing anti-Semitic views will not be heading to the classroom anytime soon.

Anthony Hall is a tenured professor in the U of L’s Globalization Studies program. He is also a conspiracy theorist who promotes the idea that a large number of mass shootings and terror attacks are staged as part of a secret global Zionist plot.

Hall was reinstated earlier this week after a lengthy battle with the university which ultimately ended up in court.

Hall has maintained the issue is not about his area of study, but rather the defense of academic freedom in Canadian universities.

B’nai Brith Canada has criticized the university and the provincial government for the reinstatement.

The organization issued a news release on Friday stating =it had been assured by “high-ranking university officials” that Hall would not return to the classroom or interact with students until an investigation was completed.

“We appreciate the steps taken by the University of Lethbridge to remove students from Hall’s influence while this process unfolds,” stated Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada.

In an emailed statement, the university confirmed a faculty process is underway “to investigate and address all outstanding issues in regards to Tony Hall.”

However, class assignments until Sept. 18 had been set prior to the lifting of the suspension, and the university has no plans to deviate from those class assignments.

Mostyn also took aim again at the Alberta government for passing a law which effectively moved labour issues for post-secondary academic staff to the Labour Relations Code rather than the Post-Secondary Learning Act.

“The refusal of the Government of Alberta to own up to its actions is deeply disappointing,” stated Mostyn.

In an email to The Canadian Press on Thursday, Cheryl Oates, a government spokesperson, said the changes had nothing to do with the process occurring between Hall and the U of L.

“The views of this individual are repulsive, offensive and not reflective of Alberta,” she wrote. “Government was solely involved in protecting the arbitration process, which had nothing to do with the allegations against (Hall). As well, the individual will be under investigation by a committee at the university that is

enshrined in their collective agreement.”

B’nai Brith has plans to be part of the U of L investigation by making submissions in order to “underline why Holocaust denial and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have no place in the classroom.”

Hall could not be reached by press time.

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