Canadian universities need free speech pact
There’s a push by alumni of Queen’s University to get their alma mater to adopt a set of free speech principles. This is long overdue — not just for Queen’s but for all post-secondary institutions in North America.
“Like many, we’re alarmed at the frequent suppression of viewpoint diversity at other North American schools, particularly in the U.S.,” says Nick Pateras, who along with Matthew Zafino, is spearheading the campaign. “We’re concerned there will be a spillover effect to Canada and that it will impact Queen’s, our alma mater.”
Pateras and Zaffino want Queen’s to adopt what’s been called the Chicago Principles. A committee at the University of Chicago in 2014 drafted a statement of its commitment to free speech in light of troubling instances of suppression across America.
The statement affirms “it is not the proper role of the university to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.”
It adds that, although students “are free to criticize and contest the views expressed on campus, and to criticize and contest speakers who are invited to express their views on campus, they may not obstruct or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe.”
Pateras and Zaffino have spent the past few months promoting an online petition, getting campus student groups on board and reaching out to various university representatives.
“We received a fantastic education at Queen’s and want the same for future students, so when we heard about the principles we felt it was right to approach Queen’s about reaffirming its commitment to open dialogue and inquiry,” says Pateras.
The university has yet to act on the campaign but it hasn’t ruled it out and Pateras is optimistic.
The Chicago Principles aren’t by any measure extreme. The document makes it clear that speech that breaks the law — such as defamation and genuine threats — isn’t what they’re talking about. U of C also clarifies it will still regulate when and where they provide classroom space. Your free speech isn’t violated just because you’re not given the best campus space during prime-time hours.
The message is quite simple: It’s wrong to shut down events or speakers simply because their worldview doesn’t conform to yours.
It’s a sad sign of the times that this needs to be pointed out and affirmed in declarations. But pretty much every week some campus hijinks serve as a reminder of just how threatened campus speech has become. Ironically, I first met Pateras and Zaffino at a conference at the University of Toronto put on by the student wing of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, that was shut down by intolerant radicals.
Not too long ago campus suppression was rare. In 2010, it was a novelty when Ann Coulter cancelled a University of Ottawa appearance due to aggressive protests.
Those were simpler times. We didn’t have terms like “snowflake,” “triggering” and “social justice warrior” because we didn’t need them. Political correctness had yet to make the shameless power play it’s now in the process of trying to consolidate.
Recently, Prof. Jordan Peterson floated the idea of slashing postsecondary funding by a significant amount until the administration roots out this cultural rot. While it may come to that, it’s refreshing to see just how many students and alumni are now fighting back and taking a stand.
Several American universities have followed Chicago’s lead. But none in Canada have to date. Queen’s would be the first to adopt the Chicago Principles. They’d be trailblazers.