WLU task force hears range of views on statement of freedom of expression
Wilfrid Laurier University graduate student Lindsay Shepherd stood quietly in the back of a crowded room on campus as she listened to faculty, staff and students debate and defend a draft statement on freedom of expression.
It was a November incident on campus involving Shepherd and two university professors that led Laurier president Deborah MacLatchy to create a university task force on freedom of expression.
On Tuesday, more than 100 people from the main campus in Waterloo and the campus in Brantford attended a town hall organized by the 13member task force seeking input on its statement.
“I think it’s good,” said Shepherd of the statement.
“I think what was kind of good about this event was it was very clear (there is) a diversity of voices on the task force ... but in the end, they were all still defending this one statement.”
But not everyone in attendance saw the statement in a positive light. In fact, most of those who took to the microphone to address the task force were critical of it.
“The statement seems more concerned with assuaging those who believe in their right to express speech no matter the consequences than it does with those who will ultimately face the consequences of such speech,” Prof. Steve Wilcox via video conference from the Brantford campus.
“Especially given what we know about certain types of speech, such as speech that promotes discrimination and hate based on gender, sexual orientation, and race.”
Others felt that the statement put too much of a burden on groups like the Rainbow Centre and the Diversity and Equity Office to offer a safe space for people who may feel threatened or oppressed by some events being held on campus.
Members of the task force were expecting to hear a range of views.
“We got a lot of really useful input (and) feedback from our community and that’s what the town hall was really intended to do,” said Robert Gordon, chair of the task force and vice-president of research at Laurier.
Anne Wilson, a Laurier professor and member of the task force, acknowledged there’s still a lot of work to be done by the university in clarifying how the statement will be implemented.
“We recognize for this to become understood — where we’re coming from and how we can move forward as a community and embrace free speech and also embrace seriously diversity inclusion and equity — that it’s going to take an ongoing conversation,” she said. “It’s going to take resources and support and all that kind of stuff doesn’t happen with a four-page document.”
Until May 14, the task force is accepting public input on the draft statement through on online form. At that time, the task force will revisit the statement, refine it and submit it to the university senate for approval on May 29.