Peterson takes on Wilfrid Laurier
Best-selling author and Professor Jordan Peterson has launched a $1.5 million defamation suit against Wilfrid Laurier University, two of its professors and a former gender and equity manager for suggesting he was “analogous to Adolf Hitler.” The statement of claim, prepared by lawyer Howard Levitt and filed Monday, says Peterson was falsely labelled as incompetent, sexist, misogynist, dangerous and racist in a now infamous disciplinary meeting with Wilfrid Laurier University teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd. The university later apologized publicly to Shepherd, but Peterson told the Toronto Sun Wednesday that he does not believe the university has been forthright in its response to the incident.
“So I think this is a warning, let’s say, to other careless administrators and professors who allow their ideological presuppositions to get the best of them to be a bit more careful with what they say and do,” he said.
Levitt said the University of Toronto professor cannot allow a university to viciously slander him, let alone compare his comments to a speech by Hitler, when he has spent his life and career teaching against the evils of the Holocaust and despots. “The politically correct on campus should not think that they can defame people, slander people and bully people implicitly and explicitly with impunity,” Levitt said Wednesday. “This isn’t just some internet troll mouthing off in a way that no one pays attention to and doesn’t give any credence to. These are professors and head of gender equity studies making comments that are atrocious about Dr. Peterson who is one of if not Canada’s most prominent intellectual.”
In a statement, Wilfrid Laurier University said it will defend itself vigorously against the legal action. “Laurier remains committed to intellectual inquiry, critical reflection, scholarly integrity, academic freedom and freedom of expression while striving to be a supportive and inclusive community,” the university statement says. Peterson’s statement of claim, which has not been proven in court, also names professors Nathan Rambukkana and Herbert Pimlott and Adria Joel, then the acting manger of gendered violence prevention and support but no longer with the university.
None could be reached for comment.