Letters from the public on Buckingham’s dismissal

The firing of Robert Buckingham for expressing his views and defending his department is absolutely revolting. A university is exactly where issues should be aired and not just behind closed doors but in the public view.

TransformUS is a political and financial issue and should not impact upon a professor’s right to air his views and have them publicly discussed. Universities must not be allowed to lock discussions behind closed doors — they are public institutions of idea exploration and not enforcers of dogma.

Buckingham was hired to create a successful department and he has done that even to the point of receiving international acclamation. To fire him for defending his creation and forcing his creation to risk the loss of international accreditation is ludicrous beyond belief. If anyone should be dismissed, it should be the provost and president who both clearly have no knowledge of what a university is for and how it must function. Brian Gardiner North Battleford