Har.
Dear members of the University Community
I am disappointed to have to inform you about an issue that arose Tuesday night on campus which we are working hard to address.
During lecture at the Archer Library, where author and commentator John Gormley was invited to campus to speak about his new book, he – and an audience of university community members – were subjected to a protest staged by a group of aboriginal protestors who disrupted the speech and, with drum banging and tactics of intimidation, attempted to prevent the guest from speaking. Universities are an historic cradle of free speech and these actions — whether participated in or supported by participants, faculty or students at the U of R – are offensive and completely inconsistent with the values of this University.
On learning of the events last night, I immediately took steps to apologize to Gormley; and I have directed the University’s executive lead on indigenization to meet with faculty or students who may have been present, and to determine if disciplinary action may be required.
In particular, I am asking the U of R’s Lead on Indigenization to determine that, as part of our curricula of indigenous studies, we have correctly addressed the issue of appropriate protest and civil discourse within the context of both Canadian and First Nations values of tolerance and free expression. If these aspects are missing within our in studies, I have asked the Lead on Indigenization to prepare a proposed set of recommendations to remedy this shortcoming.
I wish, specifically to address the comments of one young aboriginal woman at the event, who identified herself as a U of R student and said aloud that this type of protest and prevention of free speech is something that regularly happens in U of R classrooms and that she supports preventing people with whom she disagrees from speaking.
I wish to state categorically that as a University we have a proud record of promoting and protecting free speech and we in no way countenance or support, on university property, a protest – whatever its aims – designed to prevent a citizen from exercising their constitutionally entrenched right of freedom of expression.
On behalf of the university I want to apologize for this incident. In particular, I want to apologize to all people who were in attendance at the speakers event. They have a right to expect better of our institution.
Going forward, I will continue to make every effort to support free speech and the expression of points of view in a way that fosters respect for diversity and we will work together as a campus community to ensure that Tuesday nights event is an isolated incident. IT is only through working together that we will truly demonstrate to the university community and the nation at large that a positive learning experience – and the promotion of public dialogue on issues of public policy – does not just require the protection of free speech but the cherishing of it within the walls of our university.
As a campus community, please join me in this effort by working every day to make the university an open and welcoming place for all.,
Sincerely…
Courtesy, John Gormley.
