...And Murray Dobbin thinks they shouldn't have toIf there's anything Canadians should have come to expect out of Rabble.ca's Murray Dobbin, it should be the left-wing lunatic screed. God knows he's offered little else since becoming senior contributing editor at Rabble.In his most recent screed, Dobbin complains about criticisms of the now-infamous Regina 16 at the University of Regina who recently co-signed a letter to U of R President Vianne Timmons recommending that the institution not participate:"For their actions in trying to defend the university's reputation from an association with blatant jingoism, the fifteen Profs have been treated to a wave of attacks from assorted bottom-feeders on Canada's right. One of the Profs wrote me that he and the others have been subjected to '..a...
It isn't often that Bill O'Reilly finds a surplus of praise at the Nexus, but viewing his interview with Now Magazine's Susan Cole, one can't help but avoid the conclusion that he managed to nail it.If O'Reilly has one particular talent, it may be to use his reputation as a right-wing ideologue to flush out left-wing ideologues for precisely what they are.In the case of Susan Cole, he accomplishes this with just one question: why can't Ann Coulter speak at a university campus?The topic at hand, of course, was the recent cancellation of a Coulter speech scheduled for the University Ottawa under circumstances that seem to remain the matter of some dispute.Cole insists that Coulter could speak at a right-wing think tank or at a lecture hall (although she doesn't elaborate on where one may...
Coulter's complaint to be most recent of numerous political stunts in CHRCAs the battle over Canada's Human Rights Commissions has gone on, one of the great tragedies over the matter has been the sheer number of times Canada's human rights commissions have been used to prepetrate political stunts.The most recent of these stunts is set to be a complaint Ann Coulter has promised to file over the cancellation of her scheduled speech at the University of Ottawa.“I’m sure the Human Rights Commission will get to the bottom of it,” Coulter announced. “I think I’m the victim of a hate crime here. Either what (Francois Houle) did was a hate crime, or the whole commission is BS.”Houle, a provost of the University of Ottawa, wrote Coulter a letter recommending that she familiarize...
Liberals back FNUC out of "cultural sensitivity"In an era in which being insufficiently sensitive to any number of things can result in a complaint to a human rights commission, a great many people are feeling pressure to twist themselves in the name of cultural sensitivity.For the Liberal Party of Canada, the demands of cultural sensitivity also seem to include supporting the embattled First Nations University of Canada, which recently had its funding cut by the federal government and government of Saskatchewan.At issue are numerous issues -- ranging from questions of academic freedom related to the search of computers (an arbitration board eventually found insufficient evidence for violation of academic freedom), governance issues related to the Board of Directors, and questions...
Ward Churchill acted unethically, dishonourably, and he paid the necessary priceWhen former University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill was fired for numerous cases of academic misconduct, it sparked numerous complaints from the far left.Churchill had drawn unwelcome attention to himself by publishing an academically dubious essay in which he described the victims of 9/11 as "Little Eichmanns". Eventually, that attention led to the investigation of numerous cases of plagiarism and forgery by the University of Colorado professor.He was even able to convince a jury that he had been fired for the essay, and not for his misconduct. The jury rule in his favour, but awarded him only a single dollar -- demonstrating that they had concluded that his "Little Eichmanns" essay was a factor in...
Banning anti-abortion groups violates civil libertiesAcross Canada, anti-abortion groups on various University campuses have been under fire.Where pro-abortion groups fail and students' unions decline to run pro-abortion groups off campus, they settle for simply disrupting any events they disagree with.In the latter case, it's censorship by deeply-institutionalized means.Fortunately, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association is prepared to take a stand on the matter, they're preparing to intervene in a case involving the University of Victoria Student Society and an anti-abortion group by the name of Youth Protecting Youth.The argument is that anti-abortion activism "inherently discriminates" against women.It shouldn't be thought that the BCCLA necessarily agrees with Youth...
Opposition to Flanagan visit calmed with constructive dialogueOn University Campuses across North America, a disturbing number of vocal minorities have often learned that they can quiet viewpoints they don't want to be heard on campus if they just make enough noise.Many of those who value free speech have long decried these incidents.But in an episode that deserves every bit of attention it can possibly get, a recent visit by Tom Flanagan to the University of Manitoba -- which at first provoked a loud protest by groups that objected to Flanagan's stance on aboriginal affairs -- in the end wound up proceeding when the objecting groups were granted a public forum with Flanagan, wherein they could question him and comment on his ideas.A greater victory for freedom of speech -- and for the...
Darwin, from the Creationists ought to be countered with Jesus, from the DarwinistsKirk Cameron and Ray Comfort did the intellectual discourse surrounding religion a few -- but not many -- favours when they took Brian Sapient and Kelly O'Connor from the Rational Response Squad and spanked them on national TV.The debate, in which both sides exchanged some silly arguments over the question of whether or not God exists -- an insipid topic for a formal debate -- revealed Sapient and O'Connor for the vapid, pretentious and self-righteous thinkers that they are, and spoke droves about those who have chosen to fall into lock-step behind them in their so-called "Rational Response Squad".Now Cameron and Comfort are replicating the feat -- this time by embarking upon an endeavour that reveals...
Canada's flag is a disgraceful, exclusionary symbolAs Calgary's Mount Royal College debates whether or not it will fly the Canadian flag, the eyes of many Canadians have been opened to the true nature of Canadian patriotism.The oversized Canadian flag that used to fly on the roof of Wyckham House, where the Mount Royal College Students' Union operates from, was taken down last year while the building was renovated.Re-hanging the flag has been delayed after someone submitted an unsigned letter to the Mount Royal Students' Union suggesting that the flag is an exclusionary symbol.The eyes of many Canadians have surely been opened."People may not realize that overt displays of patriotism can also be seen as exclusionary and even sometimes work to undermine democratic ideals," the letter...
Dancing fratboys greet Westboro Baptist Church at University of ChicagoOne of the best ways to deal with hatemongers effectively is to refuse to take them seriously.That was the scene at the University of Chicago this past week, as protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church were met not with the usual derision and outrage, but rather with revelry.Among their reception at the University of Chicago was a bake sale raising funds for a GLBT charity, and members of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, who danced in their underwhere to "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross while flying a "no tolerance for intolerance" banner from their house.Ever the faux-optimist, Shirley Phelps Roper tried to put the best face on their reception. "It is so awesome when you juxtapose this little group of servants of God...
Pro-abortion lobby wants -- quelle suprise! -- a free speech double standardA pair of news stories regarding the abortion debate in Canada have, unsurprisingly, shown the depth of the hypocrisy of Canada's pro-abortion lobby.Last week a speech being given by anti-abortion activist Jojo Ruba was interrupted by pro-abortion activists who relentlessly shouted him down until his speech eventually had to move to another venue. On Tuesday the University of Calgary students' union revoked the student group status of the campus Pro-Life group (better described as an anti-abortion group).Unsurprisingly, some of Canada's most extreme pro-abortion activists have no problem at all with either of these incidents, and equally unsprisingly they aren't ashamed to contradict themselves.Unrepentant Old...
You're a left-wing prof whose students are sick of youEven if the conclusions he sometimes draws are extremely dubious, one can very well assume that Michael Byers' position at the University of British Columbia is fairly safe.But even if he wasn't worn out his welcome with the faculty or administration at UBC, apparently Byers has worn out his welcome with the editorial staff of the University newspaper, the Ubyessy:"Last week, UBC political science professor, failed NDP Candidate, and media gadfly Michael Byers went on a hunger strike as part of the 2010 Homelessness Hunger Strike Relay. When we heard the news, virtually every member of The Ubyssey editorial staff winced. And not just because it was a self-serving media stunt that reeked of martyrdom and did little to serve the actual...
...Be a shame if something happened to itThe Canadian Union of Public Employees has a message for any Israeli academics who may want to teach or speak on unveristy campuses in Ontario:Condemn Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip. Or else.CUPE drafted the proposal as a response to a December 29th attack on an Islamic University in Ghaza."Attacking an institution of learning is just beyond the pale," CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan announced. "They deliberately targeted an institution of learning. That's what the Nazis did."Of course Ryan is overlooking the fact that Hamas is widely known to use schools and hospitals as hideouts for their fighters, normally using the occupants of those buildings as human shields or to provoke international outrage when those buildings are...
University of Guelph Students Association drags its feet on Life Choice controversyThe latest development on the tale of the Life Choice controversy at the University of Guelph is being embraced by the editoral staff of the Guelph Mercury embracing the reinstatement of interim club status as a "welcome gesture".This was done as the appeal process for Life Choice's suspension was delayed yet again, while a tribunal is adjourned to arbitrate the matter.Previously, on October 30, procedural considerations stalled the appeal process."I believe the environment of this room is unsafe," complained U of G CSA's Human Resources Commissioner Joel Harnest -- the very same Joel Harnest who indulged himself in denouncing the Life Fair as "anti-choice", and helped lead the charge against Life Choice on...