There have been some recent blows to freedom of speech in Canada that I would to draw all of your attention to. Recently UBC's Okanagan campus's student union passed a motion to ban all pro-life groups from having club status. Carleton University in Ontario will be attempting to pass a similar ban at their campus next week. This a substantial blow to freedom of speech because groups that do not have club status are denied the ability to organize events on campus, use campus facilities for their purposes and to pamphlet the campus. Because Canadian campuses are actually private property this also shuts down any peaceful demonstrations because with prior approval people can be charged with trespassing if they refuse to leave when confronted. Interestingly enough, the ban at Carleton University was drafted after a friend of mine did a debate against a pro-choice representative. His debate spawned criticism that even discussing these topics might upset people that had had abortions previously. I guess this means that public discourse on any contentious subjects is now politically incorrect. Good thing the gestapo is out there protecting the sensibilities of the masses of impressionable university students.
Universities need to be places where open discussion is not shut down. Societies can not move foreword if dissenting views are squashed. I really think that violations of our freedom of speech such as this one are only a small step away from a ban on any controversial Christian activity. Once we ban pro-life groups from speaking out on campuses what stops student unions from then banning any group that is pro-evangelism? If student unions are free to do this then what stops government authorities from putting similar bans on free speech into the public sector?
Here are some links to brief news stories that cover some more of the details:
UBC Okanagan Campus
Carleton Unversity
Please consider writing some letters to the following people to voice your disapproval. I have linked to some sample letters that you are free to use directly or just for ideas.
Letter to Carleton President
Letter to UBC Okanagan
Letter to UBC President
Carlton University Student Union Contacts:
President - Shawn Menard: pres@cusaonline.com
Executive Coordinator - James Pratt exc@cusaonline.com
VP Finance - Shelley Melanson vpf@cusaonline.com
VP Internal Affairs - Lyndon George vpi@cusaonline.com
VP External Affairs - Blake Brooks vpx@cusaonline.com
VP Student Issues - Isaac Cockburn vpsi@cusaonline.com
VP Student Services - Katy McIntyre vpss@cusaonline.com ***Originator of
the motion to force all clubs to be 'pro-choice' ***
Clubs & Societies clubs@cusaonline.com
Carleton University Administration:
Vice-President, Acting Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Feridun
Hamdullpur, provost@carleton.ca
Vice-President, Finance & Administration Duncan Watt c/o
b_wells@carleton.ca
Carleton University Board of Governors:
Board of Governors governors@carleton.ca
UBC Okanagan Administration:
Prof. Stephen J. Toope
President, University of British Columbia
6328 Memorial Road
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6T 1Z2
Phone: 604.822.8300
Fax: 604.822.5055
E-mail: presidents.office@ubc.ca
Marie Molloy
Human Rights & Equity Advisor
University of British Columbia, Okanagan
3333 University Way, SSC 119F
Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1V 1V7
Tel: 250.807.9291
Email: marie.molloy@ubc.ca
Hey Rose,
I go to Carleton University where the debate is taking place tomorrow to decide whether Carleton will consider a ban on pro-life groups because of it's 'discrimination against women's rights.
I just want to let you know that if this motion is passed to ban pro-life groups that there are already people in line to take CUSA to court - which in the end may be better because it will teach them a lesson.
There are people writing into the University and newspapers saying how it's a violation of our right to free speech to pass this motion - so there will be a general outcry if this motion passes.
We'll just have to wait and see but remember where there is no persecution there is no God but if you know persecution then you can truely know God.
-Champ Out
Posted by: Matthew_Champ at December 4, 2006 01:32 PM