Last April, to appease their older rural voters, the Quebec government unveiled a new policy concerning academic freedom in schools and universities: Bill 32. Naturally, the policy had little to do with Quebec’s rural population and very much to do with enforcing its definition of academic freedom upon universities, prompting[Read More…]
Tag: freedom of speech
McGill hosts guest lecturer and author to discuss the complexities of freedom of speech on campus
Over the past few years, a number of high-profile universities in North America have experienced brawls, protests, and fires from students objecting certain guest speakers invited to their campuses. Sigal Ben-Porath, author of Free Speech on Campus and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke to the issues surrounding free speech[Read More…]
The elephant in the room
Among other deeply instilled habits I’ve developed as a socially-anxious introvert, I make a point of not sharing my political opinions. Somewhere in the midst of the chaotic depression of high school, I found myself a political outsider in my liberal home state of Massachusetts. I was convinced I would[Read More…]
Hushed Potter scandal sets worrying precedent for students
As the academic year ambles on, new students form impressions of McGill’s institutional culture. As one would expect, the upper-ranks of administration try to shape these impressions to their favour. Take Discover McGill, where Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier delivered a rosy speech to a crowd warmed up by student[Read More…]
University vs. Freedom of Speech: The case of Pridgen v University of Calgary
With more than 40,000 students at McGill University, controversial statements can pop up at any moment and cause university administrators to feel the need to perform damage control. Social media exacerbates the problem by amplifying the reach of controversial remarks. However, can a university silence a student or compel an[Read More…]
