Speech nixed amid security concerns, free speech firestorm
The notion of free speech in Canada came under severe scrutiny last week as a speech by American pundit Ann Coulter at the University of Ottawa was cancelled.
The talk by Coulter, who leans far to the right and has uttered many discriminatory comments in her notorious career, was cancelled over concerns for Ms. Coulter’s safety after a crowd of about 2000 students protested her arrival on campus.
Though she is a pundit, her musings often go beyond comedic observations, such as her proposal, shortly after September 11, that the United States should invade Arab countries, kill their leaders and convert their citizens to Christianity.
Prior to her arrival at the University of Ottawa, the school’s provost and vice-president academic, Dr. Francois Houle, sent Coulter a letter warning her that federal and provincial laws put “reasonable limits on freedom of expression,” and that promoting hatred against an identifiable group could lead to criminal charges.
Furthermore, Houle asked Coulter to “weigh [her] words with respect and civility in mind,” arguing that “there is a strong tradition in Canada, including at this university, of restraint, respect and consideration in expressing even provocative and controversial opinions and [we] urge you to respect that Canadian tradition while on our campus.”
He further hoped that she would “understand and agree that what may, at first glance, seem like unnecessary restrictions to freedom of expression do, in fact, lead not only to a more civilized discussion, but to a more meaningful, reasoned and intelligent one as well.”
Coulter fired back with gusto, claiming that she was the target of hate speech. She accused Houle of “promoting hatred against an identifiable group: conservatives.”
She continued, “ The provost simply believes and is publicizing his belief that conservatives are more likely to commit hate crimes in their speeches. Not only does this promote hatred against conservatives, but it promotes violence against conservatives.”
The issue has received a great deal of media attention on both sides of the 49th parallel. Houle and the protestors were congratulated by some for their integrity in their movement to curb discrimination.
Even Perez Hilton, the world-renowned titan of celebrity gossip, gave a nod to the University of Ottawa for putting end to “another brainwashing session” before it began, and called those attending the lecture “simple minded.”
However, many others have been firmly unwilling to praise the provost and the protestors.
Penni Stewart, president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), sent Houle a letter, expressing that the association was “deeply disturbed” by his email to Coulter.
Stewart explained that though Coulter holds many controversial and questionable views, universities should be open forums to discuss such contentious opinions and events. She said that this was “aptly captured in the University of Toronto’s statement on the Purpose of the University:
“Within the unique university context, the most crucial of all human rights are the rights of freedom of speech, academic freedom, and freedom of research. And we affirm that these rights are meaningless unless they entail the right to raise deeply disturbing questions and provocative challenges to the cherished beliefs of society at large and of the university itself.”
Stewart also told Houle that CAUT felt that he owed Coulter an apology, and assurance that U of O’s administration would promote freedom of expression and academic freedom.
Though Dr. Houle has not been available for comment since the controversy began, the University of Ottawa has posted a statement on its website.
The statement, by university President (and former Liberal cabinet minister) Allan Rock, said that the university has had a long history of hosting controversial speakers. Rock also stated that he “encourage[s] our students, faculty and other members of our community to maintain our University as an open forum for diverse opinions.
“Ours is a safe and democratic environment for the expression of views, and we will keep it that way.”
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Universities are supposed to be open forums for the free exchange and debate of ideas to complement an advanced education. However, there are, as Dr. Houle pointed out, laws in Canada that prohibit the incitement of hatred.
That being said, Houle and the protestors did put restraints on Coulter’s right to free speech. First by advising her curtail her words and then by vehemently protesting her presence on campus, with one individual pulling the fire alarm in the building the lecture was being held. The protest then led Ottawa police and Coulter’s bodyguards to deem it unsafe for the engagement happen.
Though the discussion was likely to be provocative and offensive, no one can be sure what Coulter was going to say. There may have been no infringement upon Canadian hate speech laws at all, and now, the U of O community has missed out on the rare opportunity to challenge and debate one of the most controversial opinion makers in the North America. Perhaps Coulter should just be left alone to avoid further controversies and if she does go too far then the authorities should take responsibility. As Bishop’s Political Studies chair Dr. Andrew Johnson put it, give her enough rope and she just might hang herself.
Johnson continued, “After all, she was sufficiently generous to give a knucklehead university administration as well as a Red Guard mob of University of Ottawa students enough rope to hang themselves.”
He suggested that it might be “useful to invite someone like her to speak at the Donald Lecture Series to stir up BU for a change and to provide some relief from the usual dull cast of liberals, would-be-liberals and liberal ‘public intellectuals.’”
He added, “Can you imagine BU’s administration ever agreeing to something as ‘toxic’ as controversy and a different perspective for change?”
Perhaps we will find out in the 2010-11 year.
