Nipissing University Limits Free Speech
Is “Free Speech” actually “Free” when it has to comply with administrative policies? Is it “Free” when it has to take place in a certain area? Is it “Free” when the idea of punishment is attached to it? In my opinion, there is something about the word “freedom” that doesn’t jive with the word “limitation”. Maybe I’m just being blinded by the constitution or something…
Nipissing University has announced a new policy, published in a document called: “Public Events and Free Speech Areas on Campus” that places strict limitations on the expression of free speech on Campus. It describes the new guidelines for proper execution of free speech, which contains wording that is downright chilling. Here is one example…
“The University shall hold a demonstrator accountable for improper actions that violate University policies, procedures and guidelines. Such improper actions include but are not limited to…”
In this context, what does “accountable” mean? What “improper actions” that a student will be held “accountable” are not mentioned in the document?
There is a list of ways that a student could violate the university’s definition of free speech, but the wording indicates that the list is incomplete thereby putting a student in danger of being held “accountable” for an exercise of free speech that may be in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms but not in accordance with the unstated parts of Nipissing University’s policy. The only way a student can be sure that speech will not be followed by punishment is for that student to keep his or her mouth completely shut. Presumably, “accountable” includes some kind of punishment, but there are no specifics, so if I’m a student and I want to open my mouth, I don’t know what is not going to get me in trouble, and I don’t even know how bad the trouble will be.
Nipissing University can’t delay much longer the inevitable announcement that they will name their “Learning Library” after such a notable Man of Letters, and champion of post-secondary education, Michael Deane Harris, 22nd Premier of Ontario, and progenitor of the Common Sense Revolution, which if there has ever been a revolution named with more of a wink to Orwell, I have not heard of it. Anyway, I digress…
The announcement is likely to come during the dog days of summer when few students are around, but to be safe, and perhaps avoid protests that may make national news, Nipissing University has re-invented free speech.
Tony Loeffen
