Readers may recall that last Spring the National Post(May 1, 2001) reported that Osgoode Hall Law School of York University was investigating one of its students for allegedly engaging in hatemongering. The student in question had written an article in Obiter Dicta (March 12, 2001), an Osgoode Hall publication, that was critical of aspects of life in an Islamic state. Another student had complained about the article.

According to the National Post story, York University apologized for the article and President Marsden wrote to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a lobby group based in Washington, D.C., to "inform them proceedings against the student have begun."

SAFS immediately wrote to Dean Peter Hogg and President Lorna Marsden to protest that their actions violated the student's academic freedom and asked them to stop the investigation. In his response to SAFS, Dean Hogg said that Osgoode Hall was obligated to investigate the complaint.

I'm happy to report that Dean Peter Hogg has informed me that the complaint against the student has been withdrawn and that the student is still enroled in the Law School.