January 2011
Carleton University’s official student
association has banned the Ottawa institution’s anti-abortion club, offering it
just one way to get back into good graces: support abortion rights.
On Monday, the Carleton University Student
Association (CUSA), decertified Carleton Lifeline for its anti-abortion views.
It told the club that being against abortion violated CUSA’s anti-discrimination
policy, but that it could get recertified in a day or two.
“We invite you to amend your constitution
to create one that respects our anti-discrimination policy as laid out above,”
wrote Khaldoon Bushnaq, CUSA’s vice-president of internal affairs. “If you are
able to resubmit a constitution that meets our criteria by Thursday, November
18th we will be able to certify your club for this semester.”
Ruth Lobo, the president of Carleton
Lifeline, said CUSA assumes all students are “pro-choice,” which is not
necessarily the case. Its policy, she said, smacked of hypocrisy.
“It’s very ironic that they have a
discrimination policy that allows them to discriminate against pro-life groups,”
she said. “CUSA claims to be representative of all students. As a pro-life
student I am not represented by an organization I am forced to pay dues to in my
tuition. Either they should create a policy in which students can opt out of
fees or get rid of the discrimination policy,” Ms. Lobo said.
“Pro-choice should also mean that a woman
has the right to not have an abortion, so I think CUSA is being anti-choice by
not allowing people to hear the other side.”
CUSA did not return phone calls on Tuesday.
The Canadian Federation of Students, an umbrella group for student associations,
said it does not get involved with local matters on specific campuses.
The letter from Mr. Bushnaq noted Carleton
Lifeline believes in the “equal rights of the unborn and firmly believes that
abortion is a moral and legal wrong.” Therefore, because of CUSA’s commitment to
the pro-abortion-rights position, Carleton Lifeline can no longer promote its
views on campus or lobby in any way that would oppose that position.
It can no longer book space for advocacy or
events, nor is it eligible for funding.
Ottawa lawyer Albertos Polizogopoulos, who
is defending the Lifeline students, said CUSA’s “appalling” decision goes
against all principles of free speech.
In a letter to CUSA, Mr. Polizogopoulos
noted that CUSA’s own constitution, which overrides all bylaws and policies
enacted by CUSA, calls for “maintaining an academic and social environment free
from prejudice, exploitation, abuse or violence on the basis of, but not limited
to, sex, race, language, religion, age, national or social status, political
affiliation or belief, sexual orientation or marital status.”
Mr. Polizogopoulos continued: “Since the
Discrimination on Campus Policy explicitly calls for the discrimination
[against] individuals on the basis of their political belief that life begins at
conception, [therefore] it cannot, according to CUSA’s Constitution, continue to
be in effect.”
Late on Tuesday Carleton University said in
a statement: “CUSA is an independent, incorporated organization; they operate
independently of the university and the university plays no role in and has no
standing with regard to CUSA’s decision making.”
The Carleton Lifeline became certified in
2006 after a failed attempt by CUSA to keep the club off campus.
Ms. Lobo said she can only speculate why
CUSA decided to ban them now but she assumes that it is related to an incident
involving the club last month.
On Oct. 4, Ms. Lobo and four other students
were arrested on campus by Ottawa police for attempting to display graphic
anti-abortion posters. The police were called in by the school administration
and the students were charged with trespassing. The case is still pending.
John Carpay, a civil liberties lawyer from
Calgary, who has dealt with similar bans on anti-abortion groups, said CUSA’s
offer to reinstate the club if they agree to endorse abortion rights can only be
laughed at. “That’s awfully generous of them to offer an opportunity for
repentance,” said Mr. Carpay. “But it is truly alarming that CUSA would so
easily suppress free speech. It’s tragic.”
National Post, November 16, 2010
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