September 2000
In mid-July, 1999, the Psychology Department at Wilfrid Laurier University
circulated an advertisement for a faculty position. Specifically, the ad
included the statement “The department is attempting to address a gender
imbalance in its department, and therefore will hire a woman for this position…”
A fair number of SAFS members wrote letters to various senior administrators
at Wilfrid Laurier University to protest the ad and to request that it
be withdrawn. As well, the ad sparked media interest, and in the next several
months the issue received attention all across Canada from newspapers,
radio, and television.
In October, 1999, Clive Seligman formally complained to the Ontario
Human Rights Commission about Wilfrid Laurier University’s sex discrimination.
In December, the lawyer for Wilfrid Laurier University responded to the
complaint by challenging Seligman’s legal standing to complain. In February,
2000, Seligman rebutted Wilfrid Laurier’s claim. There the issue sits,
awaiting a decision by the Ontario Human Rights Commission as to whether
they will hear the complaint or not. The Ontario Human Rights Code also
allows the Commission to hear complaints on its on initiative.
In the meantime, the Psychology Department at Wilfrid Laurier University
has announced that it will not continue its discriminatory job hiring next
year. This decision was decided by a close vote in the department, the
tie vote being cast by the department chair. Neither the psychology department
nor the university has admitted that the policy was wrong.
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