April 2007
Vivek Goel,
Vice-President and Provost, University of
Toronto
PDAD&C #38 (2006-07)
Date: February 6, 2007
Re: Upcoming controversial Events On Campus
As been our
custom over the last few years, I am writing to alert you to the fact that over
the coming weeks and months, there are likely to be a number of student group
events and activities which some members of the University community may find
controversial.
The essential purpose of the University is to engage in the
pursuit of truth, the advancement of learning and the dissemination of
knowledge. To achieve this end, all members of the University of Toronto are
afforded full freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of assembly. That
means members may comment on any issue or idea, and also have the right to
criticize the University and society at large.
Discourse and debate have long been recognized as means by
which significant contributions have been made to social and political change
and the advancement of human rights. To enable the free exchange of ideas and
views, the university’s core values include tolerance, mutual respect and
civility. More specifically, the University believes that all members of its
community have the right to study, teach, work, live and debate in an
environment that is inclusive, free of discrimination and harassment on the
basis of individual attributes such as religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation
or gender identity.
As a corollary, the University deplores any
abuse of the rights of freedom of speech and assembly that shuts down the voices
of others or intimidates identifiable individuals and groups. The
administration acknowledges that some forms of expression fall short of the
legal limits on hate speech, but nonetheless are harmful to identifiable members
of our community. The University recognizes that harmful speech is a destructive
force on our campuses and, though not prohibited by law, is repugnant to the
administration.
In its efforts to deal with harmful speech, the
administration will reach out to those individuals and/or communities who are
affected by harmful speech or who as a result, collectively, fear for their
safety. Those who engage in harmful speech will be warned about the damaging
nature of their words and tactics, and urged to advance provocative opinions in
a manner that stimulates the widest range of dialogue and debate in a spirit
consistent with full freedom of expression in an academic setting.
Events with a high likelihood for harmful speech will be
monitored closely for possible violations of University policies and agreements,
and repeated violations may result in loss of access to services in the
University community. Complaints about alleged violations of policy and law
will be investigated promptly by the administration.
Our specific practices in this area have been documented in
several previous memoranda to principals, deans, academic directors and chairs:
The University’s attention to these matters is coordinated
through the office of the Deputy Provost & Vice-Provost, Students. If you have
any questions or concerns related to freedom of speech and campus activities,
please contact Jim Delaney, Associate Director & Senior Policy Advisor, Student
Affairs at 416-978-4027 or jim.delaney@utoronto.ca.
Help us maintain freedom in teaching, research and scholarship by joining SAFS or making a donation.
