Law Matters John Carpay
The abuse of university applying security fees as a censorship tool to suppress unpopular speech on campus will be considered by the Alberta Court of Appeal on Nov. 28.
In 2016, the University of Alberta demanded a $17,500 security fee from the student group UAlberta Pro-Life, as a condition for setting up a stationary display on campus for two days. This demand came after the U of A had deliberately condoned the physical obstruction, interruption and blockading of a campus pro-life display in 2015. U of A Campus Security repeatedly told the obstructionists and blockaders that they were violating the University’s Code of Student Behaviour.
Campus security was in possession of a large volume of photos and videos, and even Facebook screen-shots in which these obstructing bullies bragged publicly about how successful they were in silencing those with whom they disagree. But neither the leaders of, nor the participants in, this illegal activity faced any consequences. By deliberately condoning mob rule, the U of A repudiated the rule of law.
Security fee censorship is a national problem.
In March of 2018, Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) allowed “protesters” to shut down a campus event featuring former Sun News and Rebel Media reporter Faith Goldy, hosted by the Laurier Society for Open Inquiry. Her talk was cancelled because a student opposed to the event pulled the fire alarm, in the context of a showy parade by Antifa, the oft-times violent anti-fascist group. WLU has failed to identify or sanction the individual who pulled the fire alarm. WLU has made no public statement condemning the act or its perpetrator.
A month later, WLU demanded payment of $5,473 from the Laurier Society for Open Inquiry (LSOI) to host Mount Royal University political science professor Frances Widdowson as a speaker. Most of Widdowson’s views are left-wing, but she rejects political correctness when it comes to aboriginal policy. By demanding $5,473 from penniless students just to listen to a speaker, WLU rewarded those who broke the university’s rules and who effectively shut down the Faith Goldy event in March.
A second attempt was made to host Faith Goldy as speaker at the University of Waterloo, which demanded $28,500 in security fees. Predictably, the event did not go ahead due to the cost constraints.
In the fall of 2018, WLU demanded $8,055 in security fees from LSOI to host Meghan Murphy of the blog and podcast “Feminist Current.” Murphy is politically incorrect when it comes to transgender issues, rejecting the idea that men should have access to female-only places simply by “identifying” as women. Once again, the possibility of disruptive protests and physical obstruction by hard-left activists has become a justification for using security fees to shut down the thoughtful analysis of differing opinions.
Security costs would be minimal or non-existent if universities simply enforced their own, existing policies against the disruption of campus activities and events. But universities refuse to discipline physically obstructive “protesters” who use every tactic short of violence to shut down events, displays, conferences and speakers they disagree with.
If universities still had reason to be concerned about the cost of providing adequate security, invoices should be rendered to the loud, disruptive and sometimes violent “protesters” who are the sole source of the problem on campus.
Security fees charged by WLU, the U of A, and other universities are grossly unfair. Students wanting to proclaim an idea on campus, whether the idea is popular or not, are participating in the very purpose of the university: to pursue truth through frank expression and honest debate. In contrast, blockaders, obstructionists and “protesters” who shut down events are hostile to the university’s purpose.
Imposing security fees on innocent students motivates violence (and threats of violence) from opponents of speakers. In effect, the policy grants the heckler’s veto. An opponent of an event can thwart the event by threatening violence, and so increase the security fees charged to the event host.
When Golda Meir was Prime Minister of Israel, her male cabinet colleagues suggested placing a curfew on women, to help end a series of rapes. Meir replied: “But it is the men who are attacking the women. If there is to be a curfew, let the men stay at home.” Golda Meir’s clear logic is lost on WLU, the University of Alberta, and other universities across Canada, who insist on blaming the victims of mob censorship.
