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It has been said that the things on which you stay silent mean as much as what you say. In that context, I feel the need to add my thoughts (thread) on something that blew up Sat. around @MountRoyal4u faculty member @FrancesWiddows1. https://twitter.com/RacialAdvMRU/status/1289727627515707392">https://twitter.com/RacialAdv...
In a tweet that now appears to be deleted, she defended the use of racial epithets and Students and alumni called for @MountRoyal4u to remove her from her position. Other faculty expressed what I will describe as disgust at her comments.
Predictably, @FrancesWiddows1 has taken exception, on the grounds that Members of the @MRFAFaculty Assoc executive have weighed in. The concern is that she is being attacked for issues of Academic Freedom.
She ought to be defended by the @MRFAFaculty, and she believes that defence is compromised when other faculty express opposition to statements. Our Collective Agreement (23.3) specifies that:
“Academic staff shall not be hindered or impeded in any way by the institution or the faculty association from exercising their legal rights as citizens, nor shall they suffer any penalties because of the exercise of such legal rights.”
The Cdn Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression” (2b).
This means that faculty have the right to think or believe racist ideas and express them publicly w/o reprisal from the University. It also means that other faculty have the right to identify ideas as racist and publicly oppose them.
Freedoms go both ways. So here is my opposition. It is not OK to use the N-word ever, knowing the pain that it causes those around us. It is a hurtful, irresponsible use of power. Our Collective Agreement also confers this responsibility:
“In exercising the freedom to comment and criticize, academic staff members have a corresponding obligation to use academic freedom in a responsible manner…
… This implies a recognition of the rights of other members of the academic community and a tolerance of differing points of view.” (23.5)
My interpretation of this clause denies faculty carte blanche freedom to say whatever we want under the protection of Academic Freedom.
There are other ways to talk about the Pierre Vallieres book (1968) without causing hurt to those for whom we have care. Like this way, for example.
For years, many sports reporters have talked about the Washington Football Team this same way to avoid needlessly causing more hurt to the Indigenous Community.
Academic Freedom is a complicated issue – we aren’t alone in this problem - and @MountRoyal4u may or may not be able to do anything directly about the hurt that @FrancesWiddows1 causes students and other faculty.
I’m not in a position to adjudicate this – that is for @MountRoyal4u executive and @MRFAFaculty to work out. I believe Article 23.5 gives them the room to do something. - @TimRahilly
If I were a student, I would avoid taking any classes from her. It can be difficult to avoid certain instructors – there is a STEM program that requires a course only I teach. If that were the case, I would approach my Dean to seek an exemption.
Deans have the power to allow substitutions for required courses. This is mostly used so students can graduate in spite of scheduling conflicts.
It could also be used when students want to avoid classes from faculty they believe are violating the Guiding Principles of University Code of Conduct. See 2.10 and 2.11
The following guiding principles apply to the conduct of Employees in the course of carrying out their University responsibilities, as appropriate to their role:
2.10 cultivate an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment, free from discrimination, harassment and violence; and
2.11 conduct interactions in a mutually respectful manner, respecting the personal dignity of all, while not limiting the right of participants to challenge beliefs, view and opinions and to engage in rational debate.
The rights conferred by Academic Freedom are not absolute, and there are Responsibilities that are explicitly stated in our Collective Agreement and our Code of Conduct that I believe @FrancesWiddows1 fails to consider appropriately.
So believe whatever racist ideas you like, and share them publicly if you want. But don’t be shocked when you get called out for them by other faculty. I don’t support what you say, or how you choose to say it. That’s not MY @MountRoyal4u.
