CAUT | ACPPU
Canadian Association of University Teachers
| Report on free speech and the Israel lobby on Canadian campuses to be released |
| (Wednesday, November 02, 2011)
- Media representatives are invited to attend the launch of an independent report on the controversy that erupted over a conference on Israel and Palestine held at York University in 2009. No Debate: the Israel Lobby and free speech at Canadian universities looks into allegations of violations of academic freedom and government interference. The report is the result of an independent investigation for the Canadian Association of University Teachers by Dr. Jon Thompson, professor emeritus of the University of New Brunswick and one of Canada's leading experts on academic freedom. Dr. Thompson will present a short summary of his findings and recommendations, followed by questions. Who: Jon Thompson, author James L. Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers What: Book Launch, No Debate: the Israel Lobby and free speech at Canadian universities Where: Room 2003, Ignat Kaneff Building, 92 Scholar's Walk, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University Keele Campus When: Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 12:30 pm No Debate: the Israel Lobby and free speech at Canadian universities During 2008-2009, Israel lobby organizations made concerted efforts to block a planned conference on statehood for Israel and Palestine at Toronto's York University. This book is a report of an independent investigation by author Jon Thompson for the Canadian Association of University Teachers, an organization that has been active in the defence of free speech and academic freedoms which have been challenged on Canadian campuses. Controversy began at York soon after the Israel-Palestine conference was advertised and intensified over the following months. The event was repeatedly denounced, and university administrators were deluged by irate e-mails and phone calls. York, as the host university, was warned of boycotts and the cessation of donations and was denounced in full page newspaper ads. When York and its co-sponsors stood their ground, the Israel lobby persuaded the Harper government to contact SSHRC, an academic funding agency also involved with the event. In response, SSHRC made an unprecedented intervention. The Canadian Association of University Teachers then made a public issue of the government's interference and, in the end, the conference was held as planned. This book establishes the facts of the case, provides a context for understanding it, and explores the meaning of academic freedom in Canada. Author Jon Thompson proposes measures which universities and university faculty members can take to better safeguard their ability to discuss and debate ideas which some may wish to silence. |
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