Academic freedom under attack
Academic freedom is under attack in Calgary as censors target legitimate academic discussion about aboriginal policy and the soundness of indigenous spirituality as a research methodology.
Joseph Quesnel - November 14, 2008
The Canadian Political Science Association is also decidedly mum about the whole affair.
“The CPSA does not comment on matters of scholarly debate or public policy, or on the work of individual scholars,” was the emailed response from CPSA President Miriam Smith to questions from the Western Standard.
Without making specific mention of the motion put forward by the Women’s Caucus, the CPSA added that, “No specific complaint has been lodged with respect to individual conduct at last year's conference. A group of members have asked us to consider adopting guidelines on professional conduct as well as a mechanism for registering complaints. These suggestions will be considered by the Board and by the members of the CPSA.”
Despite the alleged name-calling, Widdowson says she was not given any clear scholarly reasons why her views were so repugnant and she awaits a full answer when the board meets.
“To this day, Green has not shown me how my presentation was unscholarly or my views offensive,” she says.
Discuss this news story on the Shotgun blog here.
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