The Battle for the Soul of the University

Professor Andrew Irvine believes that provocative ideas—like the notion that Canada is an illegitimate, genocidal state—should be permitted on campus almost unconditionally when expressed by students or professors. But when the administration itself states an opinion, it signals which ideas will and will not be treated approvingly. He thinks that this kind of institutional favouritism should be anathema at a liberal university, where free debate is supposed to flourish.