Letter to the editor: Campus protests can be entry point to discussion

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ENTRY POINTS TO DISCUSSION

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Re: U of T prof infiltrated encampment and calls protesters ‘mostly non-students,’ online, May 3

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Universities have failed in allowing such large areas to be taken over by one side of an issue. However, they have failed in a second sense by allowing entry into the encampment areas to be controlled by the protesters.

If one of the purposes of a university is to ensure the peaceful discussion of ideas, the universities should take over the entry points to encampments to ensure that any university community members who wish to peacefully discuss the goals and tactics of the occupiers are allowed admission.

If it would be too confrontational to take over current entry points, they should create additional entry points under the exclusive control of university personnel.

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BRUCE COUCHMAN
OTTAWA

BOLD STATEMENTS, NO EVIDENCE

Re: Can the current universities be saved? April 4

Victor Davis Hanson’s recent column offers numerous bold statements on the sad state of America’s youth, but no supporting evidence. Apparently the mere words of this classics scholar and political commentator are sufficient to convince readers.

Hanson employs the political rather than literal meaning of words such as “radical” and “extremist.” While partly valid, his critique of academia’s “self-perpetuating radical ideologies” and “racial quotas” is devoid of context or historical background.

Hanson has harsh words for foreign students from oppressive regimes who “… see their new-found freedoms as invitations to attack America.” Again, he offers no historical context to explain the behaviour of young people from U.S.-backed dictatorships or those nations suffering under American bombs and drones. Public protest is not an attack, but a moderate response to smart bombs and Hellfire missiles.

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Perhaps the loud protests of foreign students might inspire American youth to question their government’s global behaviour. Hanson should be encouraging these young people whose courage he mistakes for reckless abuse of freedom.

MORGAN DUCHESNEY
OTTAWA

IMAGINE

Please sing this letter to the great John Lennon’s song Imagine.

Imagine no more Justin/ I wonder if we can/ No need for the food bank and hunger/ A land without this “man”/ Imagine all the people affording a home or a lease?/ Yoo hoo hoo may say I’m a dreamer/ But I’m really not that dumb/ I hope at the next election/ The World will get rid of Pierre Trudeau’s son.”

TERRY TOLL
CAMPBELL’S BAY

HAVE YOUR SAY

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