darch 19th, 1993 ©

the Other Press.

 

White Supremacists
Speak at U of Toronto Class

Opportunity to examine racism goes awry

 

by Simona Chiose

TORONTO (CUP) — White power
group the Heritage Front is the
University of Toronto’s newest fan.

That was the message on the
group’s hotline last week aftera U of
T political science professor invited
the group’s leaders to speak in his
class last Wednesday.

The hotline, which is currently
before the Human Rights
Commission on charges that it
broadcasts hate propaganda against
visibly identifiable groups, gave
“special thanks to the University of
Toronto for providing an open
marketplace of ideas.”

Last October, the Federal Court
of Canada upheld an injunction
banning the hotline, also based on
charges of inciting hatred.

Anti-racist groups are outra
that U of T at aS the tte
supremacist group’s good books by
Biving a forum to Heritage Front
leaders Wolfgang Droege and Gary
Shipper, as well as to a member of
another white supremacist
organization, The Church of the
Creator.

“They don’t belong on a
university campus, they belong on
the margins of Canadian society,”
said Robert Funk, of the B’Nai Brith
League for Human Rights.

ButforProfessorJosephFletcher,
his third-year political science class
—where students had been studying
politicaland racialintoleranceall
— was precisely the forum in which
to examine white su first-
hand. So after a majority of his 35-

 

person class voted in favour of the.

proposal, Fletcher invited the
HeritageFronttofield questions from
students who he says wereinformed
and critical.

“The class studied extensively
from statistical materialand academic
studies, but the students felt they
needed to learn from the real thing
rather than simply study from
books,” said Fletcher.

“We brought them in to study
racial intolerance; there were many
critical questions and thoughtful
probing of these people’s replies.”

But by other accounts, the visit
didn’t go as Fletcher had planned.
After a two-hour question-and-
answer period in the class — which
was designed to prevent the group
from havinganopenforum tolecture
on their views — the group handed
out their monthly newsletter to
students. The materials included
photos of David Duke and of one
man giving a “Heil Hitler” salute.

Scott McGroarty, the class
representative tothe Political Science
Students Union, says he and his
classmates weren't for what
he now sees as a skillfully-executed
public relations coup maneuvered
by the Heritage Frontin order togain
legitimacy.

Apart from students’ accounts -

of their personal knowledge of the
group, he says no specific readi
Palen tebohet of tha lertiag®
Front was given to the class before
the visit.

“When I looked later at the
material they (the Heritage Front)
left, there was no relation between
the material they gave us and the
group’s representationofthemselves
during the class,” he said.

But the faculty association, the
chair of the political science
department, and U of T president
Robert Prichard are standing behind
Fletcher's actions, saying the visit is
within the framework ofanacademic
course on racial intolerance.

“We fully support academic
freedom and itseems the framework

McGroarty said although he
believes in freedom of speech—even
for those whose views might be
considered unpalatable — the
Heritage Front “exploited the class,
they exploited theopportunity, itwas
like watching David Dukecampaign
for the presidency.”

He said Front members evaded
questions from students and
successfully portrayed themselves as
“friendly”.

“1 asked them, ‘What is your
affiliation with the KKK?’ and

Wolfgang Droege said he used to be
a member but they are no longer

affiliated with the group. They said
the KKK was exploited by the media,
that they're really not a violent
organization.”

For anti-racist groups, the
Heritage Front is anything but
“friendly” andif they cameacross that
way, it is proof that what went on in
theclassroom did notfurtheracademic
study.

“They don’t tell the truth about
what they believe,” said Harriet Shaw
(a pseudonym), a member of Anti-
Racist Action, a youth group which
has rallied against the Heritage Front.

Film Made to Help
High School Students

 

 

by Lennox White
TORONTO (CUP) — Question
Everythingis the titleand message of

an independent film being made to
help high school students become
more critical of their education.

“It’s the imperative we want to
get out to everybody, [that] you
shouldn’t really accept anything,
question it first,” said David
Sutherland, the film’s director and
writer.

Sutherland has been working
on the project along with Jennifer
Holness, a York University graduate.
They hopetosell the film to boards of
education.

The film will focus on the
educational process, with an
emphasis on science. The producers

thefilm willencouragestudents
to be critical of the information they
are ted with in their search for
knowledge.

“We're looking at ways to have
students become more interested in

school,” said Holness.

According to Sutherland, “the
idea for the film partially came froma
reaction to the ic based theories
of (Philippe) Rushton.”

Rushtonisapsychol fessor
at the University of Western Ontario
who is known for his controversial
theory of racial hierarchy. He claims
it’sscientifically possible torankcertain
Taces as superior to others.

Both Sutherland and Holness cite
this as an example of work that must
be questioned.

The script is in the last stages of
development. Principle photography
is slated to begin in May.

 

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was there,” said Prichard.

      

The sooner,

Important Notice:

Are you planning to attend Douglas
College in September 1993?

Douglas College will be using a new telephone registration
system for students enroling in the Fall semester
(September 1993) at either the New Westminster or
Thomas Haney Centre (Maple Ridge) campuses.

To improve your chances of getting the courses you want,
you must apply to the College by June 1, 1993. Please
remember that you must include all official high school and
post-secondary transcripts with your application.
Incomplete applications will not be processed.

The telephone registration period will be from July 5 to July
23, 1993. All Douglas College students will be sent a
detailed information package including their scheduled time

For more information on the new telephone
registration system call 527-5478 or come in person to:

a The Office of the Registrar, Douglas College,
Room 4600, 700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster
= The Thomas Haney Centre, 23000-116th Avenue,

Douglas College...a tradition of excellence

 

a
the better...

 

Schools Pulling “y

Out of CFS

OTTAWA (CUP) — Despite
appearances, the withdrawal of two
major universities from the
Canadian Federation of Studentslast
month is not heralding the demise
of the student lobby group, says its
chair.

Students at both the University
of Saskatchewanand the University
of Waterloocastreferendum ballots
in favor of pulling out of CFS in
February.

But Kelly Lamrock, the
organization’s national chair, said
the referendum results donot mean
the student lobby is losing its

: ie influence. : ‘ os
“You have to put it in context, because membership goes in cycles,”

he said.

The pullout could cost CFS as much as $132,000 per year. The
federation is funded through a $4 levy on the tuition fees of students at
member universities. ’

Douglas College pulled out of the CFS last year, although the legality
of the vote has been questioned by the CFS.

Some Women Question
Significance of Topless Acquittal

TORONTO (CUP) — Five women, including a University of Toronto
staff member, were acquitted Mar. 1 onindecency charges for baring their
breasts in public.

Anne Hansen, a secretary at U of T’s University College, said she is
happy with, but not surprised by, the judge’s decision.

“We were well-represented and common sense was on our side,”
she said.

Hansen and four other women were charged with committing an
indecent act last summer when they bared their breasts at a rally in
support of Gwen Jacobs.

Jacobs, a Guelph eu student, was convicted of indecency
after she went topless on a hot day in July, 1991.

Becki Ross, a professor at U of T’s New College, says the acquittal
won’t change women’s social status.

“1 interpret the acquittal as a symbolic victory, but in no way does
this ruling legislate gender equality. The state has a healthy appetite for
criminalizing women’s bodies through obscenity and prostitution
legislation,” she said.

Foreign Students Soaked
Because of Manitoba Budget Blitz

WINNIPEG (CUP) — Just when Manitoba students thought things
couldn't get any tougher — they did.

Last week, Manitoba Education and Training Minister
Vodrey announced a two per cent funding cut for the province's
universities. According to a government news release, the 1993-94 grant
will be $204.4 million, more than $3 million less than last year.

Vodrey alsoannounced that foreign students would have to pay a 75
percent premium —about $2,000— on top of their regular tuition. Other
students will face tuition fee increases of up to five per cent for 1993-94.

University of Manitoba President Arnold Naimark predicted tough
times for his school.

“All in all, the impact on the University of Manitoba will be very
severe,” he said at a Feb. 25 Board of Governors meeting. “We are facing
an extremely difficult year ahead which will impact every aspect of the
university.”

York Raises Student Entrance
Grade, Slashes Student Enrolment

TORONTO (CUP) — Massive enrolment cutbacks have pushed York
University’s cut-off vee a lofty 78 per cent.

Ata presentation of the university’s academic budget in February,
Vice President Sheldon Levy said the “monster” cuts are part of a plan to
reduce over-enrolment at York.

In the past, York inflated its enrolment in order to receive more
government funding but the provincial New Democrats have refused to
cover the extra students, said Levy. As a result, York has approximately
4,000 students who are not covered by provincial oe

There are currently 43,235 studentsat York, making it Canada’s third
largest university. The administration plans to reduce the population by
2,800 over the next four years, Levy said.

“Next year the applications to York look like they are going through
nehrrp Everyone knows weareplanningamajorreductioninenrolment,”

OFS No More — Changes Moniker

OTTAWA (CUP) —The Ontario Federation of Students is no more. Well,
not quite.
“DES changed its name to the Canadian Federation of Students-
Ontario at its general meeting held Feb. 28 to March 4 at the University of
Guelph.
owever, the e represents more than a simple aesthetic
makeover for the student lobby group.
By ing its name to CFS-O, the organization has ensured its
members will joinboth the provincial federationandits federal counterpart,
the Canadian Federation of Students. Previously, OFS members were not
obliged to become CFS members.
“This way, our lobbying efforts will be enhanced,” said CFS-O chair

Ken Craft. “The same message (from CFS and CFS-O) will be sent to the
government.”
CFS-O is composed of 30 graduate and undergraduate students’
associations from across Ontario. CFS and CFS-O lobby all levels of
governmentinthenameof students’ interests. Every year, members of the
provincial group are sent to the CFS annual general meeting to represent
the views of Ontario students.

 

 

 

 

 

a gf

 

 

 

$5- dougies college