Carleton students get oppressive

As ridiculous as it sounds, a motion was presented at the council meeting of the Carleton University Students Association (CUSA) in order to prohibit any group opposed to abortion from attaining club status at the University. In other words, if your student club happens to believe that abortion is wrong, you're banned. The motion will be voted upon on December 5th.

The stupid motion was presented by Katy McIntyre, Vice President of CUSA Student Services. She calls it a "Motion to Amend Discrimination on Campus Policy". So here we have it. Being opposed to abortion is a form of discrimination. What's next? Are they going to screen students before admitting them to make sure that they conform to the ideology dictated by CUSA? How about gas chambers for pro-life students? Are we in the USSR or Nazi Germany?

What about freedom of expression and thought? What about tolerance of diversity? Universities are supposed to be places of open-mindedness, designed to widen students' horizons so that they gain a more comprehensive view of the world. That was certainly my experience during my five years of university studies. This "universal" vocation is at the very root of the word "university". Is anybody paying attention?

The CUSA motion is totally in opposition with these goals, by dictating a specific belief system onto students and prohibiting activities of anyone opposed to those beliefs.

Have you noticed that these left-leaning activists make a selective interpretation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? They only quote it when it serves their purposes. That's because they're not really interested in freedom, but rather they want to impose their views. Well, here's a news flash for CUSA and Ms. McIntyre. The Charter states:

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association.

Did you get that CUSA? Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association. Those are the fundamental rights you are trying to repress.

So far, the University authorities have refused to get involved, stating that they don't usually interfere with student activities. Well, I think they need to wake up before Carleton gets labelled as a closed-minded, repressive institution where opposing views are not welcome. In particular, the University's president, Dr. Samy Mahmoud, should realize how much is at stake.

Moreover, if the motion is defeated, Ms. McIntyre should be requested to resign her position for such an intolerant attitude.

If this motion of CUSA disturbs you, please let the president know about your concerns by dropping him an email:

Dr. Samy Mahmoud President and Vice-Chancellor Pro Tempore
presidents_office@carleton.ca