U of O Watch mission, in the words of Foucault...

"One knows … that the university and in a general way, all teaching systems, which appear simply to disseminate knowledge, are made to maintain a certain social class in power; and to exclude the instruments of power of another social class. … It seems to me that the real political task in a society such as ours is to criticise the workings of institutions, which appear to be both neutral and independent; to criticise and attack them in such a manner that the political violence which has always exercised itself obscurely through them will be unmasked, so that one can fight against them." -- Foucault, debating Chomsky, 1971.

U of O Watch mission, in the words of Socrates...

"An education obtained with money is worse than no education at all." -- Socrates

video of president allan rock at work

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Professor Alain St-Amant on public discourse and academic freedom


Professor Alain St-Amant, Chairman, Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, is a well know and dedicated contributor to this blog. He has been candidate for Dean of the Faculty of Science and is a dedicated teacher with high student evaluations in his large chemistry courses.
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This recent email exchange (below) suggests that Professor St-Amant has inside information about the University’s plan (see LINK) to dismiss Denis Rancourt.
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Professor St-Amant’s position (below) is aligned with the University Administration’s position regarding public discourse and accountability.
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QUESTION:
From: Denis Rancourt (Professor, Physics)
Sent: February 27, 2009 6:02 PM
To: Alain St-Amant (Chairman, Chemistry)
Cc: Andre E. Lalonde (Dean, Science); Allan Rock (President); Vice-recteur Etudes (VP-Academic); Nathalie Des Rosiers (VP-Governance)
Subject: Public discourse and academic freedom
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February 27, 2009
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Alain St-Amant
Chairman
Department of Chemistry
University of Ottawa
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Re: Public discourse and academic freedom
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Dear Professor St-Amant,
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You were scheduled to debate me on Rogers TV (Talk Ottawa) Thursday February 26 2009. But then I was informed that you cancelled at the last minute because of internal university pressure.
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This is very unfortunate. You have been outspoken on my blog UofOWatch.blogspot.com but a TV audience would be more beneficial.
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You have publicly stated that you recommend that our university colleagues contribute to the public discourse about my activities and contribute to setting the record straight, yet you refused to participate in the Rogers TV interview.
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I don't understand? You have academic freedom. You have tenure. You have opinions that you believe would benefit society, yet you accept to be muzzled by administrative or peer pressure?
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Please clarify. Why deprive the public of your insights and knowledge? Or, have you decided to spend the time instead increasing your scientific impact factor (h-index)?
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I am putting the administration in cc so that it can be alerted to this potential threat to academic freedom.
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Sincerely,
Denis Rancourt
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ANSWER:
Subject: RE: Public discourse and academic freedom
From: Alain St-Amant (Chairman, Chemistry)
Date: Sat, 28 February, 2009 12:35 am
To: Denis Rancourt (Professor, Physics)
Cc: Andre E. Lalonde (Dean, Science); Allan Rock (President); Vice-recteur Etudes (VP-Academic); Nathalie Des Rosiers (VP-Governance)
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Dennis,
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I refuse to enter a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
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(But for the record, there was zero pressure from Tabaret and it ultimately came down to me taking the advice of my trusted circle of colleagues, first and foremost my wife)
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This will be the last you will hear from me on this matter.
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Enjoy the paycheques while they last,
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Professor Alain St-Amant
Chair, Department of Chemistry
University of Ottawa
(613) 562-5769
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[Note: Tabaret Hall is the central administration building, U of O]
[Photo credit: University of Ottawa]

U of O protects the campus visual environment from inflammatory material capable of inciting confrontation

In the interest of creating a sterile zone where students are free to develop and grow…?
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(Don’t miss President Allan Rock’s upcoming March 5th lecture entitled “Canadian Perspectives”.)
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From the media office of the University of Ottawa:
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"News Releases & Announcements
Statement regarding Posting Regulations"
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"OTTAWA, February 23, 2009 — Under University of Ottawa policies, the administration has the right and the responsibility to ensure that all posters comply with the Posting Regulations before they are displayed on a bulletin board owned by the University. The regulations set out principles to be applied in considering such requests.
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One of the posters in relation to Israeli Apartheid Week was found to be inconsistent with our posting regulations for reasons that included the use of an image that was inflammatory and capable of inciting confrontation."

Monday, February 9, 2009

Activist Teacher banned from campus, arrested, cuffed, and fired


Activist Teacher (aka physics professor Denis Rancourt) was barred from campus on December 10, 2008, and escorted off the premises by university police at the University of Ottawa, under the pretext of having assigned high grades in one physics course (24 students) last winter.

The story has been covered locally (Ottawa), nationally (Canada), and internationally.

The best web site for relevant background, media links, letters of support, official documents, etc., is:
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A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+
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[Photo copyright Pawel Dwulit 2006]