[Music] it’s Canada’s moment in the world and
it’s Canada’s moment in the world and
it’s Canada’s moment in the world and I’ve heard this at more than one
I’ve heard this at more than one
I’ve heard this at more than one institution more than one setting in the
institution more than one setting in the
institution more than one setting in the last few months in the last few weeks
last few months in the last few weeks
last few months in the last few weeks especially but I want to start the
especially but I want to start the
especially but I want to start the conversation with wondering why that is
conversation with wondering why that is
conversation with wondering why that is Canada is absolutely one of the most
Canada is absolutely one of the most
Canada is absolutely one of the most beautiful places in the world but I
beautiful places in the world but I
beautiful places in the world but I don’t think that’s news to anyone
don’t think that’s news to anyone
don’t think that’s news to anyone particularly in this room our national
particularly in this room our national
particularly in this room our national animal majestic yes but hardly the
animal majestic yes but hardly the
animal majestic yes but hardly the object of global envy our art our
object of global envy our art our
object of global envy our art our architecture our literature our science
architecture our literature our science
architecture our literature our science and engineering have all received
and engineering have all received
and engineering have all received international recognition but I don’t
international recognition but I don’t
international recognition but I don’t think that’s it either it’s our food and
think that’s it either it’s our food and
think that’s it either it’s our food and drink except that when I’m traveling a
drink except that when I’m traveling a
drink except that when I’m traveling a lot of my friends who are not Canadian
lot of my friends who are not Canadian
lot of my friends who are not Canadian suggests that our cuisine is based on
suggests that our cuisine is based on
suggests that our cuisine is based on food that looks like it’s mostly a dare
food that looks like it’s mostly a dare
food that looks like it’s mostly a dare I would argue that although all of these
I would argue that although all of these
I would argue that although all of these are part of our national psyche what
are part of our national psyche what
are part of our national psyche what make what is making Canada’s moment in
make what is making Canada’s moment in
make what is making Canada’s moment in the world is our values our charter
the world is our values our charter
the world is our values our charter enshrines a number of values including
enshrines a number of values including
enshrines a number of values including free speech freedom of the press
free speech freedom of the press
free speech freedom of the press language rights and indigenous rights
language rights and indigenous rights
language rights and indigenous rights and I’m going to speak this evening
and I’m going to speak this evening
and I’m going to speak this evening about the indispensable role that
about the indispensable role that
about the indispensable role that universities play in the transmission of
universities play in the transmission of
universities play in the transmission of these values and how they promote the
these values and how they promote the
these values and how they promote the development of ethical citizens who
development of ethical citizens who
development of ethical citizens who debate the values and by doing so extend
debate the values and by doing so extend
debate the values and by doing so extend them most of us when we think about
them most of us when we think about
them most of us when we think about universities think about discovering
universities think about discovering
universities think about discovering innovation the research agenda that
innovation the research agenda that
innovation the research agenda that universities have how our scholarly and
universities have how our scholarly and
universities have how our scholarly and creative work and practice make our
creative work and practice make our
creative work and practice make our country better make our communities
country better make our communities
country better make our communities better and build the very things that we
better and build the very things that we
better and build the very things that we value in community we also tend to think
value in community we also tend to think
value in community we also tend to think about how universities work to teach our
about how universities work to teach our
about how universities work to teach our students and adults about our creative
students and adults about our creative
students and adults about our creative pieces that will teach people to become
pieces that will teach people to become
pieces that will teach people to become a
a
a kurz creators and doers and how these
kurz creators and doers and how these
kurz creators and doers and how these makers creators and doers make our
makers creators and doers make our
makers creators and doers make our communities richer and build them into
communities richer and build them into
communities richer and build them into from the inside out I would argue though
from the inside out I would argue though
from the inside out I would argue though that the single and most simple thing
that the single and most simple thing
that the single and most simple thing that universities do is enable the
that universities do is enable the
that universities do is enable the development of ethical citizens these
development of ethical citizens these
development of ethical citizens these citizens exemplify the Charter and
citizens exemplify the Charter and
citizens exemplify the Charter and commit and they exemplify the
commit and they exemplify the
commit and they exemplify the University’s commitment to diversity
University’s commitment to diversity
University’s commitment to diversity equity and inclusion much of the public
equity and inclusion much of the public
equity and inclusion much of the public discourse is about research teaching
discourse is about research teaching
discourse is about research teaching jobs I’d like to shift that discourse to
jobs I’d like to shift that discourse to
jobs I’d like to shift that discourse to talk about values about how universities
talk about values about how universities
talk about values about how universities fundamentally support our Charter values
fundamentally support our Charter values
fundamentally support our Charter values and how the values of diversity equity
and how the values of diversity equity
and how the values of diversity equity and inclusion result in resilient
and inclusion result in resilient
and inclusion result in resilient communities that are the result of
communities that are the result of
communities that are the result of ethical citizens working together and
ethical citizens working together and
ethical citizens working together and debating together and man I can tell you
debating together and man I can tell you
debating together and man I can tell you University’s debate we debate and then
University’s debate we debate and then
University’s debate we debate and then we debate about the debate and then we
we debate about the debate and then we
we debate about the debate and then we have a debate about that debate often
have a debate about that debate often
have a debate about that debate often our debates are only about things that
our debates are only about things that
our debates are only about things that are interest to ourselves but often
are interest to ourselves but often
are interest to ourselves but often universities debate hard ideas difficult
universities debate hard ideas difficult
universities debate hard ideas difficult ideas ideas that are distasteful to some
ideas ideas that are distasteful to some
ideas ideas that are distasteful to some academic freedom and free and open
academic freedom and free and open
academic freedom and free and open debate are at the heart of what
debate are at the heart of what
debate are at the heart of what universities do and they make us all
universities do and they make us all
universities do and they make us all richer for that it is one of the central
richer for that it is one of the central
richer for that it is one of the central ways in which we uphold our Charter
ways in which we uphold our Charter
ways in which we uphold our Charter values and make for a stronger Canada
values and make for a stronger Canada
values and make for a stronger Canada and we must protect our ability to
and we must protect our ability to
and we must protect our ability to engage in these conversations and
engage in these conversations and
engage in these conversations and protect the freedom of universities to
protect the freedom of universities to
protect the freedom of universities to engage in this research scholarly work
engage in this research scholarly work
engage in this research scholarly work and creative practice to challenge the
and creative practice to challenge the
and creative practice to challenge the status quo regardless of whether we are
status quo regardless of whether we are
status quo regardless of whether we are uncomfortable with it or if it makes us
uncomfortable with it or if it makes us
uncomfortable with it or if it makes us squishy that’s a technical term that
squishy that’s a technical term that
squishy that’s a technical term that these ideas inform our teaching is vital
these ideas inform our teaching is vital
these ideas inform our teaching is vital and allow us to inform our students
and allow us to inform our students
and allow us to inform our students about the points of disagreement among
about the points of disagreement among
about the points of disagreement among our communities about the variety of
our communities about the variety of
our communities about the variety of viewpoints they’re in and giving them
viewpoints they’re in and giving them
viewpoints they’re in and giving them the skills they need to make up their
the skills they need to make up their
the skills they need to make up their own minds and set their own tone for
own minds and set their own tone for
own minds and set their own tone for their own lives but too often
their own lives but too often
their own lives but too often universities and elsewhere the
universities and elsewhere the
universities and elsewhere the respectful and civil discussion of
respectful and civil discussion of
respectful and civil discussion of difficult ideas is not reported and
difficult ideas is not reported and
difficult ideas is not reported and instead the focus is on disruption
instead the focus is on disruption
instead the focus is on disruption leading some people to think that free
leading some people to think that free
leading some people to think that free speech is under attack at universities
speech is under attack at universities
speech is under attack at universities and maybe it is at some universities in
and maybe it is at some universities in
and maybe it is at some universities in some countries I would suggest that this
some countries I would suggest that this
some countries I would suggest that this perspective is a misunderstanding
perspective is a misunderstanding
perspective is a misunderstanding resulting from the reporting of events
resulting from the reporting of events
resulting from the reporting of events and how we engage with the communities
and how we engage with the communities
and how we engage with the communities that surround us let’s be honest we live
that surround us let’s be honest we live
that surround us let’s be honest we live in a post truth world one that has a
in a post truth world one that has a
in a post truth world one that has a viewpoint that not only are people
viewpoint that not only are people
viewpoint that not only are people entitled to their opinions but they’re
entitled to their opinions but they’re
entitled to their opinions but they’re entitled to their own facts
too often we judge debates by whom the
too often we judge debates by whom the pundits said one and how they fit with
pundits said one and how they fit with
pundits said one and how they fit with our own worldview I know that I’m guilty
our own worldview I know that I’m guilty
our own worldview I know that I’m guilty of that but this isn’t a popularity
of that but this isn’t a popularity
of that but this isn’t a popularity contest not in academia one of the
contest not in academia one of the
contest not in academia one of the biggest challenges that have come and
biggest challenges that have come and
biggest challenges that have come and changes that come in society come from
changes that come in society come from
changes that come in society come from people who stand on the sidelines who
people who stand on the sidelines who
people who stand on the sidelines who use their values to say I think this is
use their values to say I think this is
use their values to say I think this is wrong and I think we need to change an
wrong and I think we need to change an
wrong and I think we need to change an academic debate the value is not in
academic debate the value is not in
academic debate the value is not in winning or losing it’s in how you listen
winning or losing it’s in how you listen
winning or losing it’s in how you listen to others how you format your argument
to others how you format your argument
to others how you format your argument and how that argument may change the
and how that argument may change the
and how that argument may change the mind of other people and yourself this
mind of other people and yourself this
mind of other people and yourself this is how the university supports the
is how the university supports the
is how the university supports the Charter and builds communities by
Charter and builds communities by
Charter and builds communities by providing a place like here tonight to
providing a place like here tonight to
providing a place like here tonight to have free and respectful exchange of
have free and respectful exchange of
have free and respectful exchange of ideas too often we see ad hominem
ideas too often we see ad hominem
ideas too often we see ad hominem attacks appeals to populism and the like
attacks appeals to populism and the like
attacks appeals to populism and the like in Yan Verner Mueller’s book what is
in Yan Verner Mueller’s book what is
in Yan Verner Mueller’s book what is populism he argues that people often
populism he argues that people often
populism he argues that people often wouldn’t use the argument of populism
wouldn’t use the argument of populism
wouldn’t use the argument of populism just without defining it very well and
just without defining it very well and
just without defining it very well and using it as a term that loosely
using it as a term that loosely
using it as a term that loosely encapsulates a an idea that evokes the
encapsulates a an idea that evokes the
encapsulates a an idea that evokes the idea that ordinary people are taking
idea that ordinary people are taking
idea that ordinary people are taking power back from elites but too often
power back from elites but too often
power back from elites but too often populism is used to devalue the rights
populism is used to devalue the rights
populism is used to devalue the rights of others to speak the to devalue the
of others to speak the to devalue the
of others to speak the to devalue the legitimate dissemination of ideas of
legitimate dissemination of ideas of
legitimate dissemination of ideas of others this is contrary to the values of
others this is contrary to the values of
others this is contrary to the values of this institution the values of Edmonton
this institution the values of Edmonton
this institution the values of Edmonton and the values of Canada I will say this
and the values of Canada I will say this
and the values of Canada I will say this often I’m asked to give my own opinion
often I’m asked to give my own opinion
often I’m asked to give my own opinion about what is going on in political or
about what is going on in political or
about what is going on in political or social venues I try not to not because I
social venues I try not to not because I
social venues I try not to not because I don’t have an opinion I absolutely do
don’t have an opinion I absolutely do
don’t have an opinion I absolutely do and many of the things that happen
and many of the things that happen
and many of the things that happen dismay me but because someone who’s done
dismay me but because someone who’s done
dismay me but because someone who’s done quite a little bit of research in
quite a little bit of research in
quite a little bit of research in psychology over the years I tend to know
psychology over the years I tend to know
psychology over the years I tend to know that an opinion as a president tends to
that an opinion as a president tends to
that an opinion as a president tends to stifle the opinions of others and not
stifle the opinions of others and not
stifle the opinions of others and not allow the kinds of discourse that I want
allow the kinds of discourse that I want
allow the kinds of discourse that I want to encourage to happen I would
to encourage to happen I would
to encourage to happen I would respectfully posit as well as you’ve
respectfully posit as well as you’ve
respectfully posit as well as you’ve seen tonight there are many other
seen tonight there are many other
seen tonight there are many other scholars in our myths who are far better
scholars in our myths who are far better
scholars in our myths who are far better positioned to give opinions that are
positioned to give opinions that are
positioned to give opinions that are founded in their own research and
founded in their own research and
founded in their own research and scholarly work than myself it’s my job
scholarly work than myself it’s my job
scholarly work than myself it’s my job as the president to make sure they have
as the president to make sure they have
as the president to make sure they have that forum to defend their right to do
that forum to defend their right to do
that forum to defend their right to do that research and to ensure that they
that research and to ensure that they
that research and to ensure that they provide you with the information so that
provide you with the information so that
provide you with the information so that you can make up your own mind on these
you can make up your own mind on these
you can make up your own mind on these opinions and planned positions that
opinions and planned positions that
opinions and planned positions that being said unlike our neighbors to the
being said unlike our neighbors to the
being said unlike our neighbors to the south Canada has laws about what
south Canada has laws about what
south Canada has laws about what constitutes hate speech hate speech I’m
constitutes hate speech hate speech I’m
constitutes hate speech hate speech I’m not a legal scholar hate speech is that
not a legal scholar hate speech is that
not a legal scholar hate speech is that which promotes genocide or promotes
which promotes genocide or promotes
which promotes genocide or promotes hatred towards identifiable groups thus
hatred towards identifiable groups thus
hatred towards identifiable groups thus universities must stand for the legal
universities must stand for the legal
universities must stand for the legal freedom of speech thus I would argue
freedom of speech thus I would argue
freedom of speech thus I would argue though – we need to understand that all
though – we need to understand that all
though – we need to understand that all distasteful and ideas that make us maybe
distasteful and ideas that make us maybe
distasteful and ideas that make us maybe uncomfortable or offend us may not
uncomfortable or offend us may not
uncomfortable or offend us may not actually cross the line into hate speech
actually cross the line into hate speech
actually cross the line into hate speech and there will be times when
and there will be times when
and there will be times when universities have to engage in debate
universities have to engage in debate
universities have to engage in debate about those topics – if these positions
about those topics – if these positions
about those topics – if these positions challenge preconceptions and move across
challenge preconceptions and move across
challenge preconceptions and move across disciplinary borders so much the better
disciplinary borders so much the better
disciplinary borders so much the better as sort of an offside comment I think
as sort of an offside comment I think
as sort of an offside comment I think that the big challenges of today’s
that the big challenges of today’s
that the big challenges of today’s society will require transdisciplinary
society will require transdisciplinary
society will require transdisciplinary approaches to do so so these kinds of
approaches to do so so these kinds of
approaches to do so so these kinds of conversations actually move us in a
conversations actually move us in a
conversations actually move us in a direction that is also consistent with
direction that is also consistent with
direction that is also consistent with the values of a university finally well
the values of a university finally well
the values of a university finally well not quite finally but however we don’t
not quite finally but however we don’t
not quite finally but however we don’t arrive at university with a with a full
arrive at university with a with a full
arrive at university with a with a full debate toolkit I know that I sure don’t
debate toolkit I know that I sure don’t
debate toolkit I know that I sure don’t have them some days to engage with those
have them some days to engage with those
have them some days to engage with those who have very different perspectives and
who have very different perspectives and
who have very different perspectives and realities than I
realities than I
realities than I than we do and to engage in
than we do and to engage in
than we do and to engage in conversations that are hard and
conversations that are hard and
conversations that are hard and challenging about sensitive topics we
challenging about sensitive topics we
challenging about sensitive topics we need to use the opportunities we have at
need to use the opportunities we have at
need to use the opportunities we have at universities to educate our students and
universities to educate our students and
universities to educate our students and ourselves about ways in which we can
ourselves about ways in which we can
ourselves about ways in which we can engage others in these conversations so
engage others in these conversations so
engage others in these conversations so that we can fully fully examine them
that we can fully fully examine them
that we can fully fully examine them from all perspectives to come to a true
from all perspectives to come to a true
from all perspectives to come to a true Canadian perspective on them the last
Canadian perspective on them the last
Canadian perspective on them the last thing I’d like to touch on though is I
thing I’d like to touch on though is I
thing I’d like to touch on though is I wonder sometimes if as Canadians we are
wonder sometimes if as Canadians we are
wonder sometimes if as Canadians we are too reserved to engage in the types of
too reserved to engage in the types of
too reserved to engage in the types of conversations I’ve said I’ve been in too
conversations I’ve said I’ve been in too
conversations I’ve said I’ve been in too many meetings where they have been
many meetings where they have been
many meetings where they have been dominated by one viewpoint only to find
dominated by one viewpoint only to find
dominated by one viewpoint only to find out afterwards that the majority
out afterwards that the majority
out afterwards that the majority viewpoint was not the same as that and
viewpoint was not the same as that and
viewpoint was not the same as that and many people remained silent indeed we
many people remained silent indeed we
many people remained silent indeed we have a number of examples globally where
have a number of examples globally where
have a number of examples globally where I suspect many people and the majority
I suspect many people and the majority
I suspect many people and the majority are silent and only a small minority of
are silent and only a small minority of
are silent and only a small minority of people are expressing an opinion
people are expressing an opinion
people are expressing an opinion I urge each and every one of you to
I urge each and every one of you to
I urge each and every one of you to stand up to use the rights and freedoms
stand up to use the rights and freedoms
stand up to use the rights and freedoms that we have from the Charter to engage
that we have from the Charter to engage
that we have from the Charter to engage in expressing your opinion it is
in expressing your opinion it is
in expressing your opinion it is worthwhile so if we are to remain strong
worthwhile so if we are to remain strong
worthwhile so if we are to remain strong and free as universities and communities
and free as universities and communities
and free as universities and communities to advance the Canadian agenda and to
to advance the Canadian agenda and to
to advance the Canadian agenda and to remain in Canada’s moment in the world
remain in Canada’s moment in the world
remain in Canada’s moment in the world we need to ensure that universities are
we need to ensure that universities are
we need to ensure that universities are able to focus on free and respectful
able to focus on free and respectful
able to focus on free and respectful discourse about hard topics allowing us
discourse about hard topics allowing us
discourse about hard topics allowing us to develop as ethical citizens and
to develop as ethical citizens and
to develop as ethical citizens and communities which in my opinion is our
communities which in my opinion is our
communities which in my opinion is our most important job and the results of
most important job and the results of
most important job and the results of which you’ve seen tonight thank you
”
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