Calls to ban speaker following controversial UCalgary debate

Protestors gathered at the University of Calgary following an event last week that questioned the use of the term “genocide” in connection with residential schools. Protesters called for the university to remove UCalgary Professor Emeritus Tom Flanagan’s emeritus status and ban him from campus for the comments, while Flanagan contended that the talk was a part of “legitimate academic debate” on the subject. In response to the protest, UCalgary said that it does not take a position on the issues, saying that serving as a site for lawful expression is “the role of a public university.” It added that it is examining its policies to continue to preserve the safety and well-being of the campus community.