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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Dear colleagues,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As some of you will know, a public lecture titled "Solidarity with
Palestine: The Case for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions" was</DIV>
<DIV>targetted and cancelled in Regina last week. As a result, Faculty
member Emily Eaton was barred from delivering her lecture at "Profs in the
Park", a</DIV>
<DIV>lecture series that was co-sponsored by the Unviersity of Regina.
While the lecture has since been relocated, the issue of silencing and
censorship</DIV>
<DIV>remains unaddressed by the City and the University President. Please
see below for a <STRONG><FONT face="comic sans ms,sans-serif">sample
letter</FONT></STRONG> you can write to U of R President, and to City
Council. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Background (media articles): <EM>"U of R professors quit lecture series due
to censorship":</EM></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.leaderpost.com/life/professors+quit+lecture+series+censorship/4921635/story.html"
target=_blank>http://www.leaderpost.com/life/professors+quit+lecture+series+censorship/4921635/story.html</A></DIV>
<DIV><EM>"Profs in the Park complaint came from city administrators"</EM></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.leaderpost.com/Profs+Park+complaints+came+from+city+administrators/4929041/story.html">http://www.leaderpost.com/Profs+Park+complaints+came+from+city+administrators/4929041/story.html</A></DIV>
<DIV><EM>and a recent update on Professor Eaton's relocated lecture</EM> <A
href="http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Profs+Park+series+overcomes+controversy/4946803/story.html">http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Profs+Park+series+overcomes+controversy/4946803/story.html</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Please take a moment to voice your concerns about this attack on
freedom of expression around Palestine solidarity!</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1) Cut and paste the following note to U of R
President, Dr. Vianne Timmons (and feel free to modify/add).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>TO: <FONT color=#000000><A href="mailto:The.President@uregina.ca"
target=_blank>The.President@uregina.ca</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>CC: <A href="mailto:censored.in.regina@gmail.com"
target=_blank>censored.in.regina@gmail.com</A>, <A
href="mailto:faculty@caiaweb.org" target=_blank>faculty@caiaweb.org</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>SUBJECT: Defend academic freedom of Dr. Emily Eaton and freedom of
expression on Palestine</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dear President Timmons,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent act
of censorship targetting Dr. Emily Eaton's public lecture,</DIV>
<DIV>"Solidarity with Palestine: The Case for Boycotts, Divestment and
Sanctions". </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I call upon you to issue a public statement defending Dr. Eaton's
academic freedom and her rights under the Charter. Further, as a staff
member of the University of Regina whose rights were violated during the course
of her employment at the U of R, you should ensure that Dr. Eaton has the full
support and backing of the U of R as she seeks redress for this violation
(including any and all fees incurred if she chooses to seek redress through
legal channels). </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Finally, I highly commend the leadership of Faculty of Arts Dean
Richard Kleer along with the professors who withdrew their consent to
participate in the "Profs in the Park" series after the censorship. I
strongly urge you to join the Dean and your colleagues in opposing censorship
and in defending the right to freedom of speech about Palestine for all members
of the university community.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sincerely,</DIV>
<DIV>YOUR NAME, TITLE</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2) You can also add your voice to the letter-writing
campaign to the Mayor and City Council of Regina: SAMPLE LETTER, talking
points and e-mail address below</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>TO: <A href="mailto:pfiacco@regina.ca"
target=_blank>pfiacco@regina.ca</A></DIV>
<DIV>CC: <A href="mailto:censored.in.regina@gmail.com"
target=_blank>censored.in.regina@gmail.com</A>, <A
href="mailto:info@reginadowntown.ca"
target=_blank>info@reginadowntown.ca</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>June 9, 2011<BR> <BR>Mayor Pat Fiacco<BR>City of Regina<BR>P.O. Box
1790<BR>2476 Victoria Avenue<BR>Regina, Saskatchewan<BR>S4P 3C8<BR> <BR>To
His Worship Mayor Fiacco and Members of Regina City Council,<BR> <BR>It has
come to our attention that the University of Regina in conjunction with the
Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID) co-sponsored a
public lecture series entitled "Profs in the Park". We understand that
shortly after the announcement of the schedule and topics of the lecture, U of R
Geography Professor Emily Eaton, whose lecture was entitled "Solidarity with
Palestine: The Case for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Against Israel," was
informed through a representative of the RDBID that the topic of her lecture was
under scrutiny and then that her lecture was cancelled. Given the RDBID's
position, Richard Kleer, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, with the support of
Dr. Eaton's colleagues who were to speak in the 'Profs in the Park,' withdrew
their names from participation in the lecture in solidarity with Dr. Eaton and
in defense of freedom of speech. Finally, we understand that the RDBIDs
decision came after a request of one or more representatives of the City of
Regina. <BR> <BR>We are very disturbed by these developments and believe
that the RDBID's action at the behest of representatives of the City of Regina
constitutes a violation of Dr. Emily Eaton's protected rights under the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is an affront to academic freedom. As a
result, we are requesting that Mayor Pat Fiacco and all members of Regina City
Council, issue a joint statement in support of Dr. Eaton's right to academic
freedom and freedom of speech. Further, we ask that an investigation be
undertaken to discover the source of the demands to censor Dr. Eaton, that those
who conducted themselves in violation of Dr. Eaton's Charter Rights have their
names publicized and held accountable for their actions. Finally, we
request that an official public apology be offered from both institutions to Dr.
Eaton along with redress to her satisfaction.<BR> <BR>We fully support the
intention of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina along with the U of
R's Centre for Continuing Education decision to reschedule the lecture series
with the unaltered inclusion of Dr. Eaton's lecture "Solidarity with Palestine:
The Case for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Against Israel." We further
commit to defending academic freedom and the rights protected under Canada?s
Charter of Rights and Freedoms now, and in the
future.<BR> <BR>Sincerely,<BR> <BR> <BR>--------------------------------------<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR><STRONG>Important
Addresses and Contact Information:<BR></STRONG> <BR>*** PLEASE SEND A
CARBON COPY OF ALL LETTERS TO <A
href="mailto:censored.in.regina@gmail.com"
target=_blank>censored.in.regina@gmail.com</A> ***<BR> <BR>Mayor Pat Fiacco
and Regina City Council<BR> <BR> <BR>c/o City of Regina<BR>P.O. Box
1790<BR>2476 Victoria Avenue<BR>Regina, Saskatchewan<BR>S4P 3C8<BR>Phone: <A
href="tel:306-777-7000" target=_blank
value="+13067777000">306-777-7000</A><BR><A href="mailto:pfiacco@regina.ca"
target=_blank>pfiacco@regina.ca</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR> <BR>The Regina Downtown Business Improvement District
(RDBID)<BR>#140 - 2401 Saskatchewan Drive<BR>Regina, Saskatchewan<BR>Canada S4P
4H8<BR> <BR>Phone <A href="tel:306-359-7541" target=_blank
value="+13063597541">306-359-7541</A><BR>Email: <A
href="mailto:info@reginadowntown.ca"
target=_blank>info@reginadowntown.ca</A><BR>Fax <A href="tel:306-359-9060"
target=_blank value="+13063599060">306-359-9060</A><BR> <BR>Board Chair:
Colin Perkowitsch<BR>Executive Director: Judith Veresuk</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Points of Information:<BR></STRONG> <BR>The Faculty of Arts at
the University of Regina partnered with the Regina Downtown Business Improvement
District (RDBID) to promote a summer-long speakers series entitled ?Profs in the
Park? which aimed to deliver free weekly public talks over noon-hours in
Regina?s Victoria Park. 12 talks in total were scheduled.
<DIV><BR>Soon after the publication of the schedule of speakers and topics, it
is understood that the RDBID was contacted by one or more representatives of the
City of Regina requesting to cancel Dr. Emily Eaton?s lecture entitled
'Solidarity with Palestine: The Case for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions
Against Israel.' <BR>It is understood that the RDBID granted this request.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>While RDBID contends that it offered a compromise to Dr. Eaton, Dr.
Eaton says that a representative of the RDBID communicated to her that the topic
of her lecture was under scrutiny and subsequently that the lecture was
cancelled. No other compromise was offered.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>As a result of the decision by the RDBID to censor Dr. Eaton?s lecture
topic, the Dean of the Faculty of arts, Richard Kleer along with all 11 other
participants in the ?Profs in the Park? series have agreed to withdraw from the
initiative in solidarity with Dr. Emily Eaton.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>The Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina, in conjunction with
the University of Regina?s Centre for Continuing Education are currently
rescheduling the lecture series which will include all 12 lectures including Dr.
Eaton?s as originally planned. The location of the series is to be
announced and the RDBID will not be co-sponsoring the series.</DIV>
<DIV><BR>As of Friday, June 10, no statement has been issued by Dr. Vianne
Timmons, President and Vice Chancellor at the University of
Regina<BR> <BR></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>