[Fdu] Protest City of Regina's censorship of faculty lecture on Palestine solidarity and BDS (Sample Letter)

[Peter Fitting]

Dear colleagues,

As some of you will know, a public lecture titled "Solidarity with Palestine: The Case for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions" was
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
lecture series that was co-sponsored by the Unviersity of Regina.  While the lecture has since been relocated, the issue of silencing and censorship
remains unaddressed by the City and the University President.  Please see below for a sample letter you can write to U of R President, and to City Council.  

Background (media articles): "U of R professors quit lecture series due to censorship":
http://www.leaderpost.com/life/professors+quit+lecture+series+censorship/4921635/story.html
"Profs in the Park complaint came from city administrators"
http://www.leaderpost.com/Profs+Park+complaints+came+from+city+administrators/4929041/story.html
and a recent update on Professor Eaton's relocated lecture http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Profs+Park+series+overcomes+controversy/4946803/story.html

Please take a moment to voice your concerns about this attack on freedom of expression around Palestine solidarity!

1)   Cut and paste the following note to U of R President,  Dr. Vianne Timmons (and feel free to modify/add).

TO:  The.President at uregina.ca
CC:  censored.in.regina at gmail.com, faculty at caiaweb.org

SUBJECT:  Defend academic freedom of Dr. Emily Eaton and freedom of expression on Palestine

Dear President Timmons,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent act of censorship targetting Dr. Emily Eaton's public lecture,
"Solidarity with Palestine: The Case for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions".  

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).  

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.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME, TITLE


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
  
TO:  pfiacco at regina.ca
CC:  censored.in.regina at gmail.com, info at reginadowntown.ca


June 9, 2011
 
Mayor Pat Fiacco
City of Regina
P.O. Box 1790
2476 Victoria Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 3C8
 
To His Worship Mayor Fiacco and Members of Regina City Council,
 
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. 
 
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.
 
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.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
--------------------------------------
 
 
 
Important Addresses and Contact Information:
 
*** PLEASE SEND A CARBON COPY OF ALL LETTERS TO  censored.in.regina at gmail.com ***
 
Mayor Pat Fiacco and Regina City Council
 
 
c/o City of Regina
P.O. Box 1790
2476 Victoria Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 3C8
Phone: 306-777-7000
pfiacco at regina.ca

 
The Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID)
#140 - 2401 Saskatchewan Drive
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada S4P 4H8
 
Phone 306-359-7541
Email: info at reginadowntown.ca
Fax 306-359-9060
 
Board Chair: Colin Perkowitsch
Executive Director: Judith Veresuk

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Points of Information:
 
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. 

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.' 
It is understood that the RDBID granted this request.

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.

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.

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.

As of Friday, June 10, no statement has been issued by Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice Chancellor at the University of Regina
 
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