The Canadian Association of University Teachers has demanded that Concordia University immediately end its moratorium on matters related to the Middle East. Today, in a public letter to Concordia University’s rector, Frederick Lowy, CAUT president Victor Catano called it “a dark day for Concordia and a dark day for academic freedom in Canada” when Concordia announced its intention to prevent Members of Parliament Svend Robinson and Libby Davies and journalist Judy Rebick from speaking at Concordia on peace and justice in the Middle East. Catano said that restrictions on the use of university space for events, information tables, and materials related to the Middle East are “contrary to the most basic notions of academic freedom that are the bedrock of the university’s role and function in society.” “We call on you and your Board to immediately end your moratorium and affirm your commitment to academic freedom,” said Catano. The Canadian Association of University Teachers is the national voice of 30,000 academic staff working in universities and colleges across the country and is committed to improving the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education.
