Censorship Kills Culture

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Censorship Kills Culture

on September 16, 2018

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Culture Wars: Professor Rick Mehta Fired in Free Speech Battle

The three things most troubling about Acadia University’s firing of psychology professor Rick Mehta are the secrecy surrounding Acadia’s decision, Acadia’s failure to address properly any valid complaint it might have received against Mehta’s teaching, and Acadia’s attack on freedom of expression on campus. Because the firing is a personnel matter, Scott Roberts, a university spokesman, declined to comment or “provide any elaboration” on Mehta’s dismissal. Keeping the reasons secret is troubling because unless they have good information on how the university interprets its rules and evaluates complaints, professors at Acadia will not know just where the boundaries are. Their ignorance and puzzlement will change their behaviour, making them more cautious and fearful in their teaching and talking. Good teaching, though, requires professors to be natural and unaffected, and able to take risks. An insincere or mannered professor will not earn the trust of their students, and stud