Kwantlen Polytechnic University Denies Status To Pro-Life Student Group

From We Need A Law:

Surrey, BC – In the latest example of censorship and bullying, the Kwantlen Student Association (KSA) has rejected an application from a group of students to form a pro-life club on campus.

A statement released this morning by National Campus Life Network, an organization which supports pro-life clubs across the country, said the students who placed the application had retained legal counsel in their fight to have this rejection overturned. “They are in violation of their own policies,” stated Anastasia Pearse, the Western Campus Coordinator for National Campus Life Network. “Their own policy states that the association can’t censor or interfere with a club, even if it disagrees with its beliefs. Free speech and debate, even on controversial issues, should not be stifled at a university simply because those in positions of authority are pro-choice.”

“In the past, post-secondary institutions welcomed open debate as young Canadians sought to find their place in the fabric of this country”, said WeNeedaLAW.ca director Mike Schouten when he learned of the rejected application. “Today they are among the most intellectually sterile environments.”

“Rather than pose impediments to open dialogue, I encourage the KSA to remove barriers and restore openness by promoting intellectual liberty on their campus”, said Schouten.

“Post-secondary students today are growing up in a world that is making a conscious effort to correct the bullying tactics which were seen as normal in past decades. Here we have a clear case where the KSA is using its authority to bully pro-life students by ensuring they aren’t able to express their viewpoints in a similar manner as other groups. It is the height of hypocrisy for them to take this course of action,” Schouten went on to say.

“The KSA’s rejection of the application and defensive attitude of their so-called ‘intellectual turf’ is nothing short of unfair discrimination and they should rescind their decision immediately”, Schouten concluded.

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