On Monday, May 31, 2021, Matt Letts, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Lethbridge, sent the following missive to all members of the Faculty. Statement on Residential School News – *trigger warning* Dear… Read More ›
Why My Colleagues Are Idiots
OF DISCOMFORT AND VULNERABILITY
I think if I were Jewish – which, come to think of it, I am – I’d be far more comforted being assured the Holocaust didn’t happen than being constantly reminded that it did. So I’m not sure how so… Read More ›
RETALIATORY DEPLATFORMING
So here’s what I’m proposing. We create a data base of anyone who’s participated in a deplatforming. Anyone who’s signed a deplatforming petition. Anyone who’s publicly lobbied for such a deplatforming. Any administrator who’s caved to any such deplatforming campaign. … Read More ›
TAKING NAMES
There’s been a great deal of palaver of late – palaver in which I’m now ashamed to have participated – about the cancel culture that’s now doing a number on the academy. I’m ashamed not because I shouldn’t play my… Read More ›
A DECLARATION OF WAR
The meaning of a word or phrase is how it’s used, and its use changes with the alacrity of the weather. Kleenex used to be a brand name, now it’s synonymous with facial tissue. Likewise to vacuum became to hoover…. Read More ›
DIVERSE DOES NOT MEAN UNORTHODOX
Here’s a little known fact about human beings. They compete for resources, certainly, but also for higher positions in the social pecking order. That is, I could have made more money in the private sector – still could, in fact… Read More ›
THE OUTCOMES FALLACY
The way to test your argument for validity is what we might call the that’s-like-saying test. You give me your argument, I provide an analogous argument – analogous in the sense of sharing what we call your argument’s argument form… Read More ›
ONE DAY IN AN ESL CLASS
Teacher: Okay class, that’s it for today. Oh, and one last thing. Never use the n-word.Student: What’s the n-word?Teacher: I’m not allowed to say.Student: Huh?! Uh, can you at least tell us how it’s used?Teacher: Sure. It’s the offensive word… Read More ›
TAKING THE REVERSE OUT OF REVERSE DISCRIMINATION
Suppose I’m a black woman who’s just been denied a job, or accommodation, or whatever, because I’m a black woman, notwithstanding that most of my black brothers and sisters are not being denied these things, at least in the community… Read More ›
CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND THE COULEES
Back in 2003 the University of Lethbridge declined to honour its guarantees of confidentiality, and so for the last 17 years I haven’t served on any University-related committee involving that guarantee. In 2016 academic freedom was placed under constructive suspension… Read More ›
Paulosophical Vimplications 